ENG VS SL - 3rd Test, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2024

The scoreline might still say 2-1 to England but Sri Lanka can be very proud of what they’ve achieved both in this game and on the tour. Many expected England to walk all over Sri Lanka once more and finish the summer without a blot. Sri Lanka, though, turned up and showed incredible tenacity. In the process, they’ve unearthed some great talents as well. Kamindu Mendis has drawn heaps of praise for his performances in the series and Pathum Nissanka, brought back into the side, played with incredible freedom and made a strong statement. Milan Rathnayake was another revelation as well. He not only was consistent with the ball but also scored some crucial runs down the order. If anything, Sri Lanka’s middle order probably needs some work but they’re looking like a pretty competent side.

13:05 Local Time, 12:05 GMT, 17:35 IST: This is truly a remarkable win for Sri Lanka, just their 4th in England and they can go back home with their heads held high. On the flip side, it’s a bit of an embarrassing loss for England and their summer ends with a blemish. Amidst all the hubris, they got a little ahead of themselves and were quite careless and casual at times. They were in strong positions twice in this game - first when they ended Day 1 on 221/3 and again when they’d claimed a 62-run first innings lead - and managed to bungle up on both occasions to hand back the advantage. Their batting, particularly in the second innings, was quite callous to the situation and it was as if they were caught in delinquent frenzy while throwing their wickets away. To Sri Lanka’s credit, they seized the opportunity and held their nerve despite a lapse permitting a remarkable fightback from Jamie Smith. It left them with 212 to chase in the final innings and no Asian side had chased that many in the fourth innings of a Test in England. That’s when Sri Lanka really put their foot down and took a firm command of the narrative. Led by a glorious century from Pathum Nissanka, Sri Lanka started by mercilessly tearing into England’s attack at the end of the third day before adopting a more measured approach the next day to see themselves home without any real hiccups.

Bashir to Nissanka, FOUR, fittingly Nissanka finishes it off. A consolation win for Sri Lanka and a well-deserved win too. They have been the better side in this game. England run out of steam after 5 wins in a row in the summer. Was a flat delivery outside off, Nissanka wanted to use his feet initially but then seeing the length, rocks back and cuts wide of backward point, runs away. Big beaming smiles from Nissanka and Mathews as they walk off

Bashir to Nissanka, no run, flat good length outside off, Nissanka goes on the back foot to defend

Bashir to Mathews, 1 run, good length outside off, nudged to square leg for one

Josh Hull to Nissanka, no run, back of a length on middle, defended back solidly

Josh Hull to Nissanka, FOUR, more good batting. It's short of length outside off, Nissanka punches firmly and wide of cover, races away

Josh Hull to Mathews, 1 run, short outside off, pulled hard and straight to deep mid-wicket

Josh Hull to Mathews, no run, short outside off, left alone and it loops to Jamie Smith

Josh Hull to Nissanka, 1 run, back of a length on leg-stump, turned in front of square leg and a quick single taken

Josh Hull to Nissanka, no run, short of length down leg, Nissanka glances and misses

Josh Hull [5.0-0-32-0] is back into the attack

Bashir to Mathews, FOUR, no-one for that shot behind square and Mathews once he sees it is tossed up outside off, gets low and sweeps to the deep backward square leg fence. The 100-run stand is up as well

Bashir to Nissanka, 1 run, good length outside off, Nissanka goes on the back foot to punch to deep extra-cover for one

Bashir to Mathews, 1 run, tossed up full outside off, Mathews gets forward to defend in front of cover for one

Bashir to Mathews, no run, beautiful bowling. Totally does Mathews in, who appreciates it with a wry smile, very slow and the ball grips and turns from outside off, Mathews is stuck on the crease, tries to get forward to drive, but is beaten through the gate, past the inside-edge

Slip and a short-leg.

Bashir to Mathews, no run, slower and good length outside off, Mathews goes on the back foot to turn to short-leg

Bashir to Mathews, no run, fired full outside off, Mathews shuffles across and misses the sweep, impact outside off

Shoaib Bashir [2.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack