Nissanka guides Sri Lanka to remarkable eight-wicket win with century

THE OVAL: Not many teams win a Test match in England. To do so in conditions quite alien to 14 of the 18 players in the squad picked for the tour was quite an achievement as Sri Lanka pulled off a historic eight-wicket win over England on the fourth morning of the third and final Test yesterday at the Oval to repeat their success of 1998 at the same venue.

On that occasion, the Oval wicket was flat and dry and suited the off-spin of Muttiah Muralitharan who went on to capture 16 wickets and put England on the mat.  

Yesterday the conditions were quite the reverse. It was cold and windy as Sri Lanka began the day at 92-1 chasing 219 and requiring a further 127 runs with nine wickets in hand. Under the circumstances, it never was going to be easy against an England bowling attack which was well versed to these conditions.

But to Pathum Nissanka who had raced away to a half-century off 42 balls the previous day, the target didn’t offer any challenge as he continued from where he left off to post a magnificent century and guide his team to a glorious win, only Sri Lanka’s fourth in 21 Tests in England and their first against England anywhere for ten years, the last being at Headingley in 2014.

In the company of the most experienced player in the side, Angelo Mathews who led Sri Lanka to victory at Headingley, Leeds in 2014, Nissanka took his team over the line in an unbroken 111-run stand for the third wicket.

Nissanka ended up scoring 127* off 124 balls (13 fours, 2 sixes) and looked a class apart in scoring his second Test century. He didn’t put a foot wrong and repelled everything that England threw at him. To come over here in these conditions and rack up a hundred meant an awful lot. Not trying to over hit the ball but playing it late Nissanka deserved his century which was scored under high pressure especially when chasing.

Nissanka lost Kusal Mendis in the fifth over of the morning top edging a pull to long leg with his score on 39, but found in Mathews an able partner and together they thwarted England to record the highest successful run chase made by an Asian team in England beating the previous record of 180 by Pakistan against Australia at Headingley in 2010. Mathews finished on 32* off 61 balls (3 fours) playing the role of sheet anchor while Nissanka plundered runs from the other end.

Considering the way Sri Lanka struggled in the first two Tests yesterday’s win was truly remarkable and they can return home with heads held high. Sri Lanka’s win spoiled England’s hopes of a blemish less summer of winning all six Tests and the chance of repeating their success of 2004 when they won seven.

It was an embarrassing loss for England and their Bazball approach especially in this Test came for a lot of criticism as they at times played careless and casual cricket to hand back the advantage to Sri Lanka.

To Sri Lanka’s credit it must be said, they seized the opportunity and held their nerve despite a remarkable fightback from Jamie Smith which left them with 219 to chase in the final innings. That’s where Sri Lanka really put their foot down and took firm command. Led by Nissanka’s glorious century they made England bite the dust for the first time this summer.

The final scoreline will still say 2-1 to England but Sri Lanka can be proud of what they have achieved both in this game and on the tour. Many expected England to walk all over them once more and finish the summer without a blot, but Sri Lanka turned up and showed incredible tenacity.

Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva described the win “as one of the happiest moments in my career”.

“We had a tough time in the last two Tests, but to come back here and get a win, it is very good for me and my team and my country. Taking 20 wickets, that's what I've been talking to the boys about,” said De Silva.

“Nissanka came and showed character. It's hard to bring in a new player to a set batting line-up, but Pathum and Kamindu (Mendis) performed well here. It's a good moment. We can beat other teams in our home conditions.”

England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope said: “Disappointing, the third day we shot ourselves in the foot. They bowled well, credit to them but we weren't at our best. I wouldn't say complacent, it has been a long summer. We came out with the same intentions, but we didn't capitalise on having a first-innings lead. One of those days where it didn't come off. We played some good cricket during the series and we'll look back on that performance.”

For Sri Lanka’s interim head coach Sanath Jayasuriya it was a memorable day too. As a player he scored a double century in Sri Lanka’s 10-wicket win at the Oval in 1998, and yesterday he savoured the team’s success as a coach.

SRI LANKA’S TEST WINS IN ENGLAND

By 10 wickets – The Oval, 1998 (Captain Arjuna Ranatunga)

By 134 runs – Trent Bridge, 2006 (Captain Mahela Jayawardene)

By 100 runs - Headingley, 2014 (Captain Angelo Mathews)

By 8 wickets - The Oval, 2024 (Captain Dhananjaya de Silva)

SCOREBOARD

ENGLAND 1ST INNINGS 325

SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 263

ENGLAND 2ND INNINGS 156

SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS

(overnight 94-1)

P. Nissanka not out    127 

D. Karunaratne c and b Woakes  8

Kusal Mendis c Bashir b Atkinson 39

A. Mathews not out    32

Extras: (b-4, lb-8, w-1) 13

Total: (2 wickets, 40.3 overs) 219

Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Karunaratne), 2-108 (Kusal Mendis).

Bowling: Woakes 12-0-52-1, Atkinson 11-1-44-1, Hull 6-0-38-0, Stone 8-0-45-0 (1w), Bashir 3.3-0-28-0.