Player of the Match
Player of the Match

12.56pm: Right, Sri Lanka trail by 62 on first innings and England will have to get through what I am contractually obliged to call an 'awkward mini-session' before the lunch break at 1.45pm local time. A strange innings which featured some low-intensity, low-quality cricket... Pathum Nissanka looked a million dollars during his 64 but couldn't kick on, while DDS and Kamindu made fifties in the gloom last night. Stone the pick of the bowlers, with Hull taking three on debut too.

Dunc: "Asitha's highest test score achieved!" -- He's had a stunning career with the bat in Tests. How did he ever get 30 in a first-class game?!

Ed: "Dominic Cork got 3/93 against SL in 2002. It wasn't his debut and it's not in England, but it's a port city!"

Alfred: "This isn't going to be another 'England can't dismiss a tenth wicket pair' story, is it?" -- No.

Pete: "Not sure I'd call it "burning a review" when SL are 9 down AND England still have reviews in reserve." -- Yes, completely justified in sending it upstairs... though it is burned either way, whether or not the burning was justified!

61.2
W
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, OUT, reverse-sweeps... straight to Smith! Asitha reviews... did this hit the bat, glove, or forearm? Gets him on the sweatband/wriststrap of the glove before hitting his back arm, and loops up to the keeper. Sri Lanka are bowled out for 263

AM Fernando c †Smith b Shoaib Bashir 11 (20m 14b 2x4 0x6) SR: 78.57

Jamie: "I think it's about to get very wet at the Oval, based on the weather at the moment a few miles south of there...."

61.1
4
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, FOUR, slog-swept over midwicket! Lobbed up, and thumped away over the leg side

END OF OVER:
61 | 2 Runs | SL: 259/9

  • Lahiru Kumara5 (29b)
  • Asitha Fernando7 (12b)
  • Olly Stone9-3-35-3
  • Shoaib Bashir11-0-33-0

12.50pm: The players will have a drink... with Sri Lanka nine down and two blokes in who average 8 between them...

60.6
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, banged in short, Kumara shapes to uppercut and gets nowhere near it
60.5
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, back of a length, half an appeal for caught behind... not given! Duckett was running off at third slip, convinced it was out, but Gaffaney wasn't sure. England review. Kumara planted his front foot outside leg stump and shaped to pull... but was struck on the shoulder rather than the glove or bat. Pope burns another review!
60.4
1
Stone to AM Fernando, 1 run, steps outside leg stump, Stone follows him at 89mph/143kph. Tip-and-run into the covers and Barnwell, the sub, throws at the bowler's end... but it's wide! Misses his Gary Pratt moment...
60.3
1
Stone to Kumara, 1 run, back of a length, 85mph/137kph, Kumara is banged on the inner thigh and screams "F---!" as the ball deflects away for a leg bye. Exchanges a few words with Stone for good measure!
60.2
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, short ball, ducks under it

Not sure England even appealed for that. Two minutes of our lives we'll never get back.

60.1
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, back of a length, steered away to gully on the half-volley with an open face... in fact, the umpires have sent this upstairs to see if Pope has snaffled this cleanly... nope, clearly hits the grass first

Nagraj Todur: "Matt, if I am not wrong today is Shubman Gill's birthday. Happy Birthday to wonderful and terrific Indian batsman!!" -- And closer to home, Jos Buttler turns 34 too.

END OF OVER:
60 | 3 Runs | SL: 257/9

  • Asitha Fernando6 (11b)
  • Lahiru Kumara4 (24b)
  • Shoaib Bashir11-0-33-0
  • Olly Stone8-3-33-3
59.6
2
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, 2 runs, tossed up, skips down and launches it out towards deep midwicket. Plugs in the outfield as Duckett gives chase
59.5
0
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, no run, another reverse, bottom-edged to slip on the bounce
59.4
0
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, no run, brings out the reverse, struck on the thigh pad but clearly sliding down
59.3
1
Shoaib Bashir to Kumara, 1 run, chopped away square of the wicket, Brook sprawls to cut it off at backward point
59.2
0
Shoaib Bashir to Kumara, no run, clears the front leg, slaps to short midwicket on the bounce
59.1
0
Shoaib Bashir to Kumara, no run, angling down the leg side, strikes the pad and loops up into the off side

Marcel: "Terrible selfishness by Stone, dropping a sitter to mop up the tail himself"

END OF OVER:
59 | 5 Runs | SL: 254/9

  • Asitha Fernando4 (8b)
  • Lahiru Kumara3 (21b)
  • Olly Stone8-3-33-3
  • Shoaib Bashir10-0-30-0
58.6
4
Stone to AM Fernando, FOUR, shimmies outside leg stump, brings out the five-iron, and swipes him back over his head! Shot yaar!
58.5
0
Stone to AM Fernando, no run, steps outside leg stump, running away from the ball and looking to poke it away through point. Can't lay bat on it
58.4
1
Stone to Kumara, 1 run, mistimed into the leg side, not far from Woakes at short midwicket but just out of reach. 250 up for the Lankans
58.3
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, loose waft outside off stump, can't lay bat on it
58.2
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, clears the front leg, looks to belt him back down the ground. Stone half-stops it in his follow-through
58.1
0
Stone to Kumara, no run, fourth-stump line, 86mph/138kph, left on length

Can Stone finish this off?

END OF OVER:
58 | 1 Run | SL: 249/9

  • Asitha Fernando0 (6b)
  • Lahiru Kumara2 (17b)
  • Shoaib Bashir10-0-30-0
  • Olly Stone7-3-28-3
57.6
0
Shoaib Bashir to AM Fernando, no run, sharp turn, Asitha looks to slog this into the Thames but inside-edges into the back pad

Sri Lanka 4th innings Partnerships

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