Sri Lanka’s Resilience Shines in Third Test Against England
In a gripping display of determination, Sri Lanka’s captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis forged an unbroken century partnership on the second day of the third Test at The Oval, leaving England frustrated. After a dismal start that saw them slump to 93 for 5 before tea, the visitors managed to finish the day at 211-5 when bad light curtailed play. They now trail England’s first-innings total of 325 by 114 runs, which was bolstered by Ollie Pope’s impressive score of 154 in his inaugural match as captain.
A Promising Partnership Amidst Adversity
De Silva ended the day unbeaten on 64 while Mendis contributed an equally vital 54 not out, combining for a crucial stand of 118 runs that provided Sri Lanka with renewed hope as they seek to salvage pride in this three-match series where they currently trail 2-0.
Mendis has been particularly noteworthy; at just 25 years old, he boasts an extraordinary batting average exceeding 85 in Tests. This innings marked his seventh occasion crossing fifty runs across six matches—a streak that includes three centuries.
Sri Lanka experienced a stroke of fortune when De Silva survived what should have been his dismissal at just 23 runs; debutant Josh Hull dropped a straightforward catch off spinner Shoaib Bashir after misjudging it.
Early Setbacks and Recovery
The innings began with misfortune for Sri Lanka as Dimuth Karunaratne was run out for nine due to Olly Stone’s direct hit from short cover following Pathum Nissanka’s ill-advised attempt for a single. Nissanka later showcased his skills with an impressive fifty off just forty balls but soon after, the middle order faltered under pressure.
Stone made significant contributions upon returning to Test cricket after two years; he dismissed veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews cheaply for three runs—an edge caught by Pope in gully during only his second match since last week’s victory at Lord’s.
Hull Makes His Mark
Josh Hull celebrated taking his first Test wicket by dismissing Nissanka who had settled into rhythm with a score of 64. This pivotal moment shifted momentum towards England as they reduced Sri Lanka from a promising position to precarious scores of both 91-4 and then quickly down to 93-5 when Stone trapped Dinesh Chandimal lbw without scoring.
Kamindu Mendis displayed remarkable composure amidst this turmoil while dark clouds loomed overhead. To counteract potential interruptions due to fading light post-tea, England opted for spin bowlers from both ends—Bashir and part-timer Dan Lawrence aimed strategically at maintaining play continuity despite conditions worsening.
De Silva responded effectively against Lawrence with deft late cuts that brought him past fifty off just eighty-one deliveries while Mendis reached his half-century even quicker—in only sixty balls. Joe Root also contributed briefly with occasional off-breaks before bad light ultimately halted proceedings for the day.
By day’s end, Sri Lanka had added an impressive total of sixty-nine runs without losing any wickets during seventeen overs dominated by spin bowling following tea break adjustments.
England Faces Its Own Collapse
Earlier in their innings, however, England faced their own collapse—losing six wickets within just thirty-five runs after starting strong at221-3. Ollie Pope resumed play on one hundred and three not out but struggled against Sri Lankan pace bowlers who eventually found their rhythm; Milan Rathnayake concluded with figures reading three wickets for fifty-six runs over thirteen point one overs while left-arm quick Vishwa Fernando claimed Pope’s wicket who finished scoring126 off156 balls including nineteen boundaries alongside two sixes—all contributing towards maintaining above-average performance levels on home turf Surrey ground where he averages over eighty-four overall across formats.
As it stands now, England is eyeing its first clean sweep since back in2004—a feat that would mark another milestone achievement within international cricket history.
Pratardan Mishra is a passionate Content Writer and Web Developer with a deep commitment to nationalism and political advocacy. Specializing in national issues, he utilizes expertise in writing to craft compelling narratives that champion patriotic values and engage politically minded audiences.
