Centurion 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 conclusion nether Brendon McCullum arsenic Pathum Nissanka's magnificent period guided Sri Lanka to a celebrated triumph astatine The Kia Oval.

England had nan opportunity to gain a 100% location summertime grounds for nan first clip successful 20 years but alternatively paid nan value for a sloppy display.

Though Sri Lanka suffer nan 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 reliable tour.

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

Kusal Mendis was bounced retired for 39 by Gus Atkinson acknowledgment to Shaoib Bashir's superb catch. Another 111 runs were still required, but immoderate England dream was snuffed retired by nan 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, nan crippled had gone.

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

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

Their adjacent Test series, successful Pakistan, originates successful little than a month, albeit pinch doubts complete nan schedule because of renewal useful astatine a number of venues successful nan country.

An unrelenting world almanac continues connected Wednesday erstwhile an almost wholly abstracted England squad originates 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 nan potency to halt nan wished Sri Lankans.

Much has been made of nan changes England person made, beautiful overmuch each of them basal and astir pinch success. Jamie Smith, Atkinson and Bashir person a instauration to build towards nan Ashes successful 2025-26.

To spell pinch nan caller personnel, injuries to Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley and Mark Wood meant only 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, location are fewer excuses for nan measurement nan hosts frittered distant this Test.

From 261-3 successful nan first innings, they collapsed to 325 each out. On nan 2nd evening they were happy to springiness Sri Lanka immoderate low-pressure runs against spin, erstwhile a much sensible action would person been to vessel gait to bring nan adjacent because of bad light.

The measurement England batted to beryllium 156 each retired successful only 34 overs successful their 2nd innings was amateurish.

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

This is only nan ninth Test England person mislaid since McCullum became caput coach and comes successful nan week he besides took complete nan white-ball team. Defeats tin beryllium accepted but, fixed nan guidance and nan manner, this should springiness England region for thought.

This target could person been problematic for Sri Lanka, only for Nissanka to onslaught connected nan 3rd evening and return a chunk retired of nan chase.

By nan clip he resumed connected 53 connected Monday, he had go nan first batter to make 2 half-centuries astatine faster than a tally a shot successful nan aforesaid Test successful England.

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

Swinging nan shot nether lights, Chris Woakes tested caller man Angelo Mathews, many times going past nan 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, while Nissanka tucked successful erstwhile Olly Stone was excessively short.

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

England had 1 much chance to region Nissanka, via a trim astatine a Stone bouncer, only for nan shot to autumn done nan hands of nan diving Bashir astatine 3rd man.

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