Riding on Pathum Nissanka's remarkable century, Sri Lanka registered an emphatic eight-wicket victory over England in the third and final Test match at The Oval on Monday (September 9).
Sri Lanka, set a target of 219, reached that total for the loss of two wickets before lunch on the penultimate day. While opener Nissanka returned with 127 not out, veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews stayed unbeaten on 32 as the duo shared an unbroken partnership of 111 runs.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan bowlers did a brilliant job to bundle out England for 156 in the second innings. Lahiru Kumara (4-21), Vishwa Fernando (3-40), Asitha Fernando (2-49) and Milan Rathnayake (1-43) shared the wickets among them.
Victory for Sri Lanka ended a run of seven straight Test defeats by England. It was their first Test win on English soil since 2014.
England, however, clinched the three-match series 2-1 on the basis of their victories in the first two Tests. The hosts won the series opener by five wickets at Old Trafford, and followed it with a 190-run triumph at Lord’s.
Cricket fraternity lauded the Sri Lankan team for showing resilience to emerge victorious in the final Test of the series.
Here are the reactions:
