Pathum Nissanka wrote his name in the history books with a memorable display a the Oval

Photo : AP
KEY HIGHLIGHTS
  • Pathum Nissanka created history at the Oval
  • Nissanka hit a century in Sri Lanka's memorable run-chase
  • Sri Lanka will win a Test match in England for only the fourth time in history
Leading Sri Lanka's charge towards a memorable Test victory against England at the Oval; Pathum Nissanka created history on Monday (September 9) by becoming the first player in the 144-year-old history of Test cricket being played in England.
Nissanka had an outing to remember as he has proven to be the difference between both sides with the bat. In the first innings, the star opener hit a quick-fire knock of 64 in just 51 balls. He reached his half-century in just 41 balls.
In the second innings, Nissanka started from where he left off in the first outing and continued to take the attack to the English bowling unit. The 26-year-old hit yet another half-century, and this time he reached the milestone in just 42 balls to put Sri Lanka in the driver's seat heading into the fifth day of play as they aim to ensure England are unable to complete a series whitewash.

Pathum Nissanka Creates History

Nissanka wrote his name in the history books by becoming the first player in history to score half-centuries in both innings of a Test match at quicker than run-a-ball on English soil. No player before Nissanka had completed twin half-centuries in the same at a strike-rate above 100 since 1880, when the first-ever Test match in England was played in a period that has seen a stunning 559 matches played in the country.
Overall, Nissanka is only the 9th player to achieve the feat in test cricket history (2nd Sri Lankan) after Mark Greatbach, Nathan Astle, Tilakaratne Dilshan, Chris Gayle, Jermaine Blackwood, David Warner, Zak Crawley, and Harry Brook. Both Crawley and Brook achieved the feat outside England. Nissanka is also the first player to achieve the feat against England.
Player To Score Two Half-Centuries In Same Test Match Quicker Than Run-A-Ball
Player Team Opponent Year Venue Host Country
Mark Greatbach New Zealand Zimbabwe 1992 Bulawayo Zimbabwe
Nathan Astle New Zealand West Indies 1996 Bridgetown West Indies
Tilakaratne Dilshan Sri Lanka New Zealand 2009 Galle Sri Lanka
Chris Gayle West Indies New Zealand 2012 Antigua West Indies
Jermmaine Blackwood West Indies India 2016 Kingston West Indies
David Warner Australia Pakistan 2017 Sydney Australia
Zak Crawley England Pakistan 2022 Rawalpindi Pakistan
Harry Brook England New Zealand 2023 Mt. Maunganui New Zealand
Pathum Nissanka Sri Lanka England 2024 Oval England
Nissanka continued Sri Lanka's charge and reached a century in the fourth inning in just 107 balls. This is only the second Test century of his career, and he is only the third Sri Lankan to hit a ton at the Oval in Test cricket. He is set to become only the 7th batter in history to score a fourth-inning century in England in a winning cause. Sri Lanka won a Test match in England for only the fourth time after Oval 1998, Nottingham 2006, and Leeds 2014.
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