The third and final Test between England and Sri Lanka at The Oval took an unexpected and somewhat humorous turn on the second day when England’s seasoned pacer, Chris Woakes, was forced to bowl spin due to bad light. The match had already seen significant interruptions on day one, with less than half the scheduled overs being bowled due to gloomy conditions, despite no heavy rain.
The bizarre incident unfolded during Woakes’ fourth over when Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne was run out by a brilliant direct hit from Olly Stone. Just two balls later, the umpires decided to take a light reading, and with dark clouds hovering over the ground, they deemed the light too dim for pace bowling. This decision left England captain Ollie Pope with a tricky dilemma: either take Woakes off the field or have him finish the over bowling spin, as per the Laws of Cricket, which mandate that a bowler must complete an over unless injured or suspended.
Chris Woakes bowls offspin | ENG vs SL 3rd Test
Caught off-guard, Woakes was seen hurriedly practising off-spin deliveries on the outfield as Pope set close-in fielders in a desperate attempt to take advantage of the odd situation. However, Woakes’ unfamiliarity with spin bowling showed immediately. He delivered two dragged-down balls and two wayward outswingers, conceding six runs in the process.
What made the scene even more farcical was that once Woakes completed the over, another light reading was taken, and the umpires determined that conditions had improved enough for Gus Atkinson to return to bowling pace from the other end.
Despite the chaotic moments, the match has largely been in England’s control. Batting first, the hosts posted a formidable total of 325, thanks to a magnificent 154 from captain Ollie Pope and a solid 86 from opener Ben Duckett. Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to contain the England batting lineup, with Milan Rathnayake emerging as the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets. Vishwa Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, and captain Dhananjaya de Silva also chipped in with two wickets each.
England had already secured the series 2-0 heading into this final match, making this Test less consequential in terms of results but certainly providing moments of amusement for both players and fans alike. England will be hoping for better weather and a smoother passage of play as they aim to complete a series whitewash.
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