Sri Lanka secured an impressive eight-wicket win against England in the third Test at The Oval, clinching their first victory on English soil in a decade and bringing the three-match series to a 2-1 conclusion in England’s favor.
A standout performance from Pathum Nissanka, who scored a brilliant unbeaten 127, and a strong showing from the Sri Lankan bowlers, helped them chase down 219 runs to win.
Despite the loss, England’s Joe Root had an exceptional summer, amassing 666 runs across six Tests, earning him the “Player of the Series” and “Player of the Summer” honors.
Root expressed his satisfaction with the team’s evolution and the contributions of new players like Jamie Smith and Gus Atkinson. He also acknowledged the challenges faced in the final Test, emphasizing the importance of learning and improvement moving forward.
England’s first innings saw Ollie Pope excel with a rapid 154 off 156 balls, supported by Ben Duckett’s 86, leading the hosts to 325. However, Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Milan Rathnayake (3/56), prevented a larger total. In response, Sri Lanka managed 263, courtesy of a crucial 127-run stand between Dhananjaya de Silva (69) and Kamindu Mendis (64), while England’s Olly Stone and Josh Hull each took three wickets.
England’s second innings faltered under pressure, with only Jamie Smith’s 67 standing out as they collapsed to 156 all out, setting Sri Lanka a manageable target. Lahiru Kumara’s 4/21 and Vishwa Fernando’s 3/40 decimated England’s lineup.
In Sri Lanka’s second innings, Nissanka anchored the chase, supported by Kusal Mendis (39) and Angelo Mathews (32*), guiding the visitors to victory. This victory marked the highest successful run chase by an Asian team in England, surpassing Pakistan’s 180-run chase against Australia in 2010.
