Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Statistics

Best performances - Batsmen

OJ Pope
OJ Pope
154(156) 19x4 - 2x6
Control %76%
  • Productive Shot
  • flick
  • 36 runs
  • 3x4 - 0x6
27 14 17 41 25 0 8 22
P Nissanka
127(124) 13x4 - 2x6
Control %77%
  • Productive Shot
  • cover drive
  • 31 runs
  • 4x4 - 0x6
16 7 27 13 31 7 11 15

Best performances - Bowlers

CBRLS Kumara
CBRLS Kumara
O7
M1
R21
W4
Eco3.00
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
3W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
OP Stone
OP Stone
O9
M3
R35
W3
Eco3.88
RHB
OFFLEG
1W
1W
  • FTFULL TOSS
  • YYORKER
  • FFULL LENGTH
  • GGOOD LENGTH
  • SGSHORT OF GOOD LENGTH
  • SSHORT LENGTH
LHB
LEGOFF
1W

Match Details

Toss

Sri Lanka , elected to field first

Player Of The Match

Player Of The Series

Series result

England won the 3-match series 2-1

Match number

Season

Hours of play (local time)

11.00 start, Lunch 13.00-13.40, Tea 15.40-16.00, Close 18.00

Match days

6,7,8,9 September 2024 (5-day match)

Test debut

TV Umpires

Reserve Umpire

Match Referee

Points

Sri Lanka 12, England 0

Scorecard Summary

ENGLAND 325(69.1 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

SRI LANKA 263(61.2 OVERS)
1ST INNINGS

ENGLAND 156(34 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

SRI LANKA 219/2(40.3 OVERS)
2ND INNINGS

Scorer: Chandan Duorah | Commentator: Alan Gardner

1.45pm: Okay, that's a wrap for England's Test summer - they missed out on bageling the touring teams 6-0, but there has been lots to be impressed by. Sri Lanka, too, can go home with reasons to be cheerful; having competed sporadically through the first two games, they roared back into this Test after an indifferent opening day. For now, Valkerie Baynes' report should be your first port of call, then stick around for more from Miller, Vish and the team at the ground. And then don't go anywhere, because although autumn appears to be rapidly arriving in the UK, the Australians are also here for a white-ball tour - which starts down in Southampton on Wednesday! Gotta keep on moving on, people. Thanks for all your comments through the series, they are welcome as ever. From myself and Madushka, Matt and Miller, Chandan and the scorers, it's goodbye for now. See ya!

1.20pm: Time for the presentations... Bit of breaking news, before we get there: England have opted to rest Gus Atkinson for the ODI series against Australia, after he was involved in all six Tests this summer. Olly Stone will replace him in the squad

Pathum Nissanka is Player of the Match, after making scores of 64 and 127 not out: "[Speaking through an interpreter] Great opportunity to play in England, I enjoyed the innings. Slightly difficult [conditions] in the morning but I had a positive mindset and went with that. Wanted to play my normal game."

Joe Root is England's Player of the Series and Player of the Summer: "Been a good summer, we've played some good cricket, nice to contribute as a senior player and batter. Great to see this team find new ways to win, new faces come in and put their best foot forward. [Personal form] I feel good. You know how fickle this game is, how quickly thing can change. Keep working hard, enjoying playing in a great team, playing some exciting cricket. You turn up wanting to get stuck in. The last few years have probably been the most enjoyable of my career and long may it continue. [Oval] Came up against different conditions in this game. Want to put pressure on the opposition, didn't quite work out here. It's an opportunity to learn and find ways of evolving and getting better."

Kamindu Mendis is SL's Player of the Series: "Our team did really well in difficult conditions, especially the seamers yesterday and then batting today. You have to face difficult conditions, I just wanted to enjoy the challenge. [Technique] Small changes, even in the first Test, not a big deal but it's important if you are improving and enjoying your cricket. I was challenged by them bowling around the wicket so I moved across to off stump. [No.7] I'm enjoying it, if my team wants me to bat in the top order [I will]. If can do well, whatever position, it helps."

Now for Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva: "One of the happiest moments in my career. We had a tough time in the last two Tests, to come back here and get a win, it is very good for me and my team and my country. [Key to victory] Taking 20 wickets, that's what I've been talking to the boys about. [Nissanka missed first Test] I wanted him in the team but only 11 can play. He came in and showed character. It's hard to bring in a new player to a set batting line-up, but Pathum and Kamindu are here and performing well. It's a good moment, we go back home. We can beat other teams in our home conditions."

