Nissanka condemns England to dismal defeat

Third Test, The Kia Oval (day 4 of five)

England 325 (Pope 154, Duckett 86) & 156 (Smith 67, Kumara 4-21)

Sri Lanka 263 (De Silva 69; Stone 3-35) & 219-2 (Nissanka 127*)

Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets, England won bid 2-1

Scorecard

England went down to their worst decision nether Brendon McCullum arsenic Pathum Nissanka’s magnificent period guided Sri Lanka to a celebrated triumph astatine The Kia Oval.

England had the accidental to gain a 100% location summertime for the archetypal clip successful 20 years but alternatively paid the terms for a careless display.

Though Sri Lanka suffer the bid 2-1, this ends a 10-match winless streak against England and, realistically, gives a measurement of occurrence to what was ever apt to beryllium a pugnacious tour.

Below-par displays connected days 2 and 3 near England up against it astatine the opening of time four, erstwhile Sri Lanka resumed connected 94-1, needing different 125 to scope their people of 219.

Kusal Mendis was bounced retired for 39 by Gus Atkinson acknowledgment to Shaoib Bashir’s superb catch. Another 111 runs were inactive required, yet immoderate England anticipation was snuffed retired by the composure of Nissanka and Angelo Matthews.

Nissanka had already passed 3 figures erstwhile Bashir missed a half-chance to drawback him astatine 3rd man. By then, the crippled had gone.

Nissanka ended unbeaten connected a rather superb 127, Mathews connected 32. Their unbroken concern of 111 gave Sri Lanka triumph by 8 wickets and lone a 4th Test triumph successful this country.

England extremity the summertime with bid wins against West Indies and Sri Lanka, though besides with a consciousness of what mightiness person been.

Their adjacent Test series, successful Pakistan, begins successful little than a month, albeit with doubts implicit the docket due to the fact that of renovation works astatine a fig of venues successful the country.

An unrelenting planetary calendar continues connected Wednesday erstwhile an astir wholly abstracted England squad begins a T20 bid against Australia successful Southampton.

This was a low-key extremity to England’s summertime of evolution. On a grey time successful beforehand of a meagre crowd, England did not person the potency to halt the determined Sri Lankans.

Much has been made of the changes England person made, beauteous overmuch each of them indispensable and astir with success. Jamie Smith, Atkinson and Bashir person a instauration to physique towards the Ashes successful 2025-26.

To spell with the caller personnel, injuries to Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley and Mark Wood meant lone 4 of this England XI survived from their erstwhile Test astatine The Oval, against Australia past year.

If this adds a hint of mitigation for England’s nonaccomplishment to unafraid a 2nd successive 3-0 cleanable sweep, determination are fewer excuses for the mode the hosts frittered distant this Test.

From 261-3 successful the archetypal innings, the hosts collapsed to 325 each out. On the 2nd evening they were blessed to springiness Sri Lanka immoderate low-pressure runs against spin, erstwhile a much sensible enactment would person been to vessel gait to bring the adjacent due to the fact that of atrocious light. The mode England batted to beryllium 156 each retired successful lone 34 overs successful their 2nd innings was amateurish.

It is hard to triumph each Test successful a location summer. In seasons of 5 Tests oregon more, England person lone done it connected 2 erstwhile occasions though, with respect to Sri Lanka and erstwhile opponents West Indies, they should person done it this time.

This is lone the ninth Test England person mislaid since McCullum became caput manager and comes successful the week helium besides took implicit the white-ball team. Defeats tin beryllium accepted but, fixed the absorption and the manner, this should springiness England intermission for thought.

This people could person been problematic for Sri Lanka, lone for Nissanka to onslaught connected the 3rd evening and instrumentality a chunk retired of the chase.

By the clip helium resumed connected 53 connected Monday, helium had go the archetypal batter to marque 2 half-centuries astatine faster than a tally a shot successful the aforesaid Test successful England.

The location broadside needed aboriginal wickets and Atkinson, battling a quad injury, was acceptable to bowl. In the 5th implicit the day, Mendis hooked to good limb wherever Bashir took a superb diving catch. The doorway was open.

Swinging the shot nether lights, Chris Woakes tested caller antheral Angelo Mathews, repeatedly going past the extracurricular edge. Mathews survived, Nissanka remained and England’s weapons were neutralised.

Debutant left-armer Josh Hull and off-spinner Bashir could supply neither power nor threat, portion Nissanka tucked successful erstwhile Olly Stone was excessively short.

Nissanka reached his 2nd Test century, disconnected 107 balls, with a back-foot punch disconnected Atkinson and the crippled was wrong Sri Lanka’s grasp.

England had 1 much accidental to region Nissanka, via a chopped astatine a Stone bouncer, lone for the shot to autumn done the hands of the diving Bashir astatine 3rd man.

Still, by past England were already beaten and was fitting that Nissanka deed the winning runs, cutting Bashir for four.