Oval 1998 or Oval 2024? Sanath Jayasuriya marks two notable Test victories

Sri Lanka registered a historic victory against England in the third and final Test at The Kennington Ovalchasing 219 runs to secure their first Test win by 8 wickets over England in a decade. Although the series ended 2-1 in favor of England, Sri Lanka’s dramatic victory in the final match left an indelible mark on the series and provided a much-needed morale boost to the team.

The Oval’s historic 1998 win

Sanath JayasuriyaSri Lanka’s interim coach and former cricketer, was brimming with pride during his post-match speech. Reflecting on the much-anticipated victory, he couldn’t help but compare it to another historic moment in Sri Lankan cricket: the famous Test victory at The Oval back in 1998, where he played a leading role. A question posed to Jayasuriya about that 1998 victory brought back a wave of nostalgia, especially as the former captain had scored a double century in that match.

Jayasuriya reminisced about the memorable win 27 years ago at The Oval, there Arjuna Ranatunga led the team, Muthiah Muralidaran he took 16 wickets, scored a double-century, and Aravinda de Silva 150 were made.

“Almost 27 years ago, we won here, under Arjuna Ranatunga. Murali (Muthiah Muralidaran) got about 16 wickets, I got two hundreds, Aravinda [de Silva] I got 150, it’s a place we’ll never forget – the Oval,” Jayasuriya remembers fondly

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Re-creating history

While the 1998 victory still stands in Sri Lankan cricket history, Jayasuriya was quick to distinguish the two victories, highlighting the unique challenges the current team faced in 2024.

The former cricketer also admitted that the team played under difficult conditions with grass, cold and cloudy skies. He praised the players who played the ball the way they played and the batsmen for raising the standard in the second innings.

“But these guys played in completely different conditions, It was hard, there was grass, the weather, and everything was cloudy and cold. All credit to these guys. The bowlers batted well, and the batsmen participated in the second innings,” commented Jayasuriya.

Jayasuriya praised the team’s decision to go for a bowling-heavy attack, a bold move that paid off handsomely given England’s tricky conditions.

“It’s the first time we’ve gone with four fast bowlers, and we’ve gone with that because of the conditions here, and they’ve all gone 100% in their efforts,” he said.

The one who opened the game failed to control the way the team behaved, especially in the second innings, when they took out England and got a small score.

“Our bowling in the second innings was excellent – ​​they stuck to the plan and bowled them out in less than 35 overs, all out for just over 150,” said the left-hander.

Comparing the two victories at the Oval, Jayasuriya’s message was clear: while the 1998 victory was a personal and national milestone, the 2024 victory is a testament to the evolution of Sri Lankan cricket and the ability of this new generation to overcome difficult circumstances in other countries. soil.

UPDATE: Shoaib Bashir pulls off a surprise catch to dismiss Kusal Mendis on Day 4 of the 3rd Test