Smith's Knock Breathes Life into England, but Sri Lanka Inches Closer to Victory
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| Pathum Nissanka's aggressive 53 off 44 balls has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position in the third Test against England / Getty |
England's Jamie Smith put up a spectacular performance with a 67-run knock at The Kia Oval, but it wasn't enough to prevent Sri Lanka from taking the driver's seat in the third Test. Sri Lanka, requiring 219 runs, closed the third day at 94-1, needing just 125 more to win.
Smith's electrifying batting was the highlight of England's otherwise dismal performance. After a slow start, Smith clobbered 52 off the next 18 deliveries, adding 58 runs for the eighth wicket with Olly Stone. However, his dismissal sparked a collapse, with England losing their last four wickets for just 14 runs, setting Sri Lanka a target of 219.
Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by Lahiru Kumara's 4-21, were exceptional, dismissing England for 156. Sri Lanka's batsmen, Pathum Nissanka (53*) and Kusal Mendis (30*), capitalized on some wayward England bowling, ending the day on a strong note.
The Test has seen its fair share of twists and turns, with England's overly casual approach and poor batting leaving their 100% summer in jeopardy. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has a golden opportunity to end their 10-match winless streak against England.
With the pitch offering assistance to bowlers and the batters in good form, the final day promises to be a thrilling encounter. England will need to pull off something special to prevent Sri Lanka from winning.