Brook and Root unbeaten hundreds steer England to series-deciding ODI win over Sri Lanka

Brook and Root deliver England’s series-winning statement in Colombo

England secured a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international in Colombo, sealing a 2-1 series win built on an imposing total and a disciplined all-round bowling effort. Captain Harry Brook and Joe Root were the central figures in the decider, both finishing unbeaten with centuries as England recovered from early trouble to post 357-3 from 50 overs.

Chasing 358, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 304 in 46.4 overs despite a maiden ODI century from Pavan Rathnayake. England’s bowlers shared the workload, with Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid each taking two wickets as the tourists completed a first away ODI series victory in nearly three years.

England 357-3: from 40-2 to a dominant finish

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, England’s innings began in difficult fashion. Brook described the pitch before the match as “not nice,” and the early stages reflected that assessment as England slipped to 40-2. Ben Duckett made seven before picking out Dhananjaya de Silva at point while attempting a reverse sweep, and Rehan Ahmed fell for 24 when he found a fielder at mid-wicket off Wanindu Hasaranga.

At that stage England’s scoring rate was subdued, and the visitors managed only 77 runs from the first 20 overs. The recovery was led by Root, who played the stabilising role expected of him, and Jacob Bethell, who provided momentum without losing shape. Their partnership allowed England to rebuild from a precarious position into one of control.

Bethell reached his half-century from 64 balls, bringing up a century stand with Root in the process. However, his innings ended with visible frustration when he pulled Jeffrey Vandersay to Janith Liyanage in the deep, departing for 65 from 72 deliveries with England 166-3. What followed was the decisive phase of the match: Root and Brook combined for an unbroken 191-run partnership from 118 balls that transformed England’s total into one of the highest 50-over scores at the ground since 2018.

Root’s 20th ODI hundred and Brook’s explosive 136 not out

Root arrived at the third ODI having already made half-centuries in the first two matches, and he converted that form into his 20th ODI century. He finished unbeaten on 111 from 108 balls, anchoring the innings while Brook accelerated around him. Root also narrowly avoided being run out on 99 before reaching his hundred from 100 balls, a moment that underlined both the pressure and the pace at which England were building.

Brook’s contribution was the innings-defining burst. The England captain made 136 not out from only 66 deliveries, his highest ODI score for England, striking 20 boundaries including nine sixes. After reaching his first half-century of the series, Brook produced an extraordinary spell of ball striking that pushed Sri Lanka’s bowlers out of their plans, particularly late in the innings when England surged.

England scored 130 runs from the final 10 overs, including 22 in the penultimate over, to finish on 357-3. That late acceleration changed the complexion of the match, leaving Sri Lanka with a target that would require their biggest successful chase in ODI history.

Score summary

• England 357-3 (50 overs): Harry Brook 136* (66), Joe Root 111* (108), Jacob Bethell 65 (72); Dhananjaya de Silva 1-45, Jeffrey Vandersay 1-76, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-76
• Sri Lanka 304 all out (46.4 overs), target 358: Pavan Rathnayake 121 (115), Pathum Nissanka 50 (25); Will Jacks 2-43, Jamie Overton 2-48, Liam Dawson 2-48, Adil Rashid 2-61

Sri Lanka’s chase: a fast start, then early damage

Sri Lanka began their reply with intent, scoring 48 from the first five overs, and briefly gave the chase a sense of possibility. Pathum Nissanka was particularly rapid, reaching a 24-ball half-century on his way to 50 from 25 balls. But the chase began to drift when wickets fell in clusters, forcing Sri Lanka to rebuild rather than sustain the required run rate.

Kamil Mishara made 20 but “gifted his wicket” from a Will Jacks long hop, a dismissal that disrupted the early momentum. Jamie Overton then played a key role in swinging the match further towards England. He removed Kusal Mendis for 20 after Mendis had hit him for three consecutive boundaries in the same over, and Overton also accounted for Nissanka, caught in the deep by substitute fielder Tom Banton, leaving Sri Lanka 94-3 inside the powerplay.

With the asking rate climbing and wickets down, Sri Lanka’s hopes increasingly rested on building partnerships through the middle overs, particularly as the target demanded both sustained scoring and minimal loss of wickets.

Rathnayake’s maiden ODI century keeps Sri Lanka fighting

Pavan Rathnayake produced a standout innings under pressure, compiling a maiden ODI century that became the centrepiece of Sri Lanka’s chase. He made 121 from 115 balls, striking 12 fours, and carried the innings deep enough to push the home side past 300. His effort ensured Sri Lanka remained competitive for long periods even as the required rate stayed high.

