Author- Sanket Shivansh Srivastava.
This Blog was first posted Here.
The final Test of England's summer wasn’t supposed to end this way. Fresh off five consecutive Test wins, the hosts were confidently eyeing a flawless 6-0 summer sweep. But Sri Lanka had other plans. With an awe-inspiring eight-wicket win at The Oval, Sri Lanka not only defied the odds but also etched their name in the history books. The victory was their fourth Test triumph on English soil, and it came on the back of a blistering unbeaten century by Pathum Nissanka—one that will be remembered for years to come.
England’s Strong Start: Pope's Brilliant Century
England came into this game with sky-high expectations. Despite missing their talismanic captain Ben Stokes, they had demonstrated exceptional form, dominating their opponents throughout the summer. The absence of Stokes seemed to matter little as the new captain Olie Pope scored his seventh century. Pope's 154 anchored England's first innings score of 325, but even he couldn’t foresee what would unfold in the coming days.
Ben Duckett’s rapid 86 set the tone early on, with England moving at a brisk pace. The attacking style that has become the hallmark of the Bazball era was in full display, as Pope and Duckett powered England past the 200-run mark with relative ease. But despite these performances, there were warning signs. Dan Lawrence, Harry Brook, and Jamie Smith all failed to capitalize on their starts, and England’s middle-order wobbled just enough to allow Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope. By the time Milan Rathnayake and Dhananjaya de Silva mopped up the lower order, England were all out for 325—a solid total, but not insurmountable.
Sri Lanka’s First Innings: A Fight to Stay Afloat
Sri Lanka’s response didn’t exactly inspire confidence at first. Their top order crumbled under the pace and movement of England’s seamers. Pathum Nissanka led the charge with a quick-fire 64, but wickets kept tumbling. Karunaratne’s uncharacteristic run-out and Chandimal’s golden duck left Sri Lanka reeling at 93 for 5. It seemed like England was on course for another clinical win.
But Dhananjaya de Silva had other plans. The Sri Lankan captain, combining dogged defense with timely aggression, found an able partner in Kamindu Mendis, who ground his way to 64. The pair’s crucial stand rescued Sri Lanka from collapse, but once they fell, the tail didn’t wag for long. Sri Lanka managed 263—well behind England but enough to keep them in the contest, especially given the bowling-friendly conditions.
England Collapse Under Pressure
As the match progressed, the pressure seemed to shift. What had initially appeared as a straightforward match for England began to slip through their fingers. Their second innings was a disaster. Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando took full advantage of the swinging conditions, decimating the top order with precision.
Ben Duckett fell for just 7, and once again, England’s batters floundered. Joe Root, the rock of their lineup, was trapped lbw by Vishwa Fernando for just 12, and Harry Brook perished after contributing only 3 runs to the scoreboard. England’s middle order was blown away in a session of frantic shot-making that resembled panic more than planning. When Jamie Smith’s defiant 67 finally ended, England had been bundled out for just 156, leaving Sri Lanka with a target of 219—a daunting chase on English soil, but certainly within reach.
Pathum Nissanka: The Hero Sri Lanka Needed
From the moment Sri Lanka stepped out to chase 219, there was a sense of determination in the air. Pathum Nissanka, in particular, was in a zone of his own. Starting with controlled aggression, he blazed his way to a century that will be remembered as one of the finest in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history. Nissanka’s intent was clear from the outset—he wasn’t just going to anchor the innings; he was going to take the game away from England.
The fact that no Asian team had ever successfully chased a target over 200 runs in England added another layer of complexity to Sri Lanka’s task. But Nissanka was undeterred. His 127 off just 124 balls was a masterclass in adaptability, as he first attacked England’s weary seamers on Day 3 and then shifted gears to play a more cautious, calculated innings on Day 4.
Partnering with Dimuth Karunaratne, who added just 8 runs at the top of the order, the start of the Sri Lankan innings was indeed a nervous one. When Karunaratne was dismissed, there was still alot of work to be done, but Nissanka held firm, dispatching boundaries at will. By the time Kusal Mendis fell for 39, Sri Lanka were already cruising and required only 110 more runs to win. Angelo Mathews, the veteran, then joined Nissanka to calmly guide their team past the finish line.
England’s Disappointment: What Went Wrong?
For England, this defeat was a sobering reminder that even the best-laid plans can unravel under pressure. Their batting collapse in the second innings, especially from seasoned players like Root and Brook, was as surprising as it was disappointing. Ollie Pope, the stand-in captain, admitted post-match that Day 3 had been the turning point. England’s inability to capitalize on their strong start, combined with Sri Lanka’s relentless bowling, shifted the momentum.
Pope’s frustration was evident as he spoke about the collapse. "We shot ourselves in the foot," he admitted. England’s aggressive brand of cricket, which had served them so well throughout the summer, seemed reckless on this occasion. The middle order's shot selection was questionable, and their over-reliance on Root was glaring. Without significant contributions from other key batters, England looked out of ideas.
On the bowling front, England's pace attack had been reliable all summer, but it failed to make the kind of impact that was expected at The Oval. Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson toiled hard, but Sri Lanka’s batters, especially Nissanka, played them with supreme confidence. Perhaps the fatigue of a long summer caught up with the English bowlers, but credit must also go to Sri Lanka for the way they handled the pressure.
Sri Lanka’s Triumph: A Glimpse of the Future?
For Sri Lanka, this was more than just a win—it was a statement. After two difficult weeks, they found their rhythm in this game, and in doing so, they unearthed several future stars. Nissanka’s innings was the highlight, but Kamindu Mendis and Milan Rathnayake also played vital roles. Sri Lanka’s pace attack, led by Avishka Fernando Lahiru Kumara and Vishwa Fernando, out-bowled England on their home turf—a remarkable feat in itself.
Captain Dhananjaya de Silva hailed the victory as one of the happiest moments of his career, emphasizing the resilience his team showed. "Taking 20 wickets in these conditions is not easy," he said. Sri Lanka had not only taken those wickets but had done so in style, outplaying England at their own game.
This win was also a significant confidence booster as Sri Lanka looks ahead to future challenges. With players like Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, and Rathnayake coming to the fore, Sri Lanka’s Test future looks bright. They have the talent, and if this performance is anything to go by, they also have the temperament to compete against the best in the world.
Final Thoughts: A Summer to Remember
While England’s summer didn’t end as they had hoped, the 5-1 record is still an evidence of their strength as a Test side. But the real story of this final Test belongs to Sri Lanka—a team that defied expectations and delivered one of the most memorable victories in their history.
As the curtains fall on this Test summer, Sri Lanka can return home with their heads held high. They’ve proven they can compete—and win—against the best, even in foreign conditions. And for Pathum Nissanka, this innings will forever be a part of his legacy as one of Sri Lanka’s finest young talents.
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