Ben Duckett made a rapid fifty to lead England to 76-1 at lunch on the first day of the third test against Sri Lanka at The Oval on Friday. Put into bat under gloomy skies, England lost the early wicket of Dan Lawrence but Duckett made light of tricky batting conditions to reach his half-century from 48 balls before play was halted due to bad light.

Ben Duckett's typically quickfire fifty guided an England side chasing a series whitewash against Sri Lanka to 76-1 before bad light forced an early lunch break on the first day of the third Test at the Oval on Friday.

Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bowl first in murky conditions in the third and final test against England at The Oval on Friday. England, 2-0 up in the series and bidding for their sixth test victory in a row,

Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva won the toss and elected to field against England in the third Test at the Oval on Friday.