Falling from 20-1 to 82-7, to say England have been floundering within the second innings of the third Take a look at towards Sri Lanka is an understatement.
After Ben Duckett (7) cheaply went for the primary wicket, Ollie Pope (7), Dan Lawrence (35), Joe Root (12), Harry Brook (3), Chris Woakes (0), and Gus Atkinson (1) fell throughout the house of 20 overs, the hosts main by simply 144 and Sri Lanka with their tails up.
It was an engrossing innings to look at, Sri Lanka protecting England’s high order beneath wraps as their lead of 60 heading into the second innings was wanting prefer it may show too little.
Then, Jamie Smith (67) got here to the crease.
After taking a little bit little bit of time to get going, Smith then took cost in speedy trend, choosing up 20 runs from only one Milan Rathnayake (1-43) over with three fours and a giant six.
Fifteen runs then got here from a Vishwa Fernando (3-40) over because the boundaries continued to stream, his third Take a look at century in simply six matches coming from simply 43 deliveries, 44 runs coming from 15 balls.
“This is the exact reason he was selected in the side, for these scenarios,” mentioned Stuart Broad.
“He can find the gap and has the power.”
Dismissed after securing a speedy 67 runs from 50 balls from a Vishwa Fernando supply, the teen had introduced his facet again into the sport, giving England a 202-run lead at tea which they might solely lengthen to 218 all out.
That put the sport on a knife’s edge and England’s unbeaten Take a look at summer time firmly beneath risk.
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Sky Sports activities’ Mark Butcher hails Jamie Smith’s summer time for England after his quick-fire 50 towards Sri Lanka on day three of the third Take a look at
“The game is 100% in the balance. It looked like England might not even make the 100 mark at one point,” mentioned Mark Butcher.
“[Jamie] Smith was epic, it’s a shame he lost his wicket on the stroke of tea but the movement we’ve seen from that innings means chasing won’t be easy,
“The sport proper within the steadiness, Sri Lanka ran out of a little bit of steam in the direction of the top and tactically received confused, however my goodness me, we have got a Take a look at match on our arms right here.
“In the space of a couple of overs, he has put the game in England’s favour and he has been unbelievably impressive and another superb pick from the England selectors.
“Nonetheless, that ultimate ball earlier than tea may win Sri Lanka the Take a look at match.”
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Chris Woakes takes the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne to say England’s first wicket of the second innings on day three of the third Take a look at towards Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka in cost after England’s ‘worst’ day in new period
That ultimate ball earlier than tea is the one which noticed Smith fall and can it win Sri Lanka the match? They might say it very a lot helps alongside a optimistic night session for his or her batters.
The guests head into day 4 in cost on 94-1 after Pathum Nissanka (53no) and Kusal Mendis (30no) rattled alongside, their first win over England in Take a look at matches since 2014 firmly of their sights.
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Check out one of the best of Pathum Nissanka’s 50 that lead the Sri Lankan cost throughout day three of the third Take a look at towards England
For Kumar Sangakkara, it has to go down as a “fantastic” day for Sri Lanka with their “belief” protecting them within the sport.
“It’s been an excellent day,” he mentioned. “There was a little bit of a period where Jamie Smith was reversing pressure on Sri Lanka and they looked a little bit rattled, but at no stage did I see the belief ebbing away.
“They have been in there from the morning to win. England gave them various probabilities to get in, they grabbed them, they took a number of wickets, after which popping out and batting I beloved the intent the openers confirmed and Kusal Mendis.
“All in all, it’s a fantastic day for Sri Lanka, but a lot more to do tomorrow.”
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Sky Sports activities’ Mark Butcher and Kumar Sangakkara taker a better have a look at the performances of each Sri Lanka and England after the conclusion of day three of the third Take a look at on the Oval
Certainly, it may go down as England’s worst day of their new period, Smith’s brilliance not even sufficient to avoid wasting them from what might be an “embarrassing” defeat.
“It was shocking. They managed to knock Sri Lanka over this morning, so that part went well, but then you get bowled out in 34 overs,” mentioned Mark Butcher.
“Yes, there was movement out there and Vishwa Fernando and Kumara had that excellent spell, but they had a 60-run lead and batted like it was a 160-run lead and donated a few top-order wickets.
“It has been turned on its head. England, maybe a little bit little bit of end-of-term complacency and a few wonderful cricket from Sri Lanka, and at the moment are staring down the barrel of not solely failing to do the clear sweep however a reasonably embarrassing defeat from two positions of energy.”
Monday ninth September 10:15am
Watch day 4 of the third and ultimate Take a look at between England and Sri Lanka, dwell on Sky Sports activities Cricket from 10.15am on Monday September 8 (first ball, 11am).
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