Sri Lanka is on the verge of a historic Test victory over England, requiring just 125 more runs with nine wickets in hand after the hosts suffered a significant batting collapse on day three at The Oval.
After bowling out Sri Lanka for 263, England found themselves at 82-7 before Jamie Smith’s impressive innings of 67 helped them reach a total of 156. Sri Lanka closed their innings at 94-1 in just 15 overs, with Pathum Nissanka leading with an unbeaten 53.
England had taken a 62-run first-innings lead but faltered dramatically in their second outing, allowing Sri Lanka to stage a comeback. The team showed early signs of pressure when opener Ben Duckett was dismissed cheaply, followed by skipper Ollie Pope who chopped onto his stumps.
Draper’s contribution of 35 runs was significant but ultimately insufficient, as the team crumbled under pressure, with Joe Root and Harry Brook also falling victim to the Sri Lankan bowling attack.
Sri Lanka capitalized on England’s misfortunes. After a shaky start, their openers displayed strong partnership before losing Dimuth Karunaratne. However, they recovered swiftly with Kusal Mendis and Nissanka working effectively together.
Despite the setbacks, England remained hopeful, with Smith providing some resistance and briefly stabilizing the innings. However, a late surge from the Sri Lankan bowlers, including Dhananjaya de Silva and Lahiru Kumara, put them in a commanding position.
Collingwood’s Reflections
Paul Collingwood, England’s assistant coach, acknowledged the pitfalls of the day’s play: “It hasn’t been one of our better days. We’ve usually managed to put pressure on the opposition, but today we fell short.”
England’s predicament worsens as they prepare for the final two days, with Sri Lanka in control and looking to secure a monumental victory.
Upcoming Coverage
Fans can watch day four of the third and final Test live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10:15 AM on Monday, September 8, with the first ball scheduled for 11 AM.
Credit: Sky Sports
