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Sri Lanka take charge of third Test after England’s batters fall apart at the seams

  • England 325 & 156; Sri Lanka 263 & 94-1
  • England all out in 34 overs, Sri Lanka need 125 to win

There has been a distinct end-of-term feel about England in this Test match, an early loosening of the tie before the final school bell rings. And having gone into it hoping to secure what would be their first perfect home summer for 20 years with a sixth successive win, Sri Lanka are now poised to deny them full marks.

Things were certainly shaping up that way at the end of a white-knuckle third day in which 16 wickets fell and the pendulum swung the way of the tourists. Inspired by Vishwa Fernando’s left-arm swing and a four-wicket haul from the burly Lahiru Kumura, Sri Lanka turned a first innings deficit of 62 into a pursuit of 219 that was within striking distance by stumps.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/jHvrL1b

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