Sri Lanka beat England by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) – ODI Report
Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets (with 1 ball remaining) in the 19th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Pavan Rathnayake was named Man of the Match after a composed 130 off 106 balls, but it was Harry Brook‘s explosive 202 off 116 that set up one of the tournament’s most gripping finishes. England posted 429 for 4, only for Sri Lanka to chase it down with the last ball of the match – a stunning reversal that keeps the hosts alive in the series.
England’s Batting Masterclass
England won the toss and elected to bat, and their top order made the decision pay immediately. Tom Banton opened with 50 off 51 balls (9 fours) before falling caught at 74/1 in the 13th over. Ben Duckett followed quickly for 29 off 39 at 85/2 in the 16th, leaving Joe Root to stabilise the innings.
Root compiled a measured 69 off 66 balls (8 fours), building a crucial 159-run partnership with Brook that shifted the momentum decisively. Root fell caught at 244/3 in the 37th over, but by then the real fireworks were about to begin. Harry Brook took centre stage with one of the most dominant ODI displays of the season – 202 off just 116 balls at a strike rate of 174, studded with 21 fours and 10 sixes. Brook’s assault accelerated from the 40th over onwards, taking England from 244/3 to 429/4 by the final ball. Will Jacks provided explosive support at the death with 66 off 30 (8 fours, 3 sixes, strike rate 220), remaining unbeaten as England threatened to post an unassailable total.
Sri Lanka’s bowling was put to the sword. Dunith Wellalage took 2 for 56 from 10 overs, while Asitha Fernando managed 1 for 68 from 10. Janith Liyanage conceded 32 from just 2 overs, and Dasun Shanaka went for 74 from 6 as England’s batsmen showed no mercy.
Sri Lanka’s Thrilling Chase
Chasing 430, Sri Lanka’s reply was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. Kamindu Mendis fell early, bowled for 18 at 23/1 in the 4th over, but Avishka Fernando steadied the ship with 97 off 83 balls (11 fours, 2 sixes). Fernando’s partnership with Pavan Rathnayake added 166 runs before Fernando fell caught at 190/2 in the 27th over.
Rathnayake then took control, scoring a composed 130 off 106 (15 fours, 3 sixes) to anchor the chase. He shared a 133-run stand with Dasun Shanaka, who exploded with 97 off just 50 balls (6 fours, 8 sixes, strike rate 194) – a match-winning cameo that brought Sri Lanka within touching distance. Rathnayake fell caught at 323/4 in the 40th over, but Shanaka’s brilliance had set up the finale. Janith Liyanage finished the job with 61 off 27 (7 fours, 3 sixes, strike rate 226), hitting the winning runs with one ball to spare as Sri Lanka reached 430 for 8 in 49.5 overs.
Josh Tongue was England’s leading bowler with 3 for 79 from 8.5 overs, while Sam Curran took 2 for 103 from 9 overs. Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson each claimed 1 wicket, but England’s bowlers could not quite defend their total despite a spirited effort.
Statz MVP: Harry Brook (Statz Rating: 139.67)
Harry Brook earns the Statz MVP award with a rating of 139.67. His 202 off 116 balls was the standout individual performance of the match, providing the foundation for England’s 429. Though England fell short in the end, Brook’s dominance across the middle and death overs was unmatched – his strike rate of 174 and 10 sixes showcased the kind of aggressive intent that defines modern ODI cricket at its best.
Top 5 Statz Ratings
- Harry Brook (ENG) – Statz Rating: 139.67 | 202 off 116 (SR 174, 21 fours, 10 sixes) – Dominant batting display that nearly won the match single-handedly.
- Dunith Wellalage (SL) – Statz Rating: 127.84 | 2/56 from 10 overs – Economical bowling under pressure in a high-scoring contest.
- Dasun Shanaka (SL) – Statz Rating: 100.05 | 97 off 50 (SR 194, 6 fours, 8 sixes) – Match-winning cameo that turned the chase decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.
- Will Jacks (ENG) – Statz Rating: 87.94 | 66 off 30 (SR 220, 8 fours, 3 sixes) – Explosive death-overs batting that pushed England past 420.
- Janith Liyanage (SL) – Statz Rating: 86.03 | 61 off 27 (SR 226, 7 fours, 3 sixes) plus 1/32 from 2 overs – Finished the chase with the winning runs in a dynamic all-round contribution.
Turning Point
The match turned in the 43rd over when Dasun Shanaka came to the crease with Sri Lanka at 323/4, still needing 107 runs from 42 balls. Shanaka’s explosive 97 off 50 shifted the momentum decisively – his eight sixes and strike rate of 194 brought the equation down to a gettable target in the final overs. When he fell caught at 363/5 in the 44th over, Janith Liyanage was already in full flight, and the lower-middle order held their nerve to seal a dramatic victory.
Series Context
This was the 19th match of 24 in the Tri-Nation Series. Sri Lanka move to 1 win, 1 loss (2 points) and keep their qualification hopes alive with the victory. England remain winless after two matches (0 points, -0.892 net run rate) and face an uphill battle to progress. Check the full scorecard and head-to-head record on Statz for complete match details, and explore bet builder options for upcoming fixtures in the series.
