Jamie Smith vs Sri Lanka

Jamie Smith's explosive innings of 67 off 50 balls breathed life into England's second innings during the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval, after the team suffered a dramatic collapse to 82-7. Smith's counter-attack included 52 runs from just 19 balls and helped England reach 140-8 at tea, establishing a lead of 202 runs. His innings was crucial in recovering from a precarious position, as the rest of the lineup struggled against Sri Lanka's bowlers, with only Dan Lawrence providing modest support with 35 runs. Earlier, England bowled out Sri Lanka for 263, securing a 62-run lead, with debutant Josh Hull taking 3-53. The match remains finely balanced as Sri Lanka ended the day at 94-1, needing 125 runs for victory. The performance of Smith highlights his rapid ascent in international cricket, having already accumulated impressive runs in his early Test career.