England rewrite bilateral history with 2-1 series win
ThePapareNews article
Sri Lanka's cricketers had to settle for a 1-2 defeat in the One-Day International series on the team's tour of England.
The third and final One-Day International, played at the Kennington Oval in London (on the 27th), began with the two sides locked at 1-1 in the series. That decisive match ended with England winning by 223 runs – the biggest margin of victory recorded by either side in the history of ODIs between the two countries.
The Twenty20 International series played earlier on this tour had also ended with the England players claiming a 3-0 win.
England celebrate the 3-0 win
Winning the toss in this match, the hosts England batted first and made 355 for 7, and in reply Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 132 with as many as 125 balls still remaining.
Sri Lanka named the same XI that had won the previous match, while England made three changes. Jordan Cox took over the wicketkeeping duties in place of Jos Buttler, while Liam Dawson and Sonny Baker came in for Rehan Ahmed and Josh Tongue.
Sri Lanka squad
Kusal Mendis (captain and wicketkeeper), Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pawan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka.
England squad
Harry Brook (captain), Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jordan Cox (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Sonny Baker
Batting first, England lost their first wicket at 6, but Tom Banton and Joe Root added 62 off 83 balls for the second wicket. That stand was broken when Joe Root fell for 18, and captain Harry Brook then walked in.
By the time Harry Brook was dismissed as the third wicket to fall, he had added 150 off 117 balls with Tom Banton. Harry Brook brought up the eighth half-century of his ODI career off his 49th ball and, when dismissed, had made 77 off 69 deliveries with 9 fours and 2 sixes.
When Tom Banton fell as the fourth wicket, he had made 126 off 105 balls with 16 fours and 5 sixes. It was his maiden ODI century.
In addition, Jordan Cox also recorded his maiden ODI half-century in this match. Dismissed as the sixth wicket, he had made 76 off 52 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes.
Will Jacks made 25 off 21 balls with a four and 2 sixes, while Jamie Overton was unbeaten on 21 off 14 balls with a four.
England were on 157 at the end of 30 overs, and by piling up 198 runs in the last 20 overs they posted the third-highest team total recorded in matches between the two nations.
Asitha Fernando was the best bowler in that innings with 3 for 64, while Sachindu Colombage took 2 wickets and Janith Liyanage and Dilshan Madushanka one each.
Needing a required rate of 7.12 an over in reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out in 29.1 overs, finishing their innings with a run rate of only 4.53.
Captain Kusal Mendis was the top scorer in that innings. He made 35 off 26 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes.
He added 35 off 32 balls with Kamindu Mendis for the second wicket, which was also the highest partnership of the Sri Lankan innings. After that, only two more stands in the Sri Lankan innings passed 20 runs.
Those were the 24 added off 36 balls for the fourth wicket by Charith Asalanka (7) and Pawan Rathnayake, and the 22 added off 37 balls for the seventh wicket by Sachindu Colombage (4) and Janith Liyanage.
In the unsuccessful Sri Lankan innings, Janith Liyanage made 19 off 20 balls with a four and a six, Pawan Rathnayake 18 off 25 balls with 2 fours, Eshan Malinga 14 off 19 balls with 2 fours and Kamindu Mendis 12 off 19 balls with 2 fours.
Every other batter was restricted to single figures, and Liam Dawson was the best bowler in the innings with 3 for 26. Gus Atkinson took 2 wickets, while Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Joe Root and Sonny Baker took one apiece.
Match scorecard in brief
- England – 355 for 7 (50.0) Tom Banton 126, Harry Brook 77, Jordan Cox 76, Will Jacks 25, Jamie Overton 21 not out, Asitha Fernando 3/64, Sachindu Colombage 2/71
- Sri Lanka – all out 132 (29.1) Kusal Mendis 35, Gus Atkinson 2/26, Liam Dawson 3/26
England won by 223 runs.
Player of the Match – Tom Banton (England)
Player of the Series – Will Jacks (England)
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