3rd Test
Day-3 Evening Session Highlights:
Pathum Nissanka and the bowlers has put the Sri Lanka team in a commanding position
At The Stumps of Day-3:
England scored 325 (1st Innings) and 156 (2nd Innings), where as Sri Lanka scored 263 (1st Innings) and 94/1 (2nd Innings).
So, finally England lead by 125 runs.
Pathum Nissanka (53* off 44) struck his second half-century of the match, propelling Sri Lanka into a strong position in their tricky chase of 219 on the third day against England at The Oval.
In the 15 overs England bowled, their attack was erratic, allowing Nissanka to find the boundary regularly—sometimes with elegant shots and occasionally through fortunate edges.
His partner, Dimuth Karunaratne, was more circumspect but became the only wicket to fall, inside-edging an inswinger onto his pad, with Chris Woakes diving to take a sharp catch.
England hoped the breakthrough would spark a collapse, but they were met with further resistance as Kusal Mendis (30* off 25) joined Nissanka, matching him stroke for stroke in a brisk 55-run stand off just 48 balls.
While the Sri Lankan pair deserved credit for their aggressive approach, England’s inexperienced attack—apart from Woakes—struggled under pressure.
Although play could have continued until 7:30 pm local time (12 am IST), fading light restricted England from using their seamers for the last 45 minutes, forcing Ollie Pope and his team to slow the proceedings.
Earlier, Sri Lanka wasted no time in wrapping up England’s last two wickets, setting themselves a target of 219 for a consolation victory.
It was a stellar collective bowling effort from the tourists, led by Lahiru Kumara (4-21) and Vishwa Fernando (3-40), who dismantled England’s lineup.
With a 62-run first-innings lead, England’s plan to counter Sri Lanka with aggressive batting backfired, as they were bowled out in just 34 overs.
Jamie Smith’s quickfire 67 off 50 balls saved England from further embarrassment, rescuing them from a precarious 82/7.
Day three, often considered the pivotal day in Test cricket, lived up to its reputation.
The day began with Sri Lanka trailing England by 114 runs and ended with the visitors needing 125 more for a memorable overseas victory.
The first hour didn’t go Sri Lanka’s way, as overnight batters Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis were dismissed within the first 30 minutes, and Sri Lanka soon conceded a substantial first-innings lead.
However, aside from that shaky start, the tourists ticked all the right boxes for the rest of the day.
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