Contrasting centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook powered England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Tuesday to safe a 2-1 victory of their One-Day Worldwide sequence.
After selecting to bat, England was on the again foot when Ben Duckett (7) and Rehan Ahmed (24) fell contained in the opening 11 overs.
However Root and Jacob Bethell stepped in to regular the innings, compiling a managed 126-run stand for the third wicket.
SL vs ENG, third ODI | FULL SCORECARD
Bethell’s assured 65 got here to an finish when Jeffrey Vandersay struck, however Root discovered an ideal accomplice in captain Brook because the pair shifted the innings into the next gear. Their unbeaten 191-run stand from 113 balls turned England’s whole from aggressive to imposing.
Brook plundered an ODI career-best 136 off 66 deliveries, smashing 11 fours and 9 sixes, as Root made a composed unbeaten 111 off 108 balls to information England to a commanding 357 for 3.
Sri Lanka started its chase with intent.
Kamil Mishara contributed 22, and Pathum Nissanka hammered 5 fours and three sixes in a 24-ball fifty earlier than his dismissal by Jamie Overton checked the momentum.
Captain Charith Asalanka (13) and Janith Liyanage (22) fell cheaply as England utilized sustained stress with disciplined bowling.
The host slipped to 202 for six within the thirty second over, and though Pavan Rathnayake (121) saved Sri Lanka afloat with a composed maiden ODI century, wickets continued to fall round him.
Rathnayake’s resistance ended when Sam Curran breached his defence with a full supply that knocked again his leg stump, and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 304.
Sri Lanka had gained the primary ODI by 19 runs earlier than England levelled the sequence with a five-wicket victory.
The perimeters will now flip their consideration to a three-match Twenty20 sequence beginning on Friday.
Printed on Jan 27, 2026