Rex Clementine in London
Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva won a third successive toss on tour and put England in, in the final Test at The Oval, but his bowlers couldn’t make most of the overcast conditions.
Sri Lanka made an interesting change in search of their first win on tour bringing in left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando in place of left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya.
It was felt that overcast conditions expected throughout the game prompted Sri Lanka to go with an all seam attack with captain Dhananjaya de Silva filling in as a part-time spin bowler.
But Sri Lanka’s seamers were indiscipline bowling on either side of the wicket. When they did pitch up, they were able to beat the bat but consistency was lacking.
Vishwa, on whom a lot of hope was placed as he had played a season of County Cricket for Yorkshire this year, was a disappointment. He was taken out of the attack after just two overs and looked to be struggling with some sort of a niggle.
Vishwa did change ends and came on to bowl from Pavilion End, but was ineffective.
On a day where a mere 45 overs were possible due to bad light, Vishwa sent down only seven overs.
Kusal Mendis was the other change that Sri Lanka did bringing him in for struggling opening batsman Nishan Madushka.
Ben Duckett carted the Sri Lankan bowlers all over the Oval racing to 86 off 79 balls with nine fours and two sixes.
Sri Lanka also dismissed Joe Root cheaply. The former England skipper had been a thorn in their flesh in recent years and had made hundreds in each innings at Lord’s.
Captain Ollie Pope under tremendous pressure after poor form with former England opening batsman Steve James calling him, ‘the worst starter since prawn cocktail,’ came good finally with a century.
Sri Lanka created opportunities in the first 15 minutes of day two but England were unperturbed and reached 250 for three.
Harry Brook was given out caught behind in the first over off Lahiru Kumara but the decision was overturned after being reviewed.
Milan Ratnayake then created an opportunity in his first delivery of the morning but Asitha Fernando at deep point put down Harry Brook.
In the same over, Ratnayake found the outside edge that flew through the vacant third slip area.
England have secured the series following a five wicket win at Old Trafford and 190 run victory at Lord’s.