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Sri Lanka's captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, and the in-form Kamindu Mendis formed a resilient partnership on the second day of the third Test at the Oval, frustrating England's bowling attack.
Dhananjaya de Silva-Kamindu Mendis' resilient knocks
After a challenging period where Sri Lanka slumped to 93-5 before tea, the duo's unbeaten century stand helped them recover to 211-5 at the close of play. However, bad light forced an early end to the day's proceedings. Sri Lanka still trailed England's first-innings total of 325 runs by 114 runs, a significant deficit built on Ollie Pope's impressive 154-run innings, which marked his first century as England's captain.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis formed an unbeaten partnership of 118 runs, with De Silva on 64 not out and Mendis on 54 not out. This partnership offered Sri Lanka a glimmer of hope as they sought to salvage some pride in the 2-0 series deficit. Mendis, a left-handed batsman with a remarkable Test batting average of over 85, continued his impressive form. This was the seventh time in six matches at this level that the 25-year-old had surpassed 50, including three centuries. De Silva narrowly escaped dismissal for 23 when Josh Hull, a Test debutant, dropped a simple catch at mid-on. The ball passed through Hull's large hands following a miscued drive off spinner Shoaib Bashir. Earlier in the innings, Sri Lanka had gifted England an early advantage when Dimuth Karunaratne was run out for nine runs by Olly Stone's direct hit from short cover. Pathum Nissanka had set off for a non-existent single, leading to Karunaratne's dismissal.
Pathum Nissanka shines with fifty
Nissanka reached his fifty by hitting a four through mid-off off the bowling of Josh Hull, his seventh boundary in 40 balls. However, the collapse continued shortly after. Olly Stone, playing in only his second Test in three years due to injuries, dismissed veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews for three runs, caught by Ollie Pope in the gully. Stone's return to the England team was marked by a 190-run victory at Lord's last week.
Josh Hull's impressive debut
Josh Hull claimed his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Nissanka for 64. Nissanka's drive was expertly caught by a diving Woakes at cover. Sri Lanka's woes continued as Stone dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for a duck, leaving them at 93-5.
Kamindu Mendis once again came to the rescue, batting at number seven despite the team's decision not to promote him up the order. He maintained his composure amidst the team's struggles. With the sky darkening, England introduced spin from both ends immediately after tea, using Bashir and part-time bowler Dan Lawrence to avoid a potential stoppage due to bad light.
De Silva celebrated his lucky escape by hitting a four off Lawrence, reaching his fifty in 81 balls. Meanwhile, the elegant Kamindu Mendis reached his half-century in just 60 balls. Joe Root also bowled a few overs of off-spin before bad light forced an early close. Sri Lanka scored 69 runs without loss in 17 overs of spin bowling after tea.
England's batting collapse on Day 2
Earlier in the day, England's batting order collapsed, losing their last six wickets for only 35 runs. Pope, who resumed the day on 103 not out, had struggled in his previous innings since taking over as captain from the injured Ben Stokes. Sri Lanka's four-man pace attack failed to capitalize on the overcast conditions and a green-tinged pitch, despite De Silva winning the toss. Their performance improved on Day 2, with Milan Rathnayake taking 3-56 in 13.1 overs. Vishwa Fernando dismissed Pope when the 26-year-old hooked a ball to deep square leg, ending his 156-ball innings. Despite his dismissal, Pope's first-class average at his home ground remains exceptionally high. England are aiming for their first home Test clean sweep since 2004, when Michael Vaughan led the team to seven consecutive victories.
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