The Cricketer looks at the main talking points from day two of the third Test between England and Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval
After England had gifted their last six wickets to their visitors in the morning, Sri Lanka put the pressure on England with a 34-run opening partnership.
England found a moment of inspiration from Olly Stone who ran out opener Dimuth Karunaratne with a bullet throw from cover-point.
Pathum Nisaanka, who scored an impressive 64, attempted a quick single after pushing a delivery into the off-side but his partner was slow to react and was run out by a fair distance.
One brought five as England quickly reduced their visitors to 93 for 5.
Olly Stone celebrates his run out with his teammates (Glyn Kirk/Getty Images)
Josh Hull took his first Test wicket on day two at the Kia Oval when he removed the dangerous Pathum Nissanka.
The 6ft 7in seamer would have been nervous when he was handed the ball in Sri Lanka's first innings but handled himself well. Nissanka was going well and had hit the 20-year-old to the boundary earlier in the over.
A ball after bowling an 89mph bouncer, he went full and Nissanka (64) was caught with an excellent diving catch from Chris Woakes and wide mid-off.
Hull was mobbed by his teammates and was given a warm reception by the crowd when he returned to his fielding position at fine leg at the end of the over.
Bad light meant Chris Waokes had to bowl spin (Glyn Kirk/Getty Images)
The light, which has been an issue throughout the first two days of this Test, deteriorated enough in the afternoon session that the umpires deemed it too dark for seamers.
The issue was that Chis Woakes was halfway through his over so to stay on the field, he bowled some off-spin deliveries. It was not particularly pretty as one was fired well outside the off stump.
STOP WHAT YOU'RE DOING! ⚠️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 7, 2024
Bad light means Chris Woakes is bowling spin 😆 pic.twitter.com/TPYSnwXiEN
By the time the next over started, the light had improved for Gus Atkinson to continue with his seam bowling.
This made the chaos of Woakes foray into spin almost entirely meaningless but it did at least produce some amusing reactions from the England dressing room.
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