Following the fall of Charith Asalanka for 13—removed by Adil Rashid—Sri Lanka adjusted their approach. Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage added a stubborn 43-run stand, but Liyanage was run out after a calamitous mix-up left him stranded. That wicket was particularly costly because it arrived at a moment when Sri Lanka needed stability as much as boundaries.

Further soft dismissals compounded the difficulty. Dhananjaya de Silva made nine before picking out Brook off Jacks, and Hasaranga departed for nine after ballooning Rashid to Duckett in the deep. Between those moments, Rathnayake found a partner in Dunith Wellalage, who made 22 in a 50-run partnership before being removed by Dawson.

Ultimately, Rathnayake was the final wicket to fall, bowled by Sam Curran for 121 when his leg stump was knocked back, ending Sri Lanka’s innings with 3.2 overs remaining.

England’s bowlers share the work as Sri Lanka are dismissed for 304

While Brook and Root set the platform with the bat, England’s victory was completed by a collective bowling performance that kept Sri Lanka’s chase from ever fully settling. Jacks, Overton, Dawson and Rashid each finished with two wickets, ensuring no single Sri Lankan partnership could dominate for long.

Overton’s early breakthroughs were vital in halting Sri Lanka’s fast start, while Rashid’s removal of Asalanka and later wicket of Hasaranga helped England maintain control through the middle overs. Dawson’s contribution included the key dismissal of Wellalage, and Jacks’ wickets were accompanied by moments that reflected England’s ability to force errors once pressure built.

What the result means for England

The win completed back-to-back ODI victories for England after a period in which they had been on an 11-game losing streak on the road. It also marked England’s first away series success in the 50-over format since beating Bangladesh in March 2023, a statistic that underlined the significance of closing out the series in the decider.

England had remained unchanged from the five-wicket win in the second ODI, and the continuity appeared to help as the side combined a measured recovery with an explosive finish in the batting innings, then backed it up with wicket-taking options across the attack.

Captains and players reflect on the decider

Brook, named player of the match for his unbeaten 136, pointed to specific preparation and the value of Root’s presence during the decisive partnership. “I was working on a few things with Rooty (Joe Root) in the nets yesterday and thankfully it paid off today. I felt good. Rooty is exceptional to have in the side. It was an exceptional performance from the lads,” Brook said.

He also highlighted England’s bowling plans and the intent shown by the batting group despite challenging conditions. “I am very happy with how the spinners have bowled, bowling in tandem with the communication outstanding. I liked how the batters tried to put pressure on the bowlers, even in tough conditions,” he added.

Root, named player of the series after his unbeaten century, framed his role in terms of contributing to wins and helping the younger players develop. “You just want to win games, contribute to winning games. My role in this team is pretty obvious and it is nice to help the young guys come through now that I am getting a bit older,” he said.

Root also praised Bethell’s contribution and Brook’s ability to shift gears, suggesting the match offered a clearer picture of England’s potential in the format. “It was nice out there today [in my 111no] with the way [Jacob] Bethell played and then how Harry Brook took the game on as he did and showed his versatility. This shows what we are capable of as a 50-over team,” Root said.

Looking beyond the ODI result, Root described the series win as a confidence boost. “This is a big step forward for the group after a tough period, especially away from home. It breeds confidence ahead of the T20s,” he added.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka credited the decisive England partnership and explained the challenge his bowlers faced late in the innings. “It was a good game. We were undone by good batting from Root and Brook. I thought the ball might turn more, but when it doesn’t, it’s hard to bowl spin at the death,” Asalanka said.

How the match turned

Several moments shaped the series decider, but the most influential was England’s ability to shift from consolidation to domination. From 40-2 and a slow early scoring rate, Root and Bethell rebuilt without panic, then Root and Brook raised the tempo dramatically. The 191-run unbroken stand and 130-run final-10-overs surge effectively moved the target beyond what Sri Lanka could realistically manage without a near-perfect chase.

In response, Sri Lanka’s early aggression was blunted by timely wickets, and while Rathnayake’s century was a major positive, the chase required multiple significant contributions around him. Run-outs and soft dismissals, combined with England’s ability to keep taking wickets, ensured Sri Lanka were always trying to recover rather than dictating the terms of the chase.

Series finale: England leave with momentum

England’s 2-1 series victory was sealed by a blend of experience and power: Root’s measured unbeaten 111 and Brook’s explosive unbeaten 136. The result not only delivered a series win but also offered a template for how England can build ODI innings—absorbing early pressure, constructing partnerships, and finishing with force.

For Sri Lanka, the decider included a notable individual milestone in Rathnayake’s maiden ODI hundred, yet the scale of England’s total and the loss of early wickets proved too much to overcome. England’s bowlers then ensured the chase ended with time to spare, completing a comprehensive performance in the match that mattered most.