Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka on brink of morale-boosting consolation win versus England

Lahiru Kumara. (Photo by JEKESAI NJIKIZANA/AFP via Getty Images)

Sri Lanka finished Day 3 of the third Test at Kennington Oval, London in a commanding position, needing just another 125 runs with nine wickets in hand. After an excellent effort from the bowlers in England’s second innings, it seems that the Lankan Lions will manage to salvage pride to end the tour.

The visitors started Day 3 at 211/5 after Kamindu Mendis and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva put on a 118-run partnership on the previous day. However, the duo departed in the early goings of Day 3 for 64 and 69, respectively. The lower-order batters couldn’t add too many runs as England eventually took a 62-run first innings lead. Debutant Josh Hull and Olly Stone took three wickets apiece for the hosts.

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In their second innings, England lost their first seven wickets with just 82 runs on the board as Sri Lankan seamers wreaked havoc. Jamie Smith played an excellent counter-attacking innings of 67 off just 50 deliveries to take England’s lead beyond the 200-run mark. However, the tourists didn’t take much time to wrap up the innings once he was dismissed. Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowler, finishing with figures of 4/21 in seven overs. Meanwhile, Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando took three and two wickets, respectively. Milan Rathnayake also chipped in with a solitary wicket.

The Three Lions folded for 156 as Sri Lanka needed just 219 runs to finish the three-match series with a 1-2 score line. The experienced Dimuth Karunaratne departed cheaply but Pathum Nissanka toyed with the England bowlers, hitting boundaries at will. The talented right-handed batter got to his second half-century in the Test match off just 42 balls.

Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis also played his shots, belting six boundaries during an unbeaten knock of 30 off 25 balls. Nissanka remained unbeaten on 53 off 44 balls as the 55-run partnership between the two right-handed batters took Sri Lanka to 94/1 in 15 overs at Stumps on Day 3. England will have to put their best foot forward in the morning session on Day 4 and pick some early wickets to set the cat among the pigeons. If the overnight batters can weather the storm in the first 30 minutes, the run-chase could then turn out to be a cakewalk.

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Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to the action on Day 3: