Sri Lanka began the fourth morning of this Third Test just 125 runs from a famous, consolatory victory and England still nine wickets shy of completing a perfect summer of six wins out of six.
Given the gap between the sides across the first two Tests of this series, both won by England comfortably enough in the end, there was optimism that a summer short on jeopardy and consequence from the start might at least be set up for a grandstand farewell.
It was, though, probably always too much to ask, and so it proved as a superb, fourth-innings hundred from Pathum Nissanka delivered Sri Lanka’s first Test victory over England in a decade, and did so without alarm.
The opener, only recalled at Lord’s after two years out of the side, was there at the end, joined by Angelo Mathews in a century stand and unbeaten on 127, as Sri Lanka chased their target of 219 just two-down.
A 2-1 scoreline offered due reward for the tourists at the end of a series in which they have often been second-best, but never folded, when they might easily have from six for three at Old Trafford on its very first day.
For England, meanwhile, this was comeuppance for two days of sloppy cricket at the Oval that have taken some of the sheen off a summer when refinement and ruthlessness were the principle aims. With testing tours to Pakistan and New Zealand to come before Christmas, a kick up the backside may prove no bad thing.
The hosts had been 221 for three in their first innings at the close on the opening day and at that stage well set to complete a series sweep and win every Test match in a home summer for the first time since 2004.
Twice, though, they collapsed, squandering that healthy position to lead by only 62 runs at the midway stage of the game, then rolled for 156 in the second dig, when but for Jamie Smith’s counter-attack, Sri Lanka might have had this wrapped up inside three days. Interim captain Ollie Pope, too, will reflect on the wisdom of ploughing on with spin for so long in poor light on the second afternoon.
There was no lack of intensity or focus here on the fourth morning, but the danger always that the damage had been done. England tried to will an early opening. There was a run-out appeal, but nothing doing. An edge that didn’t carry. A leg-before shout that Jamie Smith signalled was sliding down.
Instead, it took a piece of brilliance to break through, Shoaib Bashir - not yet renowned for his fielding - diving on the boundary to snaffle a terrific catch as Kusal Mendis looked to pull Gus Atkinson flat for six.
So game on in the gloom, but for how long? Chris Woakes beat Mathews twice on the outside and the new man almost had Nissanka run out in his desperation to get up the other end.
Nissanka had played beautifully for his half-century on the third evening as Sri Lanka rattled along at quicker than a run-a-ball to break the back of the chase. The fourth morning, though, came with different demands, the run-rate half that during a testing first hour.
Nissanka, still, found room to chip away, driving square to take the ask into double figures and then cutting Josh Hull for four to signal matters under control.
Late on day three, Bashir had got one ball to rip and bounce out of the footmarks forged by Hull’s size 15s and Pope turned to that option at the top of the second hour. Mathews and Nissanka saw opportunity, swiping the spinner for a boundary apiece. Olly Stone got a change of end, but no fresh luck. Woakes returned and again looked most likely, but his spell was short-lived, the body tired and the game racing away.
Day four ticket sales had reached only around 10,000 at the Oval and far fewer than that made the trip in anticipation it would not last long. Those who had, though, rose as one to applaud Nissanka as he reached his second Test hundred, three-and-a-half years after the first on debut in the Caribbean.
With a fine cut for four, he added the winning runs in fitting style and in time for lunch.
