England’s hopes of completing a first perfect home summer in two decades are hanging by a thread after collapse and complacency infected their batting and left Sri Lanka 125 runs from victory in the Third Test at Kia Oval.
Already assured of a series win at 2-0 up, England are looking to emulate July’s 3-0 sweep of West Indies but were bundled out for 156 in a second innings that lasted just 34 overs on day three. It would have been worse, too, if not for a terrific counter-attack from Jamie Smith, whose half-century rescued Ollie Pope’s side from 82 for seven.
