3rd Test
Day-3 Afternoon Session Highlights:
Vishwa Fernando and Lahiru Kumara has put Sri Lanka team in control despite Smith’s resistance
At The Tea of Day-3:
England scored 325 (1st Innings) and 140/8 (2nd Innings), where as Sri Lanka scored 263 (1st Innings).
So, finally England lead by 202 runs.
Sri Lanka dominated the afternoon session to take control of the third Test against England at The Oval by tea on day three.
Vishwa Fernando (3-40) and Lahiru Kumara (3-13) exploited the increasingly tricky pitch, which offered movement and variable bounce, leaving England struggling.
Jamie Smith’s counterattacking 67 off 50 balls was the only saving grace for the hosts, who otherwise faced unrelenting pressure from the Sri Lankan bowlers.
Without Smith’s rearguard effort, England would have been in even deeper trouble.
The session began with Daniel Lawrence looking to play aggressively, but his unorthodox approach backfired on a pitch of this nature.
While he did manage a six and a four off Asitha Fernando, his risky methods soon led to his downfall when Kumara found the edge to end his scratchy innings.
Vishwa then dealt a significant blow by trapping Joe Root LBW, capping a rare poor outing for England’s No. 4.
With momentum on their side, Sri Lanka quickly removed Harry Brook and Chris Woakes, leaving Smith to anchor the innings with the lower order.
Smith showcased great composure under pressure, weathering the initial onslaught before shifting gears into an attacking mindset.
Sri Lanka briefly lost their way as Smith took charge, but the session ended on a high note for the visitors when Smith miscued a pull shot to mid-wicket just before tea.
Though Sri Lanka held the upper hand, a target of over 200 on this challenging pitch still presents a tough task for them.
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