Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought 16-run victory over England in Leeds to level the three-match ODI series at 1-1, defending a robust total of 321 for 6 and holding the hosts to 305 for 9. Kusal Mendis laid the foundation for the visitors with a brilliant century, while a disciplined bowling effort derailed England’s powerful start in the run chase.
- Kusal Mendis spearheaded the Sri Lankan innings with a commanding 121, setting up a massive platform.
- Kamindu Mendis contributed a solid 54 to the cause, helping anchor the middle overs.
- Pavan Rathnayake played a crucial supporting role with a quickfire 48, providing late momentum.
England’s chase began in spectacular fashion as Ben Duckett and Tom Banton capitalized on early loose deliveries from the Sri Lankan pacers. The opening duo smashed 14 boundaries within the first 10 overs, taking the hosts to 82 for 0. Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers struggled for control, with Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka conceding 23 and 22 runs respectively in their opening two-over spells. Duckett was the first to cross the fifty-run mark, reaching his milestone in just 44 deliveries. Banton quickly followed suit, bringing up England’s hundred in the 14th over with a boundary and a six off Eshan Malinga, before reaching his own half-century off 39 balls and launching two maximums off Sachindu Colombage.
With the opening partnership swelling to 143 within 20 overs, Dunith Wellalage turned the game on its head. The spinner dismissed Duckett for 67, had Banton stumped on 73 in his very next over, and then trapped England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook leg-before-wicket. This quick triple-strike saw England collapse from a commanding 143 for 0 to 157 for 3. Jos Buttler and Joe Root attempted a recovery, with the wicketkeeper-batsman unleashing a series of boundaries. However, Colombage broke the burgeoning stand by dismissing Root for 15.
Buttler continued his aggressive counter-attack, smashing two sixes in an over off Colombage to bring up a 36-ball half-century. During his innings, Buttler reached a historic milestone, becoming the first English player to amass 10,000 runs in men’s white-ball internationals. Will Jacks also scored freely at the other end, reversing an early leg-before decision and hitting Wellalage for a six. Disaster struck for England when Buttler suffered a hamstring injury and had to retire hurt in the 38th over. His replacement, Rehan Ahmed, fell for a five-ball duck, caught down the leg side off Madushanka.
With 63 required off the final 10 overs, Jacks and Gus Atkinson fought to keep England in the hunt against reverse-swinging deliveries and cutters. The equation came down to 42 off the final five overs and then 33 off 18 balls. Sri Lanka broke the partnership when Malinga dismissed Atkinson. Although Jacks brought up his 59-ball fifty with a six off Fernando, England lost Jamie Overton in the same over. A limping Buttler returned to bat but could not run freely. Malinga delivered a decisive 49th over, conceding just one run and getting Jacks caught in the deep. Needing 19 off the final over, Buttler was caught on the boundary off Madushanka, ending England’s hopes.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka chose to bat and had a measured start. Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis added 45 before Nissanka was trapped leg-before by Atkinson for 25. England’s pacers bowled disciplined lines, registering 43 dot balls in the first Powerplay as Sri Lanka reached 46 for 1. Kusal and Kamindu then accelerated, putting together a 137-run second-wicket partnership. This was the first time on the tour that Sri Lanka had two players score fifties in the same innings. The stand ended when Kamindu lofted Atkinson straight to Brook at mid-on.
Kusal Mendis survived a caught-behind review on 99 before reaching his century with a boundary off Overton in the 31st over, becoming the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI ton in England since the 2019 World Cup. Kusal added 40 runs with Rathnayake before falling to Rehan Ahmed while attempting a slog-sweep. Charith Asalanka fell shortly after to the same bowler, leaving Sri Lanka at 237 for 4 after 40 overs. Rathnayake took charge in the final overs, hitting a six off Atkinson and adding 40 with Janith Liyage before being run out for 48. Liyage hit consecutive boundaries off Overton to push Sri Lanka past 300 in the 48th over. Sri Lanka scored 84 runs in the final 10 overs to finish on 321 for 6.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 321/6 in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 121, Kamindu Mendis 54, Pavan Rathnayake 48; Rehan Ahmed 2-48) beat England 305/9 in 50 overs (Tom Banton 73, Jos Buttler 69, Ben Duckett 69; Dunith Wellalage 3-49, Eshan Malinga 2-50) by 16 runs. The report also notes that powering the hosts to 82 for 0, they struck 14 fours between them in the first 10 overs. The report also notes that banton struck a four and a six off Eshan Malinga as England brought up the 100 in the 14th over. The report also notes that but England had another setback as Sachindu Colombage sent Root back for 15. The report also notes that during the course of his knock, Buttler also became the first England player to aggregate 10000-plus runs in men’s white-ball internationals. The report also notes that however, Buttler appeared to be having an issue with his hamstring and had to receive some attention from the physio before retiring hurt midway into the 38th over. The report also notes that needing 63 to win off the last 10 overs, Jacks and Gus Atkinson kept England afloat, although Sri Lanka did well not to concede a boundary for a few overs, with the pacers using the reverse swing and cutters to good effect.
