Sri Lanka Claws Back

England 325: Pope 154, Duckett 86; Rathnayake 3-56  

Sri Lanka 211-5: Nissanka 64, De Silva 64*, Kamindu Mendis 54*  

Sri Lanka trail by 114 runs  

On the second day of the final Test at The Kia Oval, England allowed Sri Lanka to regain their footing after a somewhat peculiar day of cricket. Despite England starting strong with 325, they lost momentum as Sri Lanka fought back, reaching 211-5 by the close of play, still 114 runs behind.

As on day one, poor light was a persistent issue, creating some unusual moments, including Chris Woakes being forced to bowl off-spin for four deliveries. 

England’s captain Ollie Pope extended his century to a commendable 154, but with little assistance from the rest of the lineup, the home team crumbled. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, who had struggled the previous day, were far more disciplined this time. England’s overly aggressive tactics backfired, leading them to lose their last seven wickets for a mere 64 runs.

When it was England's turn to bowl, they maintained their attacking mentality, seemingly eager to make the most of the overcast conditions. Sri Lanka responded swiftly, with Pathum Nissanka smashing a half-century from just 40 balls. Despite his partner Dimuth Karunaratne being run out by Olly Stone’s direct hit, Nissanka continued unfazed.

However, debutant Josh Hull managed to claim his first Test wicket when Nissanka was caught by a diving Woakes. Stone then took two quick wickets, reducing Sri Lanka to 93-5 in a short span. At this point, England looked in control.

But Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis fought back, forming a stubborn partnership. As the light dimmed further after tea, England turned to spin bowling, and a crucial chance was missed when Hull dropped De Silva on 23. 

As the umpires finally called for a stop in play due to the fading light, Sri Lanka had recovered to 211-5, with De Silva and Mendis still standing strong, adding an unbeaten 118 runs together. The day, marred by inconsistent cricket and interruptions, was an odd continuation of the Test, which had already seen much of day one lost to poor lighting.

Though the series has already been secured by England, this final match has lacked intensity, compounded by further light-related delays. England's approach—aggressive batting and unconventional field placements—seemed almost casual, with several dismissals coming from risky attacking shots. 

The day even bordered on the absurd when Karunaratne was run out during Woakes’ fourth over. The umpires deemed the light unfit for pace bowling, forcing Woakes to deliver some awkward off-breaks, much to the confusion of the crowd. Adding to the farce, the sun returned just moments later, drawing boos from the stands.

Despite these strange occurrences, Sri Lanka chipped away at the deficit, and the Test returned to a more traditional pace as England chipped through Sri Lanka’s top order. However, it remains to be seen whether the light and weather will continue to dictate this match’s unusual rhythm.