Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva hailed Pathum Nissanka as the “best batsman” in the country after the opener’s stellar century at The Oval. Nissanka’s unbeaten 127 guided Sri Lanka to a comfortable victory, achieving their target of 219 before lunch on the fourth day. This win by eight wickets in the third Test ended Sri Lanka’s decade-long wait for a Test win over England, with the series eventually going 2-1 in favor of England after their victories at Old Trafford and Lord’s.
A Historic Win for Sri Lanka
The triumph at The Oval marked a significant milestone for Sri Lanka. Their last Test win against England was in 2014 at Headingley. “This is one of the happiest moments in my career and my life,” de Silva said. He reflected on the team’s resilience and the historic win in English conditions.
Nissanka’s Impressive Return
Nissanka’s performance was particularly noteworthy, as he returned to Test cricket after a two-year hiatus. His match-winning century followed a solid 64 in Sri Lanka’s first innings, earning him the player-of-the-match accolade. “From the moment he came in, he proved he’s the best batsman in Sri Lanka right now,” de Silva added.
England’s Disappointing Collapse
In contrast, England captain Ollie Pope expressed disappointment, acknowledging that poor batting displays undermined their chances of a home Test sweep, a feat England had not achieved since 2004. Despite Pope’s century of 154, England’s innings faltered. They collapsed from 261-3 to 325 all out and then fell for just 156 in their second innings.
Struggles in the Final Day
As Sri Lanka pursued the remaining 125 runs on the final day, England struggled, with Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson feeling the fatigue of a demanding schedule. Atkinson, dealing with a quad injury, withdrew from the ODI squad against Australia and was replaced by Olly Stone. Despite this setback, Atkinson’s strong start to his Test career has been a highlight for England. He is set to play a crucial role in the upcoming tour of Pakistan.
Leave a Reply