By Dwayne Ferreira
Will Jacks produced a superb all-round performance as England defeated Sri Lanka by 89 runs in the first ODI at the Riverside Ground on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
CHESTER-LE-STREET – England continued their dominance over Sri Lanka with an emphatic 89-run victory in the opening One Day International at the Riverside Ground on Tuesday, September 22, taking a 1–0 lead in the three-match ODI series.
After being dismissed for 265 in 48.1 overs, England produced a disciplined bowling performance to bowl Sri Lanka out for 176 in just 37 overs, with all-rounder Will Jacks delivering a match-winning five-wicket haul.
Jacks finished with exceptional figures of 5 for 22 from seven overs, having earlier struck an unbeaten 46 with the bat to rescue England’s innings. His all-round performance earned him the Player of the Match award.
Brook Anchors England After Sri Lanka Fight Back
England elected to bat first but were forced to work hard for their runs on a surface that offered assistance to the bowlers.
Tom Banton fell early before Ben Duckett and Joe Root helped rebuild the innings. Sri Lanka then dragged themselves firmly back into the contest through debutant leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage.
Colombage claimed 3 for 44, including the prized wicket of Root, who had looked comfortable before being dismissed during England’s middle-overs struggle. Asitha Fernando also impressed with the ball, returning figures of 3 for 53.
England captain Harry Brook provided the backbone of the innings, scoring 67, the only half-century of the match.
However, Sri Lanka continued to pick up wickets and England appeared in danger of being restricted to a modest total before Jacks delivered a valuable late contribution.
Batting at No. 6, Jacks struck an unbeaten 46, helping England reach 265 before they were dismissed in the 49th over.
England – 265 all out (48.1 overs)
Harry Brook 67
Will Jacks 46*
Sachindu Colombage 3/44
Asitha Fernando 3/53
Sri Lanka’s Chase Never Finds Momentum
Sri Lanka required 266 for victory but struggled to establish the partnerships required to threaten England’s total.
Pathum Nissanka made 27 before edging behind, while Kamindu Mendis contributed 14.
Captain Kusal Mendis, returning after a hamstring injury, attempted to hold the innings together with a patient 42 from 60 deliveries, but wickets continued to fall around him.
Sri Lanka’s middle order then collapsed.
Charith Asalanka managed only one, Janith Liyanage scored four and Pavan Rathnayake was dismissed for 13 as England steadily tightened their grip on the match.
Jacks proved particularly difficult for the Sri Lankan batters to negotiate, dismissing both Asalanka and Kusal Mendis before tearing through the lower order.
Jamie Overton also played an important supporting role, taking 2 for 21 from five overs.
Wellalage Provides Late Resistance
Dunith Wellalage provided Sri Lanka with some late entertainment, producing the visitors’ most aggressive innings of the day.
The left-hander struck 45 from 36 balls, including the first six of the match, and combined with Dushmantha Chameera in a 43-run eighth-wicket partnership.
But the resistance merely delayed England’s victory.
Wellalage eventually fell to Jacks, before the England spinner removed Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka to complete his five-wicket haul and end Sri Lanka’s innings at 176.
Sri Lanka – 176 all out (37 overs)
Dunith Wellalage 45
Kusal Mendis 42
Pathum Nissanka 27
Will Jacks 5/22
Jamie Overton 2/21
England Take 1–0 Series Lead
The 89-run win gives England a 1–0 advantage in the three-match ODI series, following their 3–0 sweep of Sri Lanka in the preceding T20I series.
For Sri Lanka, Colombage’s impressive international debut and Wellalage’s late counterattack provided positives, but another batting collapse ultimately left them well short of England’s total.
The teams now travel to Headingley, Leeds, for the second ODI on September 24, before the series concludes at The Oval on September 27.
Match Summary
England 265 all out (48.1 overs)
Harry Brook 67, Will Jacks 46*
Sachindu Colombage 3/44, Asitha Fernando 3/53
Sri Lanka 176 all out (37 overs)
Dunith Wellalage 45, Kusal Mendis 42
Will Jacks 5/22, Jamie Overton 2/21
England won by 89 runs
Player of the Match: Will Jacks (46* & 5/22)
