Sri Lanka set 219 to win third Test against England

Sri Lanka were set a target of 219 to win the third Test against England at the Oval on Sunday.

England collapsed to 82-7 in their second innings before wicketkeeper Jamie Smith’s dashing 67 on his Surrey home ground helped them recover to 156 all out.

Lahiru Kumara took 4-21 and fellow paceman Vishwa Fernando 3-40, with Sri Lanka attempting to avoid an eighth successive Test match defeat by England.

Meanwhile England, already 2-0 up in this three-match series, are bidding for a first home Test clean sweep since 2004 after routing the West Indies 3-0 earlier in the season.

AFP