Sri Lanka achieved one of its great moments on Monday, achieving its fourth-ever Test triumph on English soil with an eight-wicket victory over England in the final Test at The Oval. Opener Pathum Nissanka got well-accumulated 101 not out that created the team’s foundation and helped it win the match.
But England emerged as the series winner by 2-1 after they had expressed a clean sweep of three nil against the West Indies in July of this year. On the fourth day, at 94 for 1 and still 125 runs away from victory, Sri Lanka completed the task in over two hours. Thus, the groundwork for the chase was done the previous day when they bowled the English out for 156 in 34 overs, giving them 219 to get.
Particularly impressive, Nissanka scored 13 fours and two sixes in the match. He took only 107 balls to score his three-figure and made 127 not out. He embraced his achievement, and after the touchdown, he had the joy of receiving clapping hands from the few people in the half-empty stadium. However, this innings raised many questions about his non-presence in the first Test against England in the previous month.
The Sri Lankan team won Test matches in England in 1998, 2006, and 2014. The only wicket to resume on Monday was Kusal Mendis, who played the pull shot and was caught. Angelo Mathews was not out on 32, thereby helping his team make an impressive third-wicket partnership of 111 runs with Nissanka.
