Sri Lanka registered a historic victory against England in the third and final Test at The Kennington Oval, chasing down 219 runs to secure their first Test win by 8 wickets over England in a decade. Although the series ended 2-1 in favor of England, Sri Lanka’s remarkable victory in the final match left an indelible mark on the series and provided a much-needed morale boost for the team.
The historic 1998 Oval win
Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka’s interim coach and former cricket legend, was brimming with pride as he addressed the post-match presentation. Reflecting on the hard-fought win, he couldn’t help but compare it to another iconic moment in Sri Lankan cricket: the famous Test win at The Oval back in 1998, where he played a starring role. The question posed to Jayasuriya about that 1998 victory brought back a wave of nostalgia, especially since the former captain had scored a double century in that match.
Jayasuriya reminisced about a memorable win 27 years ago at The Oval, where Arjuna Ranatunga led the team, Muthiah Muralidaran took 16 wickets, he scored a double-century, and Aravinda de Silva made 150.
“About 27 years ago, we won here, under Arjuna Ranatunga. Murali (Muthiah Muralidaran) got about 16 wickets, I got a double-hundred, Aravinda [de Silva] got a 150, It’s a place we’ll never forget – The Oval,” Jayasuriya fondly recalled
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Recreating the history
While the 1998 victory remains etched in Sri Lankan cricket folklore, Jayasuriya was quick to distinguish the two triumphs, highlighting the unique challenges faced by the current team in 2024.
The former cricketer further acknowledged that the team played under challenging conditions with grass, cold weather, and cloudy skies. He praised the fielders for their performance and the batsmen for stepping up in the second innings.
“But these guys played in different conditions altogether, It was tough conditions, with the grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold. All credit to these boys. The fielders fielded well, and the batsmen took responsibility in the second innings,” Jayasuriya noted.
Jayasuriya praised the team’s decision to field a fast-bowling-heavy attack, a bold move that paid off handsomely given the tricky English conditions.
“It’s the first time we went with four fast bowlers, and we went with that because of the conditions here, and all of them went beyond 100% in their efforts,” he said.
The former opener could hardly contain his admiration for the team’s disciplined approach, particularly in the second innings, when they bowled England out for a meager score.
“Our second-innings bowling was remarkable – they stuck to the plan and got them out in under 35 overs, all out for a little more than 150,” the left-handed batter said.
In comparing the two Oval victories, Jayasuriya’s message was clear: while the 1998 win was a personal and national milestone, the 2024 triumph stands as a testament to the evolution of Sri Lankan cricket and the ability of this new generation to overcome tough conditions on foreign soil.
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