Sri Lanka on Verge of Historic Victory Against England in Test Cricket

Sri Lanka requires just 125 more runs to secure a comeback victory in the third test against England and avoid a series whitewash. Pathum Nissanka’s unbeaten 53 put Sri Lanka in command. Despite England's top-order collapse, Jamie Smith's 67 gave them a fighting chance. The game promises further excitement.

Sri Lanka romped to 94-1 before bad light stopped play on Sunday, needing 125 more runs to secure a well-deserved turnaround victory in the third test against England and avoid a 3-0 series whitewash.

Pathum Nissanka led the way with a sparkling 53 not out, making hay in the late evening sunshine after England had earlier been put to the sword under floodlights during a chaotic third day at the Oval. The visitors seem set to claim victory on Monday, barring yet another twist in a test match full of them.

England swiftly squandered a first innings lead of 62 with a tired display of top-order slogging, and then almost redeemed themselves thanks to one of their new stars. That they even had 218 to defend was down almost solely to Jamie Smith, one of England's discoveries of the summer, as he blasted an astonishing 67 to paper over the earlier capitulation.

Sri Lanka bowled well, finding consistent movement through the air after lunch. Vishwa Fernando took the prize wicket of Root, rapping him on the boot with an in-swinger, and then doing the same to Harry Brook.

England's latest surprise test selection, the 6'7" (2.01m) left arm seamer Josh Hull, had Sri Lanka's captain de Silva caught hooking in the deep and later took the third wicket of his fledgling test career, trapping Vishwa Fernando lbw. Chris Woakes between those two wickets had seized the prize scalp of Mendis, Sri Lanka's best batsman of the series, with a fine ball that seamed away from him and found the edge.

Olly Stone removed the dangerous tail-end hitter Rathnayake before Shoaib Bashir mopped up Asitha Fernando, to give the hosts what seemed at the time a useful first innings lead.

(Reporting By Lawrence White Editing by Christian Radnedge and Pritha Sarkar)

(With inputs from agencies.)