Monday Feb 16, 2026
Monday Feb 16, 2026
Wednesday, 28 January 2026 00:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
England came from behind to win their first overseas ODI series since early 2023 when they won the third and final match against Sri Lanka by 53 runs at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday to take the three-match series 2-1.
It was Sri Lanka’s first home series defeat in a bilateral contest since losing to India by the same margin in July 2021.
Compared to the wickets prepared for the first two matches yesterday’s game produced a belter with 661 runs being scored and both teams topping the 300-run mark.
Joe Root and Harry Brook led England’s charge with centuries that saw them rack up their highest ODI total against Sri Lanka - 357-3 surpassing their previous highest of 333-9 in the 1983 World Cup match at Taunton. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 304 after they were given a flying start by their openers Pathum Nissanka (50 off 25 balls, 5 fours, 3 sixes) Kamil Mishara (22) who put on 48 off 31 balls. Although Sri Lanka kept up with the run rate they lost too many wickets with only Pavan Rathnayake carrying on the fight playing a lone hand for 121 off 115 balls (12 fours, 1 six) – his maiden ODI century.
Since his selection into the white ball squad the talking point has been that Rathnayake’s talent as a batsman is being wasted by not batting him up the order instead of seven. Sri Lanka took a chance to promote him to no. 4 yesterday and he delivered.
England won the toss for the first time in the series and batting first only managed to score 40 off the first powerplay. Then Jacob Bethell and Joe Root laid the platform. They added 126 off 124 balls for the third wicket but the real entertainment came when Brook joined Root.
The England captain produced one of the best knocks seen at the RPICS in this format. His inside-out hits over extra-cover were a delight and even good length deliveries were pulled for six. Sri Lanka simply wilted under his onslaught. Shoulders dropped and the heat and the humidity only made it worse.
Brook was on a different planet altogether. Coming into bat in the 32nd over, he outshone Root to make a destructive hundred – 136* off 66 balls comprising 11 fours and 9 sixes. Root as he always does, was a class apart. He nudged around, played his sweeps, reverse-sweep and put the bad ball away to get his 20th ODI ton – 111* off 108 balls with 9 fours and a six. Brook’s attack left Sri Lanka with a mountain to climb. The dominance of Brook was plain to see. Of the last 69 runs of the England innings, Root contributed just one run! And of the 124 scored off the last 8 overs, Brook’s contribution was 98 off 32 balls (inclusive of 9 fours and 7 sixes).
England enjoyed the diet of spin offered by Sri Lanka; they had six in their line-up. Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay struggled with what seemed like cramps both ending with identical bowling figures - 1/76.
Brook took the Player of the Match award and Root the Player of the Series.
The two teams will commence a three-match T20I series at Pallekele on Friday.
