22:02 IST:
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka felt his side were short by at least 30 runs, identifying key dismissals, including the run-outs of Kusal Mendis and himself, as crucial turning points that hampered their total. He acknowledged the need for smarter play in pushing for runs but also cited the intense heat as a factor in conserving energy. Asalanka credited the English batters, particularly Joe Root, for his exceptional play through the middle overs, for nullifying all of Sri Lanka's bowling efforts. He did, however, express pride in his team's significant improvement in fielding over the past two years. Looking ahead to the series finale, Asalanka expressed excitement, emphasizing the need to execute the basics and the necessity for one of their batters to score a big hundred to secure the series.