Heaven and Hull

JOSH'S TESTING START

- GARY FITZGERALD

BIG Josh Hull endured the highs and lows of Test cricket as England’s bid for a summer clean sweep was foiled by some stubborn Sri Lanka resistance.

The youngster celebrated a debut wicket for his country... but then dropped a dolly of a catch as Sri Lanka ended day two 114 runs behind in the first innings on 211-5.

Hull had worn the biggest smile in South London when he removed the tourists’ dangerman Pathum Nissanka – and was mobbed by his happy team-mates.

But the 6ft 7in fast bowler failed to take the simplest of catches which would have got rid of halfcentury maker Dhananjaya de Silva.

A wicket then would have put England in an even stronger position in this third and final Test as they hunt a 6-0 sizzling summer of success.

Spin bowler Shoaib Bashir quickly shrugged off his disappointment at missing out on a wicket to signal to Hull not to worry about his slip-up.