Brook and Root anchor England’s series-deciding ODI win over Sri Lanka in Colombo

England clinch series with high-scoring win in Colombo

Harry Brook and Joe Root produced unbeaten centuries to power England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international, sealing a 2-1 series win in Colombo. England made 357-3 after winning the toss and choosing to bat, before bowling Sri Lanka out for 304 in 46.4 overs despite a maiden ODI hundred from Pavan Rathnayake.

The result completed England’s first away ODI series victory in nearly three years. It also marked back-to-back wins in the format on the road after England had previously endured an 11-game losing streak away from home.

Score summary

• England: 357-3 (50 overs) — Harry Brook 136* (66), Joe Root 111* (108), Jacob Bethell 65 (72)
• Sri Lanka: 304 all out (46.4 overs) — Pavan Rathnayake 121 (115), Pathum Nissanka 50 (25)
• Result: England won by 53 runs (England won series 2-1)

Early England wobble before Root and Bethell rebuild

England’s innings did not begin smoothly. On a surface Brook described before the match as “not nice”, the tourists slipped to 40-2 and were scoring at a restrained rate. Ben Duckett made seven before he was dismissed attempting a reverse sweep, finding Dhananjaya de Silva at point.

Rehan Ahmed, used as a makeshift opener, contributed 24 but was removed by Wanindu Hasaranga, who returned to the side after being rested for the first two matches. England’s early tempo reflected the conditions: they managed 77 runs from their first 20 overs, leaving the innings in need of consolidation.

That stabilising work came through Root and Jacob Bethell. Root, who had already posted half-centuries in the first two ODIs, played the anchoring role as Bethell found scoring options to lift the run rate. Their partnership moved England out of trouble and into a position where a late surge became possible.

Bethell’s support act sets the platform

Bethell’s 65 from 72 balls proved a key bridge between England’s slow start and the explosive finish that followed. He brought up both the century stand and his own half-century in the same flourish, striking back-to-back boundaries to reach 50 from 64 deliveries.

His innings ended with visible frustration when he pulled Jeffrey Vandersay to Janith Liyanage in the deep, leaving England 166-3. Even so, the platform had been laid: Root was set, wickets were in hand, and the final phase of the innings was still to come.

Root reaches his 20th ODI century

Root’s unbeaten 111 from 108 balls was his 20th century in one-day internationals. After consistent starts earlier in the series, he converted in the decider, steering England through the middle overs and ensuring the innings had shape and stability.

He also survived a close call on 99, narrowly avoiding a run-out before reaching his hundred from 100 balls. Root’s innings was not about a single burst, but about maintaining control while allowing others to take calculated risks around him.

Brook’s late assault transforms the total

If Root provided the structure, Brook supplied the demolition. The England captain finished unbeaten on 136 from just 66 deliveries, his highest ODI score for England. His innings featured 20 boundaries, including nine sixes, and it changed the scale of what Sri Lanka had to chase.

Brook and Root added an unbroken 191-run partnership from 118 balls, a stand that accelerated sharply as the innings progressed. England scored 130 runs in the final 10 overs, including 22 runs in the penultimate over, pushing the total to 357-3 and setting Sri Lanka a target of 358.

The final score represented the highest 50-over total at the ground since 2018, and it left Sri Lanka facing their biggest successful chase in ODI history if they were to win the match.

Sri Lanka start quickly but lose key wickets inside the powerplay

Sri Lanka’s chase began with intent. They scored 48 runs in the first five overs, briefly matching the pace required. Pathum Nissanka struck a rapid half-century from 24 balls, reaching 50 off 25 as the hosts looked to keep the chase alive.

However, the momentum was repeatedly interrupted by wickets. Kamil Mishara made 20 but gave his wicket away to Will Jacks, falling to a long hop. Jamie Overton then checked the early surge by removing Kusal Mendis for 20 after Mendis had hit him for three consecutive boundaries in the same over.

Overton struck again when Nissanka was caught in the deep by substitute fielder Tom Banton, leaving Sri Lanka 94-3 and the chase suddenly more fragile than the early scoring suggested.

