On the second day of the final Test at The Oval, Sri Lanka demonstrated their strongest performance of the series. The day began with a potent bowling display from the visitors, who restricted England to 325 after the hosts looked set to exceed 400. Despite this early breakthrough, Sri Lanka faced another batting collapse, dropping from a solid 70/1 to a precarious 93/5. However, Dhananjaya de Silva (64*) and Kamindu Mendis (54*) combined for a crucial unbeaten partnership of 118 runs, helping Sri Lanka recover.
The day was cut short by bad light, with play ending an hour earlier than scheduled. In the final session, Dhananjaya and Kamindu capitalized on England’s decision to employ spin bowlers due to diminishing visibility. Both batsmen, adept at handling spin, made the most of the conditions, although Dhananjaya was fortunate to escape after debutant Josh Hull dropped a straightforward catch off Shoaib Bashir. The pair’s resilience was evident as they controlled the innings effectively.
England’s bowling performance was inconsistent; their early struggle with the new ball allowed Sri Lanka to make a strong start, notably through Pathum Nissanka’s fifty. Though England managed to induce a collapse, Dhananjaya and Kamindu steadied the ship. Skipper Ollie Pope experimented with different tactics and field placements but failed to break the partnership, reducing the deficit to 114 runs at the end of the day.
The day’s play was marked by Sri Lanka’s impressive bowling in the morning and a robust batting display by Dhananjaya and Kamindu in the final session. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, having found their rhythm after a tough opening day, ensured that England did not take control. Pope’s remarkable innings of 154, including the fastest 150 at The Oval, stood out as the only highlight for England’s batting on day two. With the game finely poised, the upcoming sessions will be crucial as England prepares to bat last.
BRIEF SCORES: England 325 (Ollie Pope 154, Ben Duckett 86; Milan Rathnayake 3-56, Dhananjaya de Silva 2-18, Vishwa Fernando 2-46) lead Sri Lanka 211/5 (Dhananjaya de Silva 64*, Pathum Nissanka 64, Kamindu Mendis 54*; Olly Stone 2-28) by 114 runs
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