Nissanka matches Don Bradman’s feat following Sri Lanka’s win over England in third Test | Cricket News

Nissanka matches Don Bradman’s feat following Sri Lanka’s win over England in third Test | Cricket News

NEW DELHI: Sri Lankan batter Pathum Nissanka achieved a significant milestone on Monday during the third Test match against England at The Oval. Nissanka scored an unbeaten 127 in 124 balls, helping Sri Lanka chase down 219 runs and secure a win.
Nissanka joined an elite group of players who have scored centuries in successful run-chases on English soil. This group includes Don Bradman, Graeme Smith, and Gordon Greenidge among others.Nissanka’s century makes him the seventh batter to achieve this feat in England, reported ANI.
West Indies’ Greenidge (214* in 1984), Arthur Morris of Australia (182 in 1948), Australia’s Bradman (173* in 1948), South Africa’s Smith (154* in 2008), West Indies’ Shai Hope (118* in 2017) and West Indies’ Conrad Hunte (108* in 1963) are the players to have smashed centuries in England during successful run-chases.
In the first innings, England posted 325 runs with notable contributions from Ollie Pope, who scored 154 runs, and Ben Duckett, who added 86. Milan Rathnayake was the leading bowler for Sri Lanka, taking three wickets for 56 runs.
Sri Lanka responded with 263 runs in their first innings, with Dhananjaya de Silva scoring 69 and Kamindu Mendis adding 64. Olly Stone and Josh Hull each took three wickets for England.
England’s second innings saw a quick decline as they were bowled out for 156 runs. Jamie Smith was the standout scorer for England with 67 runs. Lahiru Kumara led the bowling effort for Sri Lanka with four wickets for 21 runs.
During the run-chase, Sri Lanka lost Dimuth Karunaratne early. However, Nissanka’s century and his 69-run partnership with Kusal Mendis (39 runs) kept the team on track. Angelo Mathews remained not out with 32 runs.
Nissanka’s performance also saw him surpass Kusal Mendis to become the top run-scorer in international cricket this year, with 1,135 runs in 23 matches at an average of 54.04. This includes four centuries and four fifties.
Sri Lanka’s victory at The Oval marked a significant achievement as Nissanka becomes only the fifth Sri Lankan batter to score a match-winning fourth-inning century. Other Sri Lankan players who have achieved this feat include Kusal Perera, Aravinda de Silva, Mahela Jayawardene, and Dimuth Karunaratne.