LAHORE MIRROR (AFP) — Pathum Nissanka’s superb unbeaten century guided Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket win over England in the third Test at The Oval on Monday.
Sri Lanka, set a target of 219, reached that total for the loss of two wickets before lunch on the fourth day, with opener Nissanka 127 not out and veteran Angelo Mathews 32 not out in an unbroken partnership of 111.
Victory for Sri Lanka ended a run of seven straight Test defeats by England and was their first on English soil since 2014.
Smith hits back after England collapse against Sri Lanka
England, however, won the three-match series 2-1 following a five-wicket win at Old Trafford and a 190-run success at Lord’s.
Brief scores
England 1st innings 325 (O Pope 154, B Duckett 86; M Rathnayake 3-56)
Sri Lanka 1st innings 263 (D de Silva 69, P Nissanka 64, Ka Mendis 64; O Stone 3-35, J Hull 3-53)
England 2nd innings 156 (J Smith 67; L Kumara 4-21, V Fernando 3-40)
Sri Lanka 2nd innings 219-2 (P Nissanka 127 no)
Result: Sri Lanka won by eight wickets
Series: England win three-match series 2-1
