Cricket / How does the WTC points table read after England's 2-0 win over Sri Lanka?

Cricket Desk: England stuttered in the chase of 164 but eventually scaled the target with six wickets to spare to win the Test series 2-0 against Sri Lanka in Galle.

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With the victory they have gained 60 crucial points in the ICC World Test Championship standings and are in the fourth spot, just 0.5 per cent behind Australia.

England's march to 164 was anything but smooth as they lost four wickets, three of them to Lasith Embuldeniya, who finished with a 10-wicket match haul. As many 15 wickets fell in the day, all of them to spin.

Dom Sibley's restrained and patient knock of 56* and his unbeaten 75-run stand with Jos Buttler (46*) was the highlight of England's second innings. The duo first stabilised the visitors, then batted responsibly to see them past the finishing line.

Opener Zak Crawley failed yet again, managing just 13 runs before getting out to Embuldeniya. Sibley dropped his anchor at the other end and along with Jonny Bairstow ensured that the visitors didn't suffer any more hiccups until tea.

The duo put on a 45-run stand for the second wicket with Bairstow falling to Embuldeniya after a 28-ball 29. The visitors stumbled further in the last session, first losing captain Joe Root for 11 as he was bowled by Ramesh Mendis. Three overs later, Dan Lawrence became Embuldeniya's 10th victim of the match.

Sri Lanka would have fancied their chances of causing an upset with England at 89/4 but Sibley and Buttler had other plans.

Earlier in the day, England could only add five more runs to their overnight total and were bowled out for 344. Embuldeniya ended with 7/137, becoming only the sixth bowler from Sri Lanka to take seven-plus wickets in a Test innings. The hosts managed to secure a slim 37-run lead.