Watch: Pacer Chris Woakes turns into a spinner

After the opening day of The Oval Test between England and Sri Lanka was frustrated by bad light, the second day afternoon also faced darkness. On the second day of the Test match, English pacer Chris Woakes forcefully turned into an off-spinner. 

After bowling out the hosts for 325 runs, Sri Lankan openers provided a quick start before the run out of Dimuth Karunaratne (9) in the seventh over. It was the second ball of the seventh over, where England took the first wicket from a run out. 

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Chris Woakes delivered four balls as an off-spinner

New Lankan batter Kusal Mendis just came to the crease, but the on-field umpires weren’t happy with the light. Umpires Joel Wilson and Chris Gaffaney felt that it was too dark for fast bowling. It ultimately resulted in Woakes becoming a spinner to complete that over.

Woakes delivered the remaining four balls of that seventh over as an off-spinner. After a single to get off the mark for Mendis, Woakes delivered a widish dot ball before conceding a four to the opener Pathum Nissanka. His final ball as a spinner conceded one more run. 

Chris Woakes had to bowl four balls of offspin to complete an over because the umpires decided it was too dark for pace 😳

(via @englandcricket) #ENGvSL pic.twitter.com/jYvnB3aLd6

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 7, 2024

After that over, the on-field umpires took another reading and felt brighter to utilise the fast bowling. So, the hosts continued with the fast bowler Gus Atkinson. 

England lost last six wickets for only 35 runs

Starting day two of the third or final Test of the series on 221/3, England were bowled out for 325 runs. The hosts lost their last six wickets for only 35 runs. Before the batting collapse, stand-in captain Ollie Pope scored 154 runs off 156 balls with the help of 19 fours and two sixes. 

In reply, Sri Lanka scored 142/5 at the tea. 

England already secured the home series by winning the first two Tests of the series. After winning the Manchester Test by five wickets, England won the Lord’s Test by 190 runs.