Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva stated Pathum Nissanka had proved himself the “finest batsman” within the nation after the opener’s excellent century on the Oval helped the group finish its 10-year anticipate a Take a look at win over England.
Nissanka made 127 not out as Sri Lanka cruised to the goal of 219, earlier than lunch on the fourth day because it received the third Take a look at by eight wickets. England took the three-match collection 2-1 after victories at Outdated Trafford (by 5 wickets) and Lord’s (by 190 runs).
The victory was a big second for Sri Lanka whose final Take a look at-match win over England was a 100-run success at Headingley again in 2014.
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“This is among the happiest moments in my profession and my life,” stated de Silva.
“We had a troublesome time within the final two weeks so to come back right here and get a win in English circumstances towards an English group, it’s a excellent second for me, my group, and my nation as properly.”
The victory was a private triumph for Nissanka, who solely returned to Take a look at cricket following a two-year exile at Lord’s. The 26-year-old was named player-of-the-match after additionally making a fantastic 64 in Sri Lanka’s first innings on the Oval.
“The second he got here in, he proved he’s the perfect batsman in Sri Lanka proper now,” stated De Silva.
England captain Ollie Pope, in the meantime, admitted his facet “shot ourselves within the foot” after two poor batting shows value it the possibility of a primary house Take a look at sweep since 2004 after a rejuvenated group overwhelmed the West Indies 3-0 earlier within the season.
“It’s been disappointing, on the third day we shot ourselves within the foot,” stated England captain Ollie Pope.
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Getty Photographs
“It’s been disappointing, on the third day we shot ourselves within the foot,” stated England captain Ollie Pope.
| Picture Credit score:
Getty Photographs
Pope, on his Surrey house floor, scored his first century since stepping as skipper for the injured Ben Stokes in the beginning of this collection.
Regardless of his 154, England declined from 261-3 to 325 all out in its first innings. Worse adopted because it was dismissed for a mere 156 in simply 34 overs second time round.
“It’s been disappointing, on the third day we shot ourselves within the foot,” stated Pope.
“With the bat we weren’t ok and, within the second innings, we weren’t as much as it.”
When play resumed on Monday, Sri Lanka wanted solely 125 extra runs for victory, whereas England required 9 wickets.
Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson confirmed the pressure of taking part in six Assessments in a comparatively brief house of time, whereas the 20-year-old duo Josh Hull and Shoaib Bashir by no means threatened to derail Sri Lanka’s run chase.
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Atkinson, who had been carrying a quad damage, was subsequently withdrawn from the one-day squad to face Australia, with Olly Stone taking his place.
Atkinson, a 26-year-old Surrey fast, made his debut throughout England nice James Anderson’s worldwide farewell in July and has loved a sensational begin to his Take a look at profession, taking 34 wickets in six matches at a mean of simply 20.17.
Atkinson seems set for a key function throughout England’s tour of Pakistan subsequent month, with county colleague Pope saying: “Clearly there’s just a few of our guys carrying just a few small accidents however credit score to them on the way in which they fronted up and cracked on.”