SL steady the ship before bad light ends play early

Sri Lanka were on 211/5 in reply to England’s first-innings total of 325 when bad light stopped play on the second day of the third Test at The Oval. The floodlights were on all day in south London. As the afternoon progressed the light deteriorated, with England only allowed to use their spin bowlers, and fielders sometimes clearly struggling to judge the speed and direction of balls hit their way.

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At the close of play Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis were on 64 and 54, respectively, having put on a classy century partnership to haul their side over the 200-run mark after the visitors gave up a flurry of early wickets.

With the exception of opener Pathum Nissanka (64), who became England debutant Josh Hull’s first international Test wicket victim, the visitors’ top-order batters struggled.