- Joined
- Aug 12, 2023
- Runs
- 18,304
Jamie Smith’s electrifying 67 brought England back to life, but it wasn't enough to prevent Sri Lanka from moving into a strong position to win the final Test at The Oval.
Chasing 219, the tourists ended the third day at 94-1 after just 15 overs, leaving them only 125 runs away from a memorable victory.
Sri Lanka could have been even closer, or possibly won the game already, if not for Smith's brilliance. He lit up his home ground with a breathtaking display of batting.
England struggled for much of the past two days and were reeling at 82-7, only 144 runs ahead, when Smith launched his remarkable counter-attack.
Starting on 15 from 31 deliveries, Smith smashed 52 off the next 18 balls, sending the ball to all corners of the ground.
In a partnership of 58 for the eighth wicket, Olly Stone managed just five runs. With Smith in full swing, thoughts turned to the possibility of England’s fastest-ever Test century, but his innings ended when he found mid-wicket, leaving to a standing ovation.
England added only 16 more runs before being bowled out for 156, with Lahiru Kumara leading Sri Lanka’s superb bowling effort with 4-21.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka had been dismissed for 263 in their first innings, with England's debutant left-armer Josh Hull taking 3-53.
Pathum Nissanka then capitalized on some loose England bowling late in the day. Although Chris Woakes managed to dismiss Dimuth Karunaratne with a caught and bowled, Nissanka remained unbeaten on 53 from just 44 balls, with Kusal Mendis on 30.
Chasing 219, the tourists ended the third day at 94-1 after just 15 overs, leaving them only 125 runs away from a memorable victory.
Sri Lanka could have been even closer, or possibly won the game already, if not for Smith's brilliance. He lit up his home ground with a breathtaking display of batting.
England struggled for much of the past two days and were reeling at 82-7, only 144 runs ahead, when Smith launched his remarkable counter-attack.
Starting on 15 from 31 deliveries, Smith smashed 52 off the next 18 balls, sending the ball to all corners of the ground.
In a partnership of 58 for the eighth wicket, Olly Stone managed just five runs. With Smith in full swing, thoughts turned to the possibility of England’s fastest-ever Test century, but his innings ended when he found mid-wicket, leaving to a standing ovation.
England added only 16 more runs before being bowled out for 156, with Lahiru Kumara leading Sri Lanka’s superb bowling effort with 4-21.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka had been dismissed for 263 in their first innings, with England's debutant left-armer Josh Hull taking 3-53.
Pathum Nissanka then capitalized on some loose England bowling late in the day. Although Chris Woakes managed to dismiss Dimuth Karunaratne with a caught and bowled, Nissanka remained unbeaten on 53 from just 44 balls, with Kusal Mendis on 30.