Sri Lanka require simply 125 extra runs with 9 wickets in hand for a primary Check victory over England in a decade after the hosts suffered a batting collapse on day three of the third Check at The Oval.
Chasing 219, Sri Lanka closed on 94-1 from solely 15 overs with Pathum Nissanka main the cost with an unbeaten 53 off simply 44 balls.
England had earned themselves a 62-run first-innings lead within the morning session after dismissing Sri Lanka first time round for 263. However they then collapsed to 82-7 and had been indebted to Jamie Smith’s counterattacking 67 to publish one thing of a defensible rating as they had been bowled out for 156 in 34 overs, Lahiru Kumara (4-21) and Vishwa Fernando (3-40) main the star Sri Lankan bowlers.
The vacationers’ openers Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne (8) made a speedy begin to their reply, including 39 runs for the primary wicket earlier than the latter was caught and bowled by Chris Woakes (1-32).
It was a quick respite as Kusal Mendis (30no) joined Nissanka in assault mode and Sri Lanka shall be eyeing up a primary Check win over England since June 2014.
England are in search of their first clear sweep summer season in 20 years after they beat the West Indies 3-0 earlier this summer season and at present lead Sri Lanka 2-0 after successful at Outdated Trafford and Lord’s respectively.
Smith makes up for sloppy England
A revitalised Sri Lanka assault ran riot in opposition to a sloppy England facet that seemed removed from formidable after they misplaced 4 huge wickets for under 14 runs early of their second innings.
Opener Ben Duckett (7), who made 86 on day one, batted with extra recklessness than aggression clubbing Milan Rathnayake (1-43) straight to mid-on for a tame dismissal.
Skipper Ollie Pope (7) chopped on to his stumps off Kumara and furiously walked again to the dugout smacking his bat in opposition to his knee which completely encompassed the strain England had been feeling.
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Jamie Smith was dismissed following a powerful quick-fire 50 for England through the third Check in opposition to Sri Lanka
Dan Lawrence (35) turned up the dial by dispatching Asitha Fernando (2-49) for a six and a 4 throughout his run-a-ball outing however his ultra-positive aggression price him his wicket after he nicked behind to Dinesh Chandimal.
Joe Root (12) hit a promising cowl drive to go previous Kumar Sangakkara and into sixth within the all-time Check run-scorers, however fell two balls later with a toe-crusher from Vishwa that trapped him in entrance.
Vishwa fired in one other searing in-swinger that had Harry Brook (3) strolling off whereas Woakes (0) was eliminated for a duck after Kumara discovered his exterior edge.
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England gave the impression to be in a spot of hassle as Harry Brook, like Root earlier than him, was dismissed for LBW in opposition to Sri Lanka
Gus Atkinson (1), who missed the morning session resulting from a good quad, solely managed a single via the leg-side earlier than Rathnayake’s scrambled seam supply trapped him in entrance.
Smith added 52 runs off his closing 19 deliveries which contained 10 fours and one six – extra boundaries than the remainder of England’s batters mixed within the second innings.
He dragged England from a precarious 82-7 to 140-8 with sensible batting however was dismissed on the stroke of tea for Vishwa’s third.
Kumara eliminated Stone who added 10 to England’s tally earlier than Bashir (4) was dismissed by Asitha leaving Stone (7no) stranded and the hosts all out for 156 and a lead of 218.
Hull takes three-for on debut
Hull (3-53) took the primary wicket on day three with a brief ball which Dhananjaya de Silva (69) top-edged out to Bashir at deep backward sq. leg.
Woakes (2-42) struck to take away Sri Lanka’s different set batter Kamindu Mendis (64) earlier than Hull trapped Vishwa (0) lbw for a duck to complete with a three-wicket haul and has now claimed extra wickets than he did from his County Championship summer season with Leicestershire.
The 20-year-old was denied a fourth after Stone dropped Kumara at tremendous leg on one. To rub salt into the wound, Sri Lanka’s left-handed batter creamed the next supply via the covers for 4.
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England’s Olly Stone dropped a easy catch on day three of the third Check in opposition to Sri Lanka
Stone made up for his mistake within the area by selecting up the wicket of Rathnayake (7) who edged behind to Smith leaving the vacationers 248-9.
Sri Lanka added 15 extra runs earlier than Asitha Fernando (11) gloved Bashir behind off an tried reverse sweep.
Collingwood: We’ve had higher days
England’s assistant coach Paul Collingwood:
“It certainly hasn’t been one of our better days of Test cricket this year.
“I think we’ve been in situations where the game has been in the balance and we found ways of overcoming that and we always try to constantly put the opposition under pressure.
“Full credit to Sri Lanka I thought they bowled really well. Their lengths were excellent and they obviously got a lot of movement on the ball.
“We’ll always try to find a positive way that we can apply the pressure on an opposition and sometimes it doesn’t work.
“You’ve got some good players out there and they find ways to put you under pressure. Today’s been one of those days.”
Watch day 4 of the third and closing Check between England and Sri Lanka, stay on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10.15am on Monday September 8 (first ball, 11am).
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