And England's Ollie Pope: "Disappointing, third day the we shot ourselves in the foot. They bowled well, credit to them but we weren't at our best. I wouldn't say complacent, it has been a long summer. We came out with the same intentions, but we didn't capitalise on having a first-innings lead. One of those days where it didn't come off. We played some good cricket during the series, we'll look back on that performance. Over the summer we've got that balance right, been clinical at times. [Fast bowlers flagging] Credit to Gus [Atkinson] and Chris [Woakes], six from six this summer, back-to-back Tests are difficult for the fast bowlers. [Spin today?] Been a pitch that swung and seamed, only one rough patch well outside off. Keen to try [Bashir] but we recognised seamers were the best option to get a win. We've got some good learnings. Credit to SL, they've pushed us throughout. We're pretty proud, got two series wins and won five Tests. Unfortunate we couldn't end with a win. [Captaincy] Loved it, had it's challenges. Obviously Stokesy will be back to take over. [Hundred] Been a fair few voices so nice to block that out and put a score together. Unfortunately not in a winning cause but pleased with how I dealt with the noise."

1.05pm: Lots of applause for the visitors, who have scrapped hard throughout this Test, despite the series being beyond them. Pathum Nissanka takes the congratulations as he walks from the field, there's a handshake too on the sidelines for Dhananjaya de Silva from Brendon McCullum. Sri Lanka hadn't beaten England in a Test match since 2014 - during which time they had played ten and lost nine - but they've given their supporters a performance to savour here. From a position of 221 for 3 at the end of day one, England were steadily reeled in - they might have frittered away some of the advantage themselves, but immense credit goes to SL for their second-innings bowling perfomance, as well as they composure shown chasing 219. Fourth Test win overall in England. They made it look very straightforward today

Uwaisul Karnain: "What a remarkable victory for SL! Not often you see a Sri Lankan team without a frontline spinner even in overseas conditions, but SL pacers justified that decision and played with a great heart. Fittingly Nissanka took them home comfortably with his 2nd test century."

Shazran Mausoom: "Best win for Srianka so far in the decade !!"

Apurv: "Always a pleasant feeling for whole of the subcontinental fan base, when one of us beats England in their backyard."

Afeef: "Beating India in an ODI series last month with a weakened bowling attack and now beating England in a Test in England... Promising signs for Sri Lankan cricket"

Sven: "Well played SL. Showed England how they should've gone about it and hopefully taught some of these younger guys coming up not to take the mick out of test cricket. Sure they'll learn from it and hopefully for SL will give the country something to boost the game there."

40.3
4
Shoaib Bashir to Nissanka, FOUR, cut away behind point, victory for SL! Nissanka lets go a cry of delight as the ball disappears towards the boundary. The Oval has borne witness to another tale of Lankan glory, winning by eight wickets to go alongside their 1998 triumph on this ground

"Delighted for Sri Lanka, Nissanka, and test cricket," chirps RobJ. "Also for England - important lessons here"

40.2
0
Shoaib Bashir to Nissanka, no run, tossed up on off, 53mph and blocked
40.1
1
Shoaib Bashir to Mathews, 1 run, worked with the spin through square leg

James : "This has been coming throughout the series and has been ruthlessly exposed by SL here with an excellent performance. But Chris Woakes is no test number 7, and to have persisted with him there while also not having a recognised opener has been asking for trouble and is arrogant of England." I'm not sure arrogance is the charge here - but they've been sloppy, and it's a timely wake-up call at the end of the summer

END OF OVER:
40 | 6 Runs | SL: 214/2

  • Pathum Nissanka123 (122b)
  • Angelo Mathews31 (60b)
  • Josh Hull6-0-38-0
  • Shoaib Bashir3-0-23-0
39.6
0
Hull to Nissanka, no run, back of a length over the stumps, defended
39.5
4
Hull to Nissanka, FOUR, flayed through cover-point! Width on offer and Nissanka accepts, flashes the hands through a cut

Murtaza Mustafa: "Pathum Nissanka and Jayasuball... What a Innings..." And on the ground where Sanath played one of his great knocks, too

39.4
1
Hull to Mathews, 1 run, banged in again and Mathews rolls his wrists on a pull out to deep midwicket

Sri Lanka 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st39FDM KarunaratneP Nissanka
2nd69BKG MendisP Nissanka
3rd111AD MathewsP Nissanka