England Seal ODI Series Victory with Dominant Batting Display
England secured a convincing 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in the decisive third ODI on Tuesday, clinching the three-match series 2-1. The triumph marked England's first major ODI series win away from home since 2023, showcasing their resilience and batting firepower in challenging conditions.
Brook and Root's Contrasting Centuries Power England
The foundation of England's victory was built on two magnificent yet contrasting centuries from Harry Brook and Joe Root. Brook delivered a breathtaking unbeaten 136 off just 66 balls, an innings filled with power-hitting that included nine sixes and eleven fours. His brutal assault in the final five overs proved particularly decisive, shifting momentum firmly in England's favor.
At the other end, Joe Root displayed his trademark composure and class, scoring 111 runs from 108 deliveries. This was Root's 20th ODI century, achieved through intelligent batting that dominated Sri Lanka's spinners with sweeps and reverse sweeps. The pair added 191 runs off just 113 deliveries in a partnership that broke Sri Lanka's resistance.
England's Recovery After Early Setbacks
England's innings didn't begin smoothly, as they found themselves in early trouble at 40-2 in the 11th over. Ben Duckett fell to offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva's first delivery, while Rehan Ahmed was dismissed off Wanindu Hasaranga's third ball. However, Root and Jacob Bethell staged a remarkable recovery, adding 126 runs for the third wicket.
Bethell contributed a valuable 65 runs, showing confidence against both pace and spin bowling. Their partnership laid the platform for Brook's explosive finish, which propelled England to a commanding total of 357-3.
Sri Lanka's Valiant Chase Falls Short
Sri Lanka began their chase aggressively, with Pathum Nissanka scoring a rapid 50 off just 25 balls. However, the home side lost momentum, slipping to 94-3 in the 10th over. The highlight of Sri Lanka's innings was young Pavan Rathnayake, who scored an impressive 121 off 115 balls in only his fourth ODI appearance.
Rathnayake's innings, featuring twelve fours and a six, showed tremendous promise for Sri Lanka's future. Unfortunately for the hosts, he became the last batter dismissed when Sam Curran bowled him with a perfect yorker, ending Sri Lanka's innings at 304 in the 47th over.
Spinners Key to England's Victory
England's spin attack played a crucial role in their series-clinching victory. Will Jacks (2-43), Liam Dawson (2-48), and Adil Rashid (2-61) shared six wickets between them, applying consistent pressure on Sri Lanka's batters throughout the innings.
The defeat marked Sri Lanka's first home series loss in five years, their previous setback coming against India in 2021. Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka expressed disappointment with the result but found a positive in discovering Rathnayake as a promising player at number four.
"The result was disappointing," Asalanka said. "Positive was we found a good player at No. 4, Pavan Rathnayake. It's really tough when you're thinking the ball might turn, that's why we played three to four spinners, but when it's not turning, it's hard to bowl spin."
Post-Match Reactions and Series Significance
Harry Brook, reflecting on his match-winning performance, said: "Working on a few things in the nets and it paid off. Glad me, Rooty and Beth could get us to that total. Root is exceptional, to have him in the side helps every day."
For Sri Lanka, the return of experienced legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga didn't provide the expected impact, as he ended with expensive figures of 1-76. Jeffrey Vandersay also proved costly with 1-76, while pacer Asitha Fernando conceded 0-77 off nine overs, giving away ten boundaries and two sixes.
England's comprehensive victory demonstrated their depth and adaptability in ODI cricket, while Sri Lanka will take heart from discovering new talent despite the series defeat.
