England vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Sep 27, 2026: commentary
| England | 355/7 | 50.0 ov |
|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 132 | 29.1 ov |
England win by 223 runs
Result
England win by 223 runs
What the reporting says
England completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep, Sri Lanka's 15th straight T20I loss to them, and reclaimed the ICC No. 1 ranking from India.
Sonny Baker ended the series with six wickets at an economy rate of 3.71 and took the Player-of-the-Match award in the final game.
Interim captain Charith Asalanka is out of form, making 16, 31 and 10 in England and only 312 runs in 22 matches over two years.
A heavy breeze blew across Old Trafford, making one side of the ground the easier scoring option.
England have won 23 of 26 completed matches under Brook, including seven in a row.
Jos Buttler finished unbeaten on 62 as England chased 125 in 9.4 overs.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
SLA 1ST
- 29.1
Over 30. no runs. Bowler: Will Jacks. Sri Lanka: 132/10(rr 4.40)
- 29.1
OUT! Caught. Will Jacks to Eshan Malinga. Off break length ball, middle stump on the front foot sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to leg slip, caught by Root. That's it! England win by a huge margin of 223 runs and win the series 2-1. Sri Lanka's batters struggled to build partnerships as England's bowlers kept the pressure on throughout the chase. Liam Dawson was outstanding with the ball, claiming three wickets, while Gus Atkinson and the other England bowlers chipped in with crucial breakthroughs. Sri Lanka never found their rhythm, and England's disciplined bowling and sharp fielding sealed a dominant victory in the series decider. Tom Banton is the Player of the Match, and Will Jacks is the Player of the Series.
- 29.0
Over 29. 9 runs. Bowler: Liam Dawson. Sri Lanka: 132/9(rr 4.55)
- 28.6
Liam Dawson to Dilshan Madushanka. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to backward point for no runs, fielded by Banton.
- 28.5
APPEAL! Liam Dawson to Dilshan Madushanka. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, hit pad to point for no runs, fielded by Jacks, appeal made for L.B.W. The umpire remains firm!
- 28.4
Liam Dawson to Eshan Malinga. Stock ball half volley, outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Banton.
- 28.3
FOUR! Liam Dawson to Eshan Malinga. Stock length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, well timed in the air under control past deep extra cover for 4 runs.
- 28.2
FOUR! Liam Dawson to Eshan Malinga. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot driving, well timed past third man for 4 runs.
- 28.1
Liam Dawson to Eshan Malinga. Stock length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, mis-timed to mid off for no runs, fielded by Brook.
- 28.0
Over 28. 3 runs. Bowler: Will Jacks. Sri Lanka: 123/9(rr 4.39)
- 27.6
Will Jacks to Dilshan Madushanka. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, hit pad to short leg for no runs, fielded by Cox.
- 27.5
Will Jacks to Dilshan Madushanka. Off break length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to backward point for no runs, fielded by Dawson.
- 27.4
Will Jacks to Dilshan Madushanka. Off break length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot defending, Played to backward point for no runs, fielded by Dawson.
- 27.3
Will Jacks to Dilshan Madushanka. Off break length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot driving, outside edge to third man for 2 runs, fielded by Dawson.
- 27.2
Will Jacks to Eshan Malinga. Off break length ball, off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Atkinson.
- 27.1
Will Jacks to Eshan Malinga. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed for no runs, fielded by Cox.
- 27.0
Over 27. 1 run. Bowler: Liam Dawson. Sri Lanka: 120/9(rr 4.44)
- 26.6
Liam Dawson to Dilshan Madushanka. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, Played to point for no runs, fielded by Brook.
- 26.5
Liam Dawson to Dilshan Madushanka. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Leave, Left for no runs, fielded by Cox.
- 26.4
Liam Dawson to Dilshan Madushanka. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, Played to backward point for no runs, fielded by Jacks.
- 26.2
OUT! Caught. Liam Dawson to Asitha Fernando. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Overton. Jamie picking the ball all around the ground!
- 23.1
OUT! Caught. Jamie Overton to Janith Liyanage. Back of a length, wide outside off stump on the back foot Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled to short third man, caught by Cox. Eight down for visitors!
- 22.3
OUT! Stumped. Liam Dawson to Sachindu Colombage. Stock length ball, to leg down the track Slog, missed, by Cox. England are on top with that wicket!
- 16.2
OUT! Caught. Liam Dawson to Dunith Wellalage. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to short third man, caught by Baker. Another one bites the dust!
- 15.2
OUT! Caught. Joe Root to Charith Asalanka. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid wicket, caught by Overton. Peak athleticism from Jamie Overton.
- 14.6
OUT! Run Out. Liam Dawson to Charith Asalanka. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Steer, Played to short third man, direct hit by Archer. Unlucky for Pavan Rathnayake! Drama between the umpires.
