ENG vs SL, Oval Test: Pathum Nissanka's powerpack hundred (124*) lead Sri Lanka to the historic victory on English soil.
The diminutive Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka's outstanding unbeaten century propelled his team to an impressive eight-wicket victory over England in the third Test at The Oval on Monday. Chasing a target of 219, Sri Lanka achieved their goal for the loss of only two wickets before lunch on the fourth day.
Nissanka remained unbeaten at 127, while veteran Angelo Mathews contributed an unbeaten 32, forming a crucial 111-run partnership. This win marked Sri Lanka's first Test victory on English soil since 2014 and broke a streak of seven consecutive Test defeats against England. Despite this, England secured the three-match series 2-1 with earlier wins at Old Trafford and Lord's.
Starting Day 4 at 94-1 and needing 125 more runs, Sri Lanka completed their chase in just over two hours with clinical precision. Their strong position was set up the previous day when they dismissed England for 156 in just 34 overs, setting themselves a target of 219. Nissanka, scoring his second Test century, reached three figures in 107 balls and remained unbeaten at 127, as Sri Lanka reached the target in 40.3 overs.
For England, opener Ben Duckett and skipper Ollie Pope gave their team a solid start to impose a clean sweep on the Lankans, but the fightback and resilience by Dhananjaya de Silva’s team was enough for the English to never come back in the game.
Sri Lanka's chase also set a record for the highest successful run chase by an Asian team in England. The previous record was held by Pakistan, who chased down 180 runs against Australia in Headingley in 2010. India previously chased 173 runs against England at The Oval in 1971, a record their current team has yet to surpass.
Power play by Pathum Nissanka
Nissanka made a memorable statement with his superb unbeaten century during the third Test. Upon reaching his century, Nissanka opened his arms to take in the cheers from the modestly filled stands. He then kissed his bat and gazed upward, expressing his gratitude.
This century, his second in Test cricket, came after his debut century against the West Indies in 2021, during his first year with the Sri Lanka Test squad. His impressive innings sparked online debates about why he was not part of the initial lineup for the first Test against England at Old Trafford last month but was later reinstated for the second Test at Lord's.
In the second innings of the third Test, Pathum Nissanka delivered a remarkable unbeaten 127 off just 124 balls. His innings, with 13 boundaries and 2 sixes, provided the English team with a taste of their own aggressive style of play, often referred to as ‘Bazball’. With just over a day left in the match, Sri Lanka turned a seemingly challenging target of 219 into a comfortable chase, thanks to Nissanka’s stellar performance.
The 26-year-old Nissanka's innings was pivotal in guiding Sri Lanka to one of their most significant victories in recent times. This win was particularly sweet for Sri Lanka, a team that has been longing for success in an era where their cricketing prowess has been on the decline.
Unlike in the first innings, Nissanka was supported by his fellow batters in the second innings, initially by Kusal Mendis, who contributed 39 runs, and later Angelo Mathews, who remained unbeaten on 32. The pair formed an unbroken partnership of 111 runs, with Mathews playing a crucial supporting role. Their efforts ensured that the innings continued smoothly even after Nissanka’s opening partner, Dimuth Karunaratne, was dismissed early in the chase on Sunday.
Plethora of records broken by Nissanka
Nissanka’s century made him the first Sri Lanka opener to score a century in England since 2011. The last Sri Lanka opener to achieve this was Tilakaratne Dilshan, who scored a century at Lord's in 2011, making 193 runs. Moreover, Nissanka broke a 13-year-old record by becoming only the second Sri Lanka batter to score two 50+ scores at less than a run a ball. The first to achieve this was Dilshan, who accomplished it in 2009 against New Zealand in Galle.
Adding to his record-breaking feats, Nissanka became the fifth Sri Lanka Test player to score a century at a strike rate exceeding 100. Reflecting on his performance, Nissanka said, “It was a great opportunity to play in England, and I enjoyed that innings. I just wanted to play my normal game, and I have done that.”
More than a moral victory for SL
Although the series had already been decided in England's favour after the second Test, Sri Lanka’s victory in the final match holds some value. The win is notable because it was achieved under challenging English conditions and comes after a series of lacklustre performances for the Sri Lanka team.
England secured the series 2-1, but this final Test served as a reminder for the Englishmen of the risks associated with a drop in intensity. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, instead of succumbing to the pressure, persevered and turned the match around, with Vishwa Fernando’s key dismissals of Joe Root and Harry Brook in the third innings igniting their comeback.
In the fluctuating final Test, Sri Lanka managed to hold their ground and achieve victory, which also helped them climb in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. Currently, Sri Lanka sits in fifth place with three wins from seven Tests, reflecting a points percentage of 42.857. England, with eight wins in 16 matches, are just below in sixth place with a points percentage of 42.187.
India remain at the top of the WTC rankings with six victories in nine Tests, boasting a points percentage of 68.52. Australia, the defending champions, are in second place with eight wins from 12 matches and a points percentage of 62.50.
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