England began day three of the Lord's Test at 25-1, 256 runs ahead of Sri Lanka after bowling out the visitors for 196. Despite losing opener Ben Duckett early, they batted aggressively and eventually posted 251. Joe Root held the innings together, with a record-breaking 34th Test century before he was the last wicket to fall.
With a near-impossible victory target of 483 runs in just over two days' time, Sri Lanka were rocked early as Nishan Madushka fell for 13, his first double-digit score in a disappointing series. Pathum Nissanka was then removed by Olly Stone to leave the tourists 43-2.
Sri Lanka need another 430 runs in two days to avoid a series defeat against England.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 31, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/7UGllgEzQx#ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/JbMvLB33T3
With nearly 90 minutes left in the day's play, Sri Lanka sent Prabath Jayasuriya out to the middle as the night-watch in a seemingly baffling move.
There had been multiple checks for visibility levels carried out by the umpires, and for a period only spinners Joe Root and Shoaib Bashir were in operation, with pacers having been deemed too dangerous.
After Jayasuriya came in, England captain Ollie Pope appeared keen to bring his quicks back into the attack, with over 20 overs still scheduled to be played. But with visibility levels still low, the umpires gave Pope two options – continue bowling the spinners, or go off the field until the light improved.
Pope chose the latter, and since the players did not return by the scheduled close of play, stumps were called soon after, with Sri Lanka 53-2.
Morgan: I think it's a questionable decision
Speaking after the end of the day's play on Sky Sports, former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan criticised Pope's call: "I think it's a questionable decision. The reason behind that is just the whole context of the last hour or so, it is dark. There's a reason the seamers can't bowl – it is dangerous for everybody concerned.
"If you're sitting in Sri Lanka's changing room, you're thinking, 'jeez, the last place I want to be is out there with the bat in hand, facing anybody.' It's a lose-lose situation. I totally understand the concern for the condition of the ball, but you're talking about England's premium finger-spinner in Shoaib Bashir, who needs to bowl. The ball is turning and bouncing.
"I question the decision: you have runs to play with, you have two or three new balls, everything in your favour. And yet you're sitting in the changing room."
Read more: Michael Vaughan questions Ollie Pope's personality to be England captain
Joe Root later said that England's decision to come off was motivated by their desire to play entertaining cricket. The qualities of the decision notwithstanding, Pope's decision left England with two days, in which they have to take eight wickets to win the match and the series. The amount of time available could well have played a part in the skipper's thinking.
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