ENG vs SL | Twitter reacts to Nissanka repaying selectors' faith with Test ton after 1265 days wait

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

09/09/2024

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Patience is the greatest of all virtues. While Test cricket in itself is a test of patience, Pathum Nissanka exemplified the trait’s importance with his batting flair, piling up his second red-ball century after a long wait on the fourth day of the third Test against England at the Kennington Oval.

Arriving to chase down a 219-run target, Sri Lanka resumed proceedings on the fourth day with 84 runs already on board. Pathum Nissanka continued his batting brilliance against the English attack despite the fall of Kusal Mendis in the 20th over. Under Angelo Mathews' assistance, he narrowed down the margin of difference with attacking strokes. Known for his good conversion rate, the youngster eventually to his century after a 1265-day drought, marking it with a bold statement to the Sri Lankan dressing room.

After a tempting push to watch the ball whisker past the outside edge, the second ball of the 35th over saw Nissanka execute a backfoot punch on a back of a length delivery outside the stumps from Gus Atkinson. The red rock threaded the gap between point and cover, allowing Nissanka ample time to scamper a triple. The three runs helped the right-handed batter to get to 101* from 98 and raise the bat in front of a packed London crowd. Having been sidelined from the red-ball set up for over a year, the 26-year-old marked his second Test century after 1265 days, leaving a solid reason for the Twitterverse to applaud.

Special one

— Gill Bill (@bill_gill76078)

Winning it

Nissanka winning it for SL, it would be entertaining enough for England team I feel 😂
— P ✨ (@ssnoozefest)

Scoring century

Visiting openers scoring 100s in 4th inns at The Oval:

189* - B Mitchell (SA) - 1947

108* - CC Hunte (WI) - 1963

221 - SM Gavaskar (Ind) - 1979

136 - D Elgar (SA) - 2017

149 - KL Rahul (Ind) - 2018

109* - P Nissanka (SL) - 2024
— Arthur_S (@allanholloway)

Iconic saves

HUNDRED FOR PATHUM NISSANKA🙌🏻

In the 4th innings, chasing 219 runs, NISSANKA scored a Hundred from just 106 balls. One of the Iconic knocks by an srilankan batter in SENA in Test History 👌
— Rohit sharma fc911 (@gulshansinghra)

Century

Century for Nissanka 🔥🔥

SL just around the corner for a historic win against Eng

27 more to win
— Dodhi Kukir 92.97 🇵🇸 (@DKukir)

Grinding

Yes they made England ditch Bazball and grind the chase. Had they played Kumara, Nissanka there and done better with the ball in the ENG first inn, could have had back to back series wins in ENG
— Harshit Anand (@imHarshitAnand)

Taught him

Special century from Nissanka. you taught him well
— Samrat (@Samrat01896109)

Class act

Pathum Nissanka is a class act. 🥵

- He becomes the First Sri Lankan player to scored a Test hundred in a run chase against England in England.
— Ali (@AliMurad7860)

Bat do talking