Rex Clementine in London
Test wins overseas have been few and rare for Sri Lanka and they are on the verge of pulling off a famous win at The Oval.
Set a target of 219 to win the dead rubber, Sri Lanka crusied to 94 for one and are 125 runs away from securing a come from behind victory.
It was excellent fight back from Sri Lanka, who had been written off at the start of the game.
It was the fast bowlers who put them in the game bowling out England for 156 in the second innings.
The chase could have been a lot less but a 58 run stand between Jamie Smith and Olly Stone dug England out of trouble, but only briefly.
Pathum Nissanka recalled to the Test side after being in the sidelines for two years batted beautifully. Having scored a half-century in the first innings, Nissanka cut loose putting the bad balls away and he was well backed up by Kusal Mendis. There was excellent running between the wickets as well and there was even an all run four.
England were attacking with close in fielders but with Sri Lanka’s batters throwing caution to the wind, Ollie Pope was forced to spread the field and from there on it was a case of picking up singles by finding the gaps.
Nissanak’s 53 came off 44 balls and contained seven boundaries.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling coach Aaqib Javed praised the effort of the seamers. “If you look at the whole series there were moments and our bowlers had already done reasonably well. This game we went for the extra seamer and that paid off. We have played good cricket overall. We wanted to do well away from home and the fast bowlers have stood out,” the former Pakistan quick told the post match media briefing. “Pathum and Kusal have been positive and it’s really a good sign. This is how you put England under pressure.” Fast bowler Vishwa Fernando finished with three wickets in the second innings and swung the ball in to the right-hander. Two such deliveries accounted for the dangerous Joe Root and vice-captain Harry Brook.
“Vishwa felt some stiffness in his hamstring. As bowlers you don’t know how far you can push yourself. He came to the dressing room and went back and gave everything he had. He bowled some superb inswingers like the great Chaminda Vaas. Sometimes people go for safer options. But he went flat out. He gave everything.”