By Dwayne Ferreira
England completed a stirring turnaround to clinch the ODI series 2–1 against Sri Lanka last night, riding on a record-breaking century from captain Harry Brook and a masterclass in control from Joe Root. In front of a capacity crowd at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, England’s batting firepower and effective bowling attack proved decisive as the visitors secured a 53-run victory in the series decider.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England faced early resistance from Sri Lanka’s spin heavy attack, but the innings was stabilised by Joe Root, who underlined his class with an unbeaten century. Root’s composed 111 anchored the innings before England shifted into overdrive in the latter half. Brook then delivered one of the most destructive ODI innings of his career, smashing an unbeaten 136 off just 66 balls. His assault, featuring powerful hitting to all parts of the ground, transformed a strong total into a daunting one, and England closed on 357 for 3, with Jacob Bethell contributing a valuable 65.
Sri Lanka’s chase began brightly with Pathum Nissanka racing to 50 off 25 balls, but regular wickets slowed the hosts’ momentum. Pavan Rathnayake produced a superb maiden ODI century, scoring 121, and kept Sri Lanka in contention deep into the innings. However, England’s balanced bowling attack ensured control, with contributions from seam and spin alike. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 304 in 46.4 overs, handing England the win and their first overseas ODI series victory in nearly three years.
At the post match presentation, the accolades were dominated by the visitors. Harry Brook was named Player of the Match for his breathtaking strike rate of 206.06, which effectively took the game away from the hosts. Joe Root was awarded the Player of the Series trophy, having amassed 284 runs across the three matches, acting as the bedrock upon which England’s revival was built. Sri Lanka’s Pavan Rathnayake also received a special mention for his resilient century in just his fourth international appearance.
The statistical milestones from this encounter signal a significant shift in England’s white ball identity. Brook’s 57-ball century now stands as the fastest by an England captain in ODI history, while Joe Root’s 20th hundred moves him further ahead in the nation’s all-time list. More importantly, the partnership of 204* between the two is a record for the fourth wicket in Sri Lanka, proving that England’s blend of traditional technique and modern aggression is a formula that can dominate even in the most challenging subcontinent conditions.
Chief Scores:
England – 357 for 3 in 50 overs (Harry Brook 136*, Joe Root 111*, Jacob Bethell 65, Dhananjaya de Silva 1/45)
Sri Lanka – 304 all out in 46.4 overs (Pavan Rathnayake 121, Pathum Nissanka 50, Will Jacks 2/43, Jamie Overton 2/48, Liam Dawson 2/48)
Player of the Match: Harry Brook
Player of the Series: Joe Root
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