England’s bowlers share the workload

England’s attack did not rely on a single spell to decide the match. Instead, wickets were spread across the bowling group, with two apiece for Will Jacks (2-43), Jamie Overton (2-48), Liam Dawson (2-48) and Adil Rashid (2-61). The combined effort allowed England to keep pressure on Sri Lanka even as individual batters threatened to rebuild.

Rashid removed Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka for 13, a dismissal that contributed to a shift in Sri Lanka’s approach. With the asking rate climbing, the hosts needed stability as much as acceleration, and the innings moved into a phase of rebuilding.

Rathnayake’s maiden ODI century keeps Sri Lanka fighting

The standout performance for Sri Lanka came from Pavan Rathnayake, who scored a maiden ODI century in a high-pressure chase. He made 121 from 115 balls, striking 12 fours, and carried Sri Lanka deep into the innings even as wickets fell around him.

Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage put together a stubborn 43-run partnership, but Liyanage was run out after a mix-up, a moment that further tilted the match towards England. Dhananjaya de Silva made nine before he picked out Brook off Jacks, another soft dismissal that reduced Sri Lanka’s room for error.

Rathnayake later added a 50-run partnership with Dunith Wellalage, who made 22 before being removed by Dawson. Wanindu Hasaranga scored nine but was dismissed when he ballooned Rashid to Duckett in the deep, leaving Sri Lanka eight down.

Still, Rathnayake continued to score, pushing Sri Lanka past 300 and keeping the contest alive, at least mathematically, into the closing overs.

Curran finishes the chase as England close out the decider

The final wicket fell with 3.2 overs remaining, when Sam Curran bowled Rathnayake for 121, knocking back his leg stump. It ended Sri Lanka’s resistance and confirmed England’s 53-run win, with the hosts all out for 304 in 46.4 overs.

England’s ability to pair a substantial total with consistent wicket-taking proved decisive. Even with Sri Lanka scoring briskly at times, the chase never fully recovered from the early losses and the steady flow of dismissals through the middle and late overs.

What the result means for England

The series win completed a notable turnaround for England away from home in ODIs. After an extended run of road defeats, the tourists finished the tour’s 50-over leg with consecutive victories and a 2-1 series success. It was England’s first away ODI series win since beating Bangladesh in March 2023, and only their second ODI series win in their last eight.

Root, named player of the series, framed the win as an important step for the group after a difficult period away from home, while also highlighting his role in helping younger players develop within the side.

Captains’ reflections after the match

Brook, named player of the match for his unbeaten 136, said he had worked on specific areas with Root in the nets and felt it translated into performance. He also praised England’s spinners for their communication and control, and pointed to the batters’ efforts to apply pressure even in challenging conditions.

Root emphasised the importance of contributing to wins and spoke about supporting younger players as he gets older. He also pointed to the partnership dynamics in the innings, noting how Bethell’s approach and Brook’s ability to “take the game on” demonstrated what England can be in the 50-over format.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka credited Root and Brook for batting well and noted that he expected more turn. He suggested that when the ball does not grip, it becomes difficult to rely on spin bowling at the death.

Key moments that shaped the match

• England’s recovery from 40-2: Root and Bethell rebuilt after early wickets on a difficult surface.
• The unbroken 191-run stand: Root and Brook’s partnership accelerated the innings and removed any chance of Sri Lanka containing the total late on.
• England’s final-10-overs surge: 130 runs in the last 10 overs, including 22 in the penultimate, turned a strong score into a daunting one.
• Sri Lanka’s powerplay collapse: Nissanka’s fast 50 was offset by wickets that left the chase behind the game’s rhythm.
• Rathnayake’s century in defeat: A composed 121 kept Sri Lanka competitive longer than seemed likely after early setbacks.

Full innings figures

• England 357-3 (50 overs): Brook 136* (66), Root 111* (108), Bethell 65 (72); de Silva 1-45, Vandersay 1-76, Hasaranga 1-76
• Sri Lanka 304 all out (46.4 overs): Rathnayake 121 (115), Nissanka 50 (25); Jacks 2-43, Overton 2-48, Dawson 2-48, Rashid 2-61

England’s series-deciding win was built on a clear pattern: patience through the difficult early overs, a controlled middle phase led by Root, and a decisive late onslaught from Brook. Sri Lanka responded with early intent and a standout hundred from Rathnayake, but England’s shared bowling effort ensured the chase never fully caught up with the scale of the target.