LONDON, Sep 8: Sri Lanka will chase 219 for victory in the third and final Test after bowling England out for 156 in their second innings.
A spell of incisive swing bowling led by Vishwa Fernando kept the tourists in the contest before Jamie Smith’s brutal rearguard signalled an England fightback on the third afternoon at The Oval.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were making the ball move in what were by far the brightest conditions of the match so far, despite a couple of short interruptions for what amounted to sun-showers. Vishwa was particularly devastating with his late inswingers pinning Joe Root and Harry Brook lbw.
But then Smith pummelled 67 runs off 50 balls, including 20 runs off one Milan Rathnayake over to lead England’s recovery from 82 for 7 to 140 for 8.
Smith scored 52 off the last 19 balls he faced before he fell on the final ball before tea, picking out short midwicket to give Vishwa his third and England a lead of 202.
By the time Olly Stone fell to give Lahiru Kumara his fourth wicket and Asitha Fernando had Shoaib Bashir also caught behind by Nishan Madushka, standing in for injured keeper Dinesh Chandimal, England had stretched their advantage to 218. (Agencies)
