Sandakan's repeat no balls hurt Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka spinner Lakshan Sandakan twice cost himself the wicket of Ben Stokes on day three of the third Test against England, removing the star allrounder twice before being called for a no ball on both occasions.

Sandakan thought he had Stokes' wicket on 22 and then again on 32, only for third umpire Marais Erasmus to give the Englishman a lifeline due the Sri Lankan's front foot error.

Further analysis by Sky Sports showed that a staggering 40 per cent of Sandakan’s deliveries before lunch on the third day were no balls, but none of them were called by on-field umpire Sundaram Ravi.

Attempting to explain the errors, former England batsman David Lloyd suggested that Sandakan’s awkward bowling action could make it difficult for the standing umpire to see his front foot at the point of delivery.

Sandakan's errors didn't hurt him too much with Stokes eventually holing out to Malinda Pushpakumara at mid on off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera for 42 as England pushed their lead beyond 200.

But Sandakan almost cost himself a third wicket after lunch, with the left-armer only narrowly escaping another no-ball call when he dismissed Jos Buttler for 64.

Replays showed Sandakan was extremely close to overstepping once again, but Erasmus gave the benefit of the doubt to the home side.