Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten half-century has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position to secure a historic victory over England in the third Test at the Oval. By the end of the third day’s play, Sri Lanka had reached 94 for 1, needing just 125 more runs to seal the win and end a seven-match losing streak against England.
Nissanka has been the cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s batting, scoring an impressive 53 not out. He reached his second fifty of the match with a powerful drive through the covers off debutant Josh Hull. Kusal Mendis has also contributed with an unbeaten 30, including four boundaries.
Sri Lanka’s pursuit of a challenging target of 219 runs was made possible by Jamie Smith’s counter-attacking 67. Smith’s innings pulled England out of a collapse that saw them lose five wickets for 26 runs.
Smith’s aggressive approach provided England with a glimmer of hope for a first home Test series clean sweep since 2004. However, his dismissal on the stroke of tea, chipping a ball to short midwicket, ended England’s resurgence.
Vishwa Fernando played a crucial role in England’s collapse, claiming three wickets for 40 runs, including the prized scalp of Joe Root for just 12. Lahiru Kumara also made a significant contribution, taking four wickets for 21 runs in seven overs.
Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook have criticized the hosts for their poor batting performance, which saw them collapse from 221-3 to 325 all out in their first innings.
As Sri Lanka closes in on a potential victory, Nissanka’s role has been pivotal in keeping their hopes alive for a memorable win over England.
