Sri Lanka demonstrated grit and resilience on Day 2 of the third Test against England, with Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Kamindu Mendis all hitting crucial half-centuries. This performance came after England posted a first-innings total of 325, anchored by Ollie Pope’s outstanding 154. At one stage, Sri Lanka appeared to be in trouble, collapsing to 93-5, but the middle-order partnership between de Silva and Mendis has given the visitors a fighting chance.
Nissanka Starts Strong
Opening the innings, Pathum Nissanka played a stylish knock, scoring 50 runs in just 40 balls, including seven boundaries. His form has been solid throughout the series, and he showed his intent early on by punishing England’s pace attack. However, a miscommunication with Dimuth Karunaratne led to a run-out, stalling Sri Lanka’s early momentum.
Nissanka’s innings gave Sri Lanka a promising start before they began to falter, with veteran Angelo Mathews falling cheaply. This collapse made it look like Sri Lanka might struggle to match England’s total.
De Silva and Mendis Fight Back
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis came together at a critical juncture. De Silva, who has been one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batsmen, played an assured innings, remaining unbeaten at 64. He was dropped early on but made England pay for their mistake with a determined knock, which included several well-timed boundaries. His ability to rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking, and he capitalized on loose deliveries from England’s bowlers.
Kamindu Mendis, who came into this Test with an impressive average of over 85, continued his fine form, scoring 54 not out by the close of play. Mendis has been in the form of his life, consistently passing fifty in his recent matches. His composure at the crease, combined with his ability to find gaps in the field, made him a perfect partner for de Silva.
Together, de Silva and Mendis stitched together an unbroken stand of 118 runs, guiding Sri Lanka to 211-5 at the end of Day 2. Their partnership was marked by careful shot selection and resilience against England’s potent bowling attack, giving Sri Lanka hope as they look to build a competitive total.
England’s Performance
England’s bowlers started the day on a high after a strong first innings total of 325, courtesy of Ollie Pope’s brilliant 154. Stone and Hull took key wickets to keep the pressure on Sri Lanka. However, their intensity faded as the day progressed, and they struggled to make further breakthroughs against Sri Lanka’s middle order.
England will be disappointed with their missed opportunities, including a dropped catch that could have seen de Silva dismissed for 23. This allowed Sri Lanka to recover from a precarious position and put England on the back foot going into Day 3.
What’s Next?
With Sri Lanka trailing by 114 runs, the third day will be crucial. De Silva and Mendis will look to continue their partnership and help Sri Lanka take the lead, while England will hope for early wickets to wrestle back control of the match. If Sri Lanka can bat deep, they may challenge England, but the game remains finely balanced.
This Test has already seen dramatic twists, and with both teams fighting hard, the next couple of sessions could be pivotal in determining the outcome of the match. Sri Lanka’s resilience, led by de Silva and Mendis, has kept them in the contest, but they’ll need more from their lower order if they hope to push past England’s total and set up a competitive fourth innings.
The Test continues to be a battle of nerves, with England looking to secure a whitewash, and Sri Lanka seeking to end the series on a high note.