Sri Lanka is on course to a historic test match win against England at the Oval. After a disciplined bowling performance in the second innings, the Lankan Lions have positioned themselves for a potential win on English soil, a rare and remarkable achievement.
After leading the first innings by 62 runs, England got off to a poor start in the second, losing Ben Duckett and first-innings centurion Oliie Pope in quick succession. Dan Lawrence held the innings together with a gritty 35 off 35 balls but the Sri Lankan bowlers kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals.
Jamie Smith took the attack back to the opposition scoring 67 off just 50 balls to take the hosts to 325. Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowlers for visitors with figures of 4/21. Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando contributed with three and two wickets respectively.
Chasing 219 in the second innings, opener Pathum Nissanka (53* off 44) powered his way to a second fifty of the match, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position during a challenging chase. Kusal Mendis’ quick-fire unbeaten 30 made sure Sri Lanka finished in a pole position to win the test match.
Sri Lanks’s impressive display has them on the cusp of making history, challenging the dominance of the home side in their own backyard. They just need to keep their composure and ensure that they get over the line on the final day.
When did Sri Lanka last beat England on English soil?
Even though Sri Lanka has already lost the 3-match test series against England, there is still all to play for on the final day of the Kennington Oval test. With a win, the Lankan Lions can record their first red ball victory in England in over a decade
Their last win on English soil came all the way back in 2014. Sri Lanka beat the hosts at the Headingley Stadium in the second match of the two-match series. The victory in Leeds secured Sri Lanka their only Test series win against England on English soil. After a draw in the first match at Lord’s, the visitors triumphed with a 100-run win to seal the series.
Overall, Sri Lanka has played 20 test matches in England so far. The Asians have won 3 games and lost 10 with 7 matches ending in draws. A win at the 3rd test at Oval would give Sri Lanka their fourth-ever Test win on English soil.
Read More: Ollie Pope Makes History, Becomes the First Cricketer in History to Achieve Major Milestone
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
