Rex Clementine in London
Sri Lanka secured a hard fought come from behind win in the third and final Test match against England at The Oval with Pathum Nissanka playing a blinder. Chasing a target of 219, Sri Lanka resumed their innings on day four needing 125 runs more and in overcast conditions, England fancied their chances.
However, Nissanka’s solid knock took the game away from the hosts as Sri Lanka sealed a famous win with a day and two sessions to spare.
The 26-year-old backed up his first innings half-century with an unbeaten 127 that came off only 124 balls as Sri Lanka sealed an eight wicket victory.
Vice-captain Kusal Mendis played well for his 39 but was dismissed in the morning as he was not able to clear the fine-leg boundary off Gus Atkinson.
Angelo Mathews walked in at number four and ensured that he didn’t leave for anyone else to finish the job using all his experience to good effect.
The former captain, Sri Lanka’s star during their last Test win in England ten years ago, played the seamers well coming on the front foot negotiating the seam movement.
When Ollie Pope introduced spin in a bid to give the seamers bit of a breather, Mathews cashed in sweeping well and England were running out of ideas.
The 111 run stand between Mathews and Nissanka sealed the deal for Sri Lanka.
Nissanka had mostly played straight drives earlier on in his innings but as he grew in confidence started cutting and pulling too. With victory in sight, he wasn’t afraid to hook the bouncer as he sent two sixes sailing over Ben Duckett who was fielding at long-leg boundary.
Nissanka was named Man of the Match while Kamindu Mendis, who made a hundred and two half-centuries on the tour was named Player of the Series.
Asitha Fernando too had an outstanding tour and finished with 17 wickets. He was the highest wicket taker in the series from either side and it goes on to show how much he has improved over the last 18 months.
The win enabled Sri Lanka to move to number five position of the ICC World Test Championship. With two more Tests coming up against New Zealand later this month, they will be fancying their chances.
Sri Lanka will be pleased with the win and will return home thinking that they had a chance to win the series. The first Test at Old Trafford, where England won by five wickets, was a very tight game.