Broad’s hat-trick restricts Sri Lanka

Stuart Broad became the first England player to bag two Test hat-tricks and Liam Plunkett claimed his maiden five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 257 on the opening day of the second Test.

The home side, in reply, reached 36 for nought at the close of play at Headingley on Friday with captain Alastair Cook unbeaten on 14 and Sam Robson 21 not out.

Broad became the fourth player in history to register two test hat-tricks and neither the all-rounder, his teammates nor the crowd realised it because the first wicket came from the last ball of one over and the second and third arrived from the first and second delivery of the next.

The fast-bowler steamed in for his third ball with a vociferous crowd roaring him on, seemingly unaware he had already achieved three wickets in successive deliveries.

Plunkett also took two wickets in two balls earlier as Sri Lanka, who were put in to bat at the start of play, failed to make the most of a fortunate innings of 79 from the in-form Kumar Sangakkara.

The first-Test centurion was Broad’s first victim when his loose drive was expertly caught in the gully by Ian Bell, playing in his 100th Test, to leave Sri Lanka on 228 for six.

Plunkett then removed Dhamikka Prasad for a duck after gloving a bouncer to keeper Matt Prior.

Broad came back for the next over and had Dinesh Chandimal snapped up at slip by skipper Cook for 45 before Shaminda Eranga feathered an edge through to Prior for another duck.

Sri Lanka had lost four wickets for one run in nine balls but England were frustrated by a last-wicket partnership of 28 until Plunkett ended the innings by removing Nuwan Pradeep for 13.

The first Test of the two-match series ended in a draw.