- 8.6
OUT! Caught. Gus Atkinson to Kusal Mendis. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid wicket, caught by Banton. High in the air and taken!
- 6.4
OUT! Caught. Gus Atkinson to Kamindu Mendis. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot flick, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid wicket, caught by Duckett. Easy catch for Ben Duckket.
- 1.2
OUT! Caught. Sonny Baker to Pathum Nissanka. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, outside edge, caught by Cox. Edged and gone.
ENG 1ST
- 50.0
Over 50. 7 runs. Bowler: Asitha Fernando. England: 355/7(rr 7.10)
- 49.6
OUT! Bowled. Asitha Fernando to Liam Dawson. Reverse Swing-In yorker, to leg on the front foot Slog, hit pad. That's the end of the first innings. Tom Banton led the charge with a commanding century, timing the ball beautifully and keeping the pressure on throughout. Jordan Cox and Harry Brook provided excellent support with fluent half-centuries, adding valuable momentum. Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's standout threat, striking at crucial moments, while Sachindu Colombage also made an important contribution with the ball. With this being the decider, the winning team will clinch the series and claim the advantage tonight.
- 49.5
OUT! Bowled. Asitha Fernando to Jordan Cox. Reverse Swing-In length ball, outside off stump moves in front Scoop, missed.
- 49.4
Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In half volley, to leg backing away Slog, mis-timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Rathnayake.
- 49.3
Asitha Fernando to Jordan Cox. Slower length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed to deep backward square leg for 1 run.
- 49.2
FOUR! Asitha Fernando to Jordan Cox. Reverse Swing-In full toss, to leg on the front foot flick, well timed in the air under control past deep backward square leg for 4 runs.
- 49.1
Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In half volley, to leg on the front foot slog sweeping, Played in the air under control to long on for 1 run, fielded by Asalanka.
- 49.0
Over 49. 11 runs. Bowler: Eshan Malinga. England: 348/5(rr 7.10)
- 48.6
Eshan Malinga to Jordan Cox. Reverse Swing-In length ball, to leg on the front foot Slog, Played in the air under control to deep mid wicket for 2 runs, run save by Asalanka.
- 48.5
FOUR! Eshan Malinga to Jordan Cox. Off cutter half volley, wide outside off stump on the front foot reverse sweeping, well timed in the air under control past third man for 4 runs.
- 48.4
Eshan Malinga to Jordan Cox. Off cutter back of a length, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, Played in the air under control to long on for 2 runs, run save by Asalanka.
- 48.3
Eshan Malinga to Jamie Overton. Half volley, down leg side on the front foot flick, Played in the air under control to long on for 1 run, fielded by Vimukthi.
- 48.2
Eshan Malinga to Jordan Cox. Reverse Swing-Out half volley, wide outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to deep point for 1 run, fielded by Rathnayake.
- 48.1
Eshan Malinga to Jamie Overton. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump backing away cutting, mis-timed to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Wellalage.
- 48.0
Over 48. 20 runs. Bowler: Asitha Fernando. England: 337/5(rr 7.02)
- 47.6
SIX! Asitha Fernando to Jordan Cox. Reverse Swing-In full toss, to leg on the front foot sweeping, well timed in the air under control over fine leg for 6 runs. Banged it!
- 47.5
Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In full toss, down leg side backing away driving, Played to long off for 1 run, fielded by Madushanka.
- 47.4
FREE HIT. Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In half volley, down leg side down the track flick, Played in the air uncontrolled to mid wicket for 2 runs, fielded by Rathnayake.
- 47.4
No ball Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In half volley, to leg on the front foot driving, Played to long on and it was a no ball, fielded by Asalanka.
- 47.3
FOUR! Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In full toss, down leg side backing away flick, well timed past deep mid wicket for 4 runs, mis-fielded by Asalanka.
- 43.6
OUT! Caught. Sachindu Colombage to Will Jacks. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the back foot working, top edge in the air uncontrolled to mid off, caught by Asalanka. Soft dismissal!
- 37.6
OUT! Caught. Sachindu Colombage to Tom Banton. Leg spinner half volley, down leg side backing away Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on, caught by Dharmasena.
- 34.4
OUT! Caught. Asitha Fernando to Harry Brook. Back of a length, outside off stump backing away driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid off, caught by Wellalage. Skipper departs! Asitha provides the crucial breakthrough.
- 15.1
OUT! L.B.W. Janith Liyanage to Joe Root. Length ball, outside off stump down the track working, hit pad. First ball in this series for Liyange, and he gets the perfect reward!
- 1.2
OUT! Bowled. Dilshan Madushanka to Ben Duckett. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed. Absolute peach of a delivery from Dilshan!