England return home with a win

Friday, 30 October 2026 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Pavan Rathnayake scored his second century of the Tri-Series

Liam Dawson kept a tight check on the Sri Lankan run rate picking up four wickets

Kusal Mendis returned to form with 89 / Ben Duckett celebrates his sixth ODI hundred

LAHORE: England finally had something to take home when they won the final league match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series beating Sri Lanka by 55 runs at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Thursday.

It was England’s first win in four matches having lost their first three and failed to qualify for Saturday’s final where Sri Lanka will meet Pakistan.

With Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake leading the charge at the top, Sri Lanka looked set to pull off another remarkable chase, much like they did in Rawalpindi. But England kept chipping away at the right moments, broke the key partnerships and eventually secured a win as Sri Lanka chasing 387 was dismissed for 331.

Mendis returning to form made 89 off 71 balls (8 fours, 5 sixes) before falling to Joe Root, caught down the leg side. Janith Liyanage chipped in with 27 off 17, and Sahan Arachchige made 30 off 24. Both stitched together fiery stands with Rathnayake, adding 72 off 38 balls and 57 off 41 balls respectively to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt. Rathnayake smashed 118 off just 77 deliveries (15 fours, 1 six), to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt for as long as he was at the crease. Rathnayake, has scored three ODI hundreds against England this year and two in eight days, but England’s bowlers held their nerve. Once Liam Dawson dismissed him in the 45th over, England wrapped up the game quickly. The left-arm spinner finished with figures of 4/49, emerging as England’s standout performer with the ball.

England, who piled up 429 the last time these two sides met, posted 386-5 after being invited to bat first. Player of the Match Ben Duckett was the star with the bat, registering his highest ODI score with 167 off 132 deliveries (24 fours). The left-hander added 163 runs off 150 balls for the opening wicket alongside Tom Banton (74 off 75 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes). Harry Brook (44 off 34), Will Jacks (30 off 21), Jordan Cox (43 off 27) and Sam Curran (21* off 12) all chipped in with cameos, but England couldn’t quite produce the blockbuster finish needed to cross the 400-run mark. Asitha Fernando was brilliant with his yorkers at the death, while Dasun Shanaka chipped in with a handy seven-over spell and was the one to break England’s opening stand.

Eshan Malinga went for 101 runs to become only the second Sri Lankan bowler after Nuwan Pradeep to concede more than 100 runs in ODIs. Pradeep gave away 106 runs against India at Mohali in 2017.