England suffer EMBARASSING defeat to Sri Lanka by eight wickets thanks to Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century – as hosts fail to complete 100 per cent home summer for first time in 20 years
- Sri Lanka started the fourth day needing 125 more runs to win with nine wickets in hand
- They reached the target with ease as Pathum Nissanka scored an unbeaten ton
- The defeat meant England were unable to end the summer with a 100 percent record
England’s hopes of an unbeaten summer of Tests were dashed at the Kia Oval when Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten century gave Sri Lanka a deserved eight-wicket victory.
England were aiming for a sixth straight home win and had gone without a home win for the first time since 2004. But a disappointing performance in south London gave England a wake-up call.
The real damage had been done with the bat: seven for 64 in the first innings and five for 26 in the second, undermining England’s efforts. Moreover, an inexperienced bowling attack was unable to plug the gaps on the fourth day.
Sri Lanka were chasing 219 wickets for their first win against England in a decade but needed another 125 wickets with nine wickets in hand and crossed the finish line in style.
Gus Atkinson provided the only breakthrough on Monday morning when Nissanka claimed the lead role with a stylish 127 not out.
England suffered a hugely embarrassing defeat to Sri Lanka at The Oval as the visitors comfortably met their target of 219 runs from just two wickets behind on the fourth day
It was an embarrassing result for stand-in captain Ollie Pope after England’s complacent display
Pathum Nissanka scored a stunning unbeaten 127 to lead Sri Lanka to a memorable victory
Angelo Mathews (left), who was part of Sri Lanka’s last Test victory in England, finished 32 not out
England may be wondering how they got into such a precarious position after hitting 261 for three on the second morning. Ollie Pope’s hundred looks to have laid another strong foundation, but they will be looking back on a handful of reckless dismissals from top-order players.
For the tourists it was a memorable end to a tiring journey and their victory will go down in the books alongside other famous victories on these shores – here at the Oval in 1998, at Trent Bridge in 2006 and at Headingley in 2014.
Angelo Mathews scored 160 that time at Leeds and the 37-year-old stood by Nissanka at the end of the game, a fitting farewell for the long-serving veteran.
England knew they had to do something quickly to turn the match in their favour, but Sri Lanka did a good job of dampening the tension in the early stages.
The first hour was not much of a spectacle, but they did score 43 runs, got Nissanka back into a steady rhythm and made sure the loss of Kusal Mendis did not deter them.
Mendis fell for 39 in the fifth over, tempted by a short ball from Atkinson but unable to get enough on his hook. Shoaib Bashir stood on fine leg and leapt to take an excellent catch, using every bit of his 6ft 4in frame to make up for the ground required.
Nissanka proved less susceptible to carnage and continued to chip away at an ever-shrinking target. The rapid flow of boundaries that came on the third night had dried up to a trickle, but the leisurely pace played into Sri Lanka’s hands.
Pope shuffled his deck but struggled to find a combination that worked. Josh Hull, strapping on his thigh, was a metre off the pace in a quiet two-over spell that threatened little danger and Bashir was offered just one over – at a price of 10 – before he was hooked.
Hull later returned for a final attempt, but it may be some time before the 20-year-old pacer gets another chance in the Test arena.
Gus Atkinson took England’s only wicket on the fourth day when he dismissed Kusal Mendis for 39
England’s dramatic collapse in the second innings was a major reason for their defeat
Despite the series win, England were reminded that they cannot take results for granted
Chris Woakes was brought back in after a short break but was subbed out twice as Sri Lanka added eight cheap extras to their tally.
England were looking increasingly tense as the Sri Lankans began their lap of honour, Nissanka smashing his ton in just 107 balls before launching Olly Stone into the stands for a couple of celebratory sixes.
Nissanka offered a tricky chance that Bashir couldn’t take, but he deserved a bit of luck. He was the man to finish it, leaning back to slice the spinner for four.
England leave a transitional summer in which they have revamped their Test team with an injection of new blood, with five comfortable wins and just one defeat. But it was a reminder that results cannot be taken for granted.