England takes 62-run lead into second innings against Sri Lanka but loses Duckett and Pope

LONDON (AP) — England took a 62-run lead into the second innings on Sunday after debutant Josh Hull helped to quickly removed Sri Lanka’s tail in a rain-affected morning session on Day 3 of the third and final test at The Oval.

However, the Sri Lankans took two big wickets — Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, the big scorers from the first innings — to leave England on 35-2 at lunch and the match very much in the balance.

England leads by 97, with Dan Lawrence — under pressure for runs — on a cavaliar 20 not out.

The English have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

Sri Lanka resumed on 211-5 but was dismissed for 263, with 20-year-old left-armer Hull removing captain Dhananjaya de Silva (69) and Vishwa Fernando (0) to finish with figures of 3-53 in his first test match.

Kamindu Mendis, the overnight batter with De Silva, was out for 64 when he edged Chris Woakes to Joe Root at first slip and Olly Stone dismissed Milan Rathnayake (7) to post figures of 3-35.

England went on the attack at the start of the second innings, but it has let the Sri Lankans back in the match.

Duckett tried to slog Asitha Fernando down the ground but mishit it to Vishwa Fernando at mid-on for 7. Pope, the century-maker in the first innings, then played Lahiru Kumara onto his own stumps to also depart for 7.

Lawrence was still there but he was going for pretty much everything, even coming down the pitch and trying to hit pacer Rathnayake into the stands — and missing.

Lawrence, a makeshift opener while Zak Crawley is out injured, made only 9 and 7 at Lord’s in the second test and 5 in the first innings.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket