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Xtra Time Web Desk: Pathum Nissanka delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting, leading Sri Lanka to a memorable 8-wicket victory over England on Day 4 of the Oval Test. This triumph marked Sri Lanka's first Test win in England since 2014, with the visitors completing the run chase within the first session on September 9.

Sri Lanka began the day requiring 125 runs to win, and Kusal Mendis set the tone with a boundary. Both Mendis and Nissanka had been aggressive late on Day 3, adding 94 runs to the scoreboard, with Nissanka reaching a half-century. Mendis, however, fell to Shoaib Bashir off Gus Atkinson’s bowling. Angelo Mathews joined Nissanka, providing valuable support despite some early scares.

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Nissanka had a narrow escape early, edging a ball to slips off Chris Woakes, but soon found his rhythm. He broke the shackles in the 23rd over with a boundary off Woakes and continued to dominate, hitting a couple of sixes and forcing England to adjust their field. Nissanka’s aggressive approach eventually guided Sri Lanka to victory, with him scoring the winning runs. This win was only Sri Lanka’s fourth Test victory in England out of 21 matches, while England suffered their fourth loss in the Bazball era, impacting their World Test Championship (WTC) aspirations.

Nissanka's performance fulfilled the prophecy of Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who had hailed him as the country's best batter before the series. Despite a mediocre performance at Lord’s, Nissanka excelled at the Oval, scoring 64 in the first innings and remaining unbeaten on 127 in the second.

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For England, this loss complicates their path to the WTC final. Currently 6th in the standings and behind Sri Lanka, England will now shift their focus to white-ball cricket, with Brendon McCullum stepping into the role of white-ball coach. The pressure will be on as England aims to revitalize their performance in limited-overs formats.