Lahiru Kumara, Pathum Nissanka

Sri Lanka have taken a commanding position against England in the third Test match at The Oval, with a combination of disciplined bowling and an aggressive batting display led by Pathum Nissanka. As of the end of Day 3, Sri Lanka need just 125 runs to secure a historic victory, having closed the day at 94 for 1 in their second innings.

Sri Lanka bowls out England for 156

The match, which began on September 6, has seen a dramatic turn of events. After Sri Lanka were bowled out for 263 in their first innings, England managed to build a 62-run lead by scoring 325. However, the English batting lineup faltered in their second innings, collapsing to 82 for 7 at one point, before recovering slightly to finish at 156 all out. Jamie Smith’s counter attacking 67 was crucial in providing some resistance against a potent Sri Lankan bowling attack led by Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando, who took 4 for 21 and 3 for 40, respectively.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers were in fine form, executing their plans with precision. Kumara’s early breakthroughs in England’s second innings were pivotal, as he dismantled the top order with his pace and accuracy. Fernando supported him well, maintaining pressure and taking key wickets to ensure that England’s innings did not gain momentum. The Sri Lankan bowlers capitalized on the overcast conditions, which aided their seam and swing bowling, making it difficult for the English batters to settle.

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Pathum Nissanka’s stellar performance

Nissanka emerged as a standout performer for Sri Lanka, scoring an unbeaten 53 runs off just 44 balls in the second innings. His aggressive approach set the tone for the chase, as he has been able to find boundaries with ease. Alongside Kusal Mendis, who was at the crease with 30 not out, Nissanka gave Sri Lanka a solid start in their pursuit of 219 runs for victory.

The opening partnership between Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne was crucial, as they added 39 runs before Karunaratne was sent back by Chris Woakes for 8. Nissanka’s ability to rotate the strike and find gaps was instrumental in keeping the scoreboard ticking, and he will be key to Sri Lanka’s hopes of achieving their first Test victory over England since 2014.

England’s struggle

England’s batting woes have been a major talking point in this Test. After a solid first essay, their second innings collapse has raised questions about their batting depth and resilience. The team, which was looking to complete a clean sweep over Sri Lanka after winning the first two Tests, now finds itself under pressure to defend a modest total. The batting lineup, which has been dominant in previous matches, will need to regroup quickly to avoid a disappointing end to the series.

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