Pathum Nissanka Joins Elite List with Century in Historic Run-Chase at The Oval

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka becomes the seventh batter to score a century in a successful run-chase on English soil, joining cricket legends like Don Bradman. Nissanka's unbeaten 127 led Sri Lanka to victory against England in the third Test at The Oval.

Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka on Monday joined the elite company of Don Bradman, Graeme Smith, and Gordon Greenidge, becoming the seventh batter to score a century in successful run-chases on English soil. Nissanka accomplished this during the third Test against England at The Oval. After a fine half-century in the first inning, Nissanka smashed an unbeaten 127 in 124 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes, maintaining a strike rate over 102 in the run-chase of 219 runs.

Other players to achieve similar feats in England include West Indies' Greenidge (214* in 1984), Arthur Morris of Australia (182 in 1948), Australia's Bradman (173* in 1948), South Africa's Smith (154* in 2008), West Indies' Shai Hope (118* in 2017), and West Indies' Conrad Hunte (108* in 1963). Nissanka is only the fifth Sri Lankan to score a match-winning fourth-inning century, joining the ranks of Kusal Perera, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, and Dimuth Karunaratne.

Nissanka has now surpassed teammate Kusal Mendis to become the leading run-scorer in international cricket for the year. In 2024, he scored 1,135 runs in 23 matches at an average of 54.04, with four centuries and four fifties. Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal follows him at number three.

In the third match, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field. England was bowled out for 325 in their first innings, with standout performances from Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett. Milan Rathnayake led the Sri Lankan bowling attack with three wickets. Sri Lanka, in their first innings, managed 263 runs, thanks to a 127-run partnership between captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis.

England's second innings collapsed to 156, with Lahiru Kumara claiming four wickets. Sri Lanka needed 219 runs to win, which they achieved for the loss of just two wickets, thanks to Nissanka's unbeaten century and Angelo Mathews' solid contribution.

(With inputs from agencies.)