Jack Leach, Moeen Ali share eight as England seal series sweep
England snuffed out a fighting sixth-wicket stand, then withstood feisty hitting from the No. 11, to complete a sensational 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka
22/11Result
3rd Test, England tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), Nov 23-26 2018
-
![England]( "England")
336 & 230 -
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
240 & 284 (86.4 ov)
Player of the Match
22/11Result
3rd Test, England tour of Sri Lanka at Colombo (SSC), Nov 23-26 2018
-
![England]( "England")
336 & 230 -
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
240 & 284 (86.4 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 4
Bayliss reserves judgment on Burns and Jennings as England are challenged to improve further
Test team remains far from the finished article, in spite of 'great result', says head coach
Rare overseas victory marks the true arrival of Joe Root's Test team
Captain takes pride in watching his side grow, and singles out Ben Stokes for particular praise
'Stokes the difference in last two Tests' - Hathurusingha
Sri Lanka coach terms series 'closely fought' despite whitewash; rues lack of hundreds from his batsmen
'We're not one-trick ponies any more', says Joe Root after overseas triumph
Captain takes pride in watching his side grow, and singles out Ben Stokes for particular praise
Kusal Mendis run-out 'best moment of my career' - Jack Leach
Jack Leach finished the series as England's equal-leading wicket-taker but it was the moment of brilliance in the field that gave him most pleasure.
Day 3
Lakshan Sandakan no-balls sum up SL day as England close on 3-0
Jos Buttler scored a half-century and England then struck four times with the ball, but Sri Lanka were undermined by their own errors on day three in Colombo
Inglorious batting keeps Dilruwan Perera incognito once again
Dilruwan Perera claimed another five-wicket haul to cap a successful series with the ball - not that you'd know it
Lakshan Sandakan overstepping came from 'trying too hard' - SL bowling coach
Sri Lanka spin-bowling coach Piyal Wijetunge suggested the front-foot no-balls delivered by Lakshan Sandakan were "something new for us"
Day 2
Rashid, Stokes send Sri Lanka crumbling after tea
Sri Lanka collapsed like an origami skyscraper in a Godzilla attack, losing seven wickets in the space of 53 runs after tea, and 8 for 67 overall
'My job is to make things happen' - Adil Rashid on his five-wicket haul
Legspinner's haul of 5 for 49 in 13.5 overs tore Sri Lanka's innings apart in the hour after tea on the second day
Taking the wrong option at wrong time cost us - de Silva
Sri Lanka's No. 3 also said they wouldn't have crashed if they had played to a better plan
Adil Rashid thrives on England's new licence to thrill
Attacking legspin, allied to an attacking fast bowler, and even an attacking short-leg fielder. There's much to admire as England's Test team finds its bearings
Keaton Jennings puts his body on the line once more at short leg
Bravery and anticipation to the fore as England reap the rewards of close attention to close catching
Jos Buttler 'at peace' with the prospect of failure as positive footwork pays off for England
England batsman happy to be dismissed taking the attacking option after producing another crucial fifty
Day 1
Jonny Bairstow proves his point to carry England with brilliant hundred
Jonny Bairstow put England - and his own Test career - back on track with a high-class century on the first day in Colombo
Others
A century of wickets for spinners
Plus, Moeen equals Anderson as England's go-to man for the fourth innings. All the stats from England's series win in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka need a review of their review technique after further day of blunders
Sri Lanka's profligate use of their reviews came back to haunt them as England edged the first-day honours
Jonny Bairstow hits back at critics after emotional hundred, but still wants his gloves back too
Emotionally charged century underpins England's batting on the first day at Colombo
It has been Root's tour, and triumph
His decisive leadership has manifested itself in a number of admirable ways
'Broad and Anderson still have huge roles to play for England' - Joe Root
England need to savour the experience of Stuart Broad and James Anderson for as long as they can, says captain
'We could learn from England's batting,' admits Suranga Lakmal
England have announced their XI and Sri Lanka could also make a couple of changes as they seek a consolation win
Lucky tossers or worthy challengers? Are England really ready to bid for No.1?
Joe Root's men are in sight of a memorable series whitewash in Sri Lanka, but can their recent failings be forgotten that quickly?
Sri Lanka seek confidence, England a whitewash
England have announced their XI and Sri Lanka could also make a couple of changes as they seek a consolation win
