10.6 C
Manchester
Thursday, October 23, 2025
Other SportsSri Lanka punish poor England to close in on victory in Third...

Sri Lanka punish poor England to close in on victory in Third Test

England’s hopes of ending the summer with a 100 per cent record in Test matches was hanging by a thread with Sri Lanka closing in on victory at The Oval.

The tourists ended day three of the third Test on 94 for one, needing another 125 runs to chase down their victory target of 219, with bad light again bringing a premature close.

Sri Lanka started the day at 211 for five in their first innings but failed to make much more headway as England’s bowlers polished off the tail for the concession of just 52 runs.

The two overnight batters – Dhanajaya da Silva and Kamindu Mendis – departed swiftly having made 69 and 64 respectively with the lower order offering little resistance.

That gave England a first-innings lead of 62 and a position of strength. However, Sri Lanka wrestled back the momentum aided by another woeful batting display from the home side.

Only Jamie Smith, who continued his excellent summer, emerged with any credit with a superb 67 from 50 balls to push the score to 156 all out.

Dan Lawrence was the next-best scorer with a frantic 35 as England’s all-out attacking approach was undone by some excellent bowling from Sri Lanka for whom Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando shone.

Kumara ended with figures of four for 21 and Fernando three for 40.

With changeable conditions and intermittent cloud cover, England would have fancied their chances of making inroads before the close. But they looked uncharacteristically toothless.

Chris Woakes snared the only wicket with a smart caught and bowled to get rid of Dimuth Karunaratne for eight but fellow opener Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis played faultless cricket to carry the tourists through to the end of play with no further losses.

The pair played in attacking fashion, punishing anything full or wide with debutant Josh Hull frequently straying with his line and length. Nissanka was 53 not out when the light closed in with Mendis unbeaten on 30.

If England do lose it will be their only blemish of the summer after beating the West Indies 3-0 and holding a 2-0 lead over the Sri Lankans coming into the Oval Test.

Jon Fisher
Jon Fisher
Jon has over 20 years' experience in sports journalism having worked at the Press Association, Goal and Stats Perform, covering three World Cups, an Olympics and numerous other major sporting events.
Latest

Quooker UK opens Manchester HQ following £5.5M investment to drive five-year growth plan

Quooker UK has officially unveiled its new purpose-built headquarters with experience centre in the heart of Manchester, marking a major milestone in the brand’s...

The benefits of accepting multiple currencies in your online store

In the ecommerce industry, you must always be looking for ways to modernise your store, provide the best experience for customers, and stand out from...

10 Reasons to visit Arighi Bianchi this Autumn

If you’re looking to make your space extra cosy and stylish this season, a visit to Arighi Bianchi in Macclesfield is a must. Plus the furniture and...

Key qualities of ‘the best’ IB school in Singapore

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is a globally recognised educational framework designed to develop students who are intellectually curious and well-prepared for future challenges. Unlike...
Subscribe to our newsletter
Business Manchester will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing.
Don't miss

UK accountants reveal fine line between business and pleasure in new survey

A new survey by Cloud2Me at Accountex North uncovers the bizarre side of business expenses, from wedding dresses and boob jobs to £42,000 football...

How different indexes reflect the balance between growth and stability

When people talk about “the market,” they often reference one of the major stock indexes — but not all indexes are created equal. Each...

Fire festival returns to light up Rochdale with displays, ice rink and Christmas market

The countdown to Christmas begins in Rochdale next month with the return of the spectacular Ignite Fire Festival and magical family entertainment leading up...

The role of omnichannel communication in strengthening service delivery for critical infrastructure

Critical infrastructure systems support essential services such as power, water, transport, and healthcare. Because these sectors are interconnected, reliable communication is vital for smooth...

More News

F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025: Report, result, highlights as Norris savours ‘stressful’ win

Lando Norris praised McLaren's "amazing car" after overcoming unpredictable conditions to beat reigning champion Max Verstappen and win the F1 Australian Grand Prix 2025...

India vs Australia: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

India vs Australia: The State of Play India will be targeting a third consecutive appearance in the final when they face Australia in the first...

New Zealand vs India: Preview, expected lineups, how to watch on TV and prediction for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

New Zealand vs India: The State of Play Two teams in excellent form meet on Sunday when New Zealand and India collide in their final...