‌ENG vs SL | Twitter reacts to Nissanka and bowling brilliance keep visitors commanding on moving day

Arijit Kundu

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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Sri Lanka showcased a terrific comeback with the ball by bundling England for 156 despite their lower order struggles against the host attack in the morning session. A fifty from Pathum Nissanka kept Sri Lanka in the chase, needing 125 more runs to win with nine wickets and a couple of days left.

The sky turned gloomy with the fall of Dhananjaya de Silva (69) early in the morning as Sri Lanka’s valiant sixth-wicket partnership failed to prosper on the third day.  Subsequently, a passing shower paused the game briefly before Chris Woakes outdid Kamindu Mendis for 64. The Lankan tail failed to withstand the home attack under bowling-friendly conditions as they were bundled for 263, trailing by 62 runs. 

England’s aim of whitewash took a toll as Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope fell at the stroke of Lunch with the score reflecting 35/2. 

Following the first session, Lawrence looked to play attacking strokes against the Lankan bowlers but failed to do so for long as Lahiru outsmarted him, paving the way for three more wickets by the next 32 balls. Subsequently, Gus Atkinson failed to withstand against the Lankan fire before Jamie Smith counterattacked them in the last hour of the second season. His 50-ball 67 contributed to a 58-run eighth-wicket stand with Olly Stone before his approach led to his sudden downfall with England’s score at 140/8 in 32 overs. 

Following Tea, the English side struggled with the bat as Lahiru Kumara and Asitha Fernando cleared the clutter in haste with the former claiming a four-for. 

Chasing a target of 219 runs with plenty of cricket left in the day, Pathum Nissanka eluded the fans with sumptuous cricketing strokes against the hosts. However, Dimuth Karunaratne failed to support him, offering a caught and bowled opportunity to Chris Woakes with 39 runs by the seventh over. In Kusal Mendis’ presence, the youngster kept on nullifying the english attack for a good time with the 42 runs in the next six overs. Soon, Nissanka raced to his fifty and Pope forced spinners operation as it started drizling later in the day before the play called off with the Lankans needing 125 runs to win.

Exiting day ahead

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