Sri Lanka Vs England Highlights, 3rd ODI: ENG Triumph In Decider By 53 Runs To Seal Series 2-1

Good Afternoon Folks. This is the start of our live blog of the 3rd ODI match between Sri Lanka and England. Stay tuned for the real-time updates, live scores and more.

Colombo will be humid and warm today with temperatures peaking around 31°C.

While skies remain partly sunny, a 50% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms could briefly interrupt play. High humidity of 65% and light winds will remain.

The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch is slow, low, and heavily favors spin. While black soil provides early bounce for pacers, the surface quickly deteriorates, becoming grippy with significant turn and uneven bounce.

Both the teams will be facing each other in a 3-match T20I series to prepare for the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2025 next month in India and Sri Lanka.

Toss will take place in just a couple of minutes in Colombo but meanwhile, follow our coverages of the India Vs Zimbabwe and Pakistan Vs New Zealand, ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup Super 6 matches.

Winning the toss in the decider is vital and Harry Brook has just done that, as he opts to bat first.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

England (Playing XI): Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook(c), Jos Buttler(w), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid

And we are underway for the first innings of this match and surprisingly, England have sent leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed to open the innings alongside Ben Duckett. Interesting choice that and he has even scored a four off the first over.

Rehan Ahmed has not failed to impress as an opener thus far, he has showed maturity and has negotiated well against the new ball.

Ben Duckett was the first to depart for a score of 7 while Rehan Ahmed's resistance ended at 24 off 37 which included 3 fours. Joe Root is currently at the middle with rising star Jacob Bethell.

It has been a very slow start for England with Joe Root and Jacob Bethell not making any difference to the run-rate either. It is still below 4

Tremendous partnership between Joe Root and Jacob Bethell as both the batters score half-centuries to help England's run-rate jump to over 5 runs per over. The duo will be looking to go big in the remaining 20 overs.

Jacob Bethell has been dismissed for a score of 65 by Jeffrey Vandersay but Joe Root is still going strong at 79* and is fast approaching his full century. Skipper Harry Brook has walked out in the middle and it will be important for him to stay at the crease for as long as possible.

Full toss from Asitha Fernando, Root mistimes to mid-wicket and sets off late for a risky single; Liyanage hits direct, but replays show Root just in — NOT OUT on 93.

Big over for England. Root brings up his 20th ODI hundred with a calm flick through mid-wicket and shares a hug with Brook as the crowd applauds. The pair keep rotating before Brook cuts loose, a superb lofted hit over sweeper cover for six, then a fine glance for four to end the over. Wellalage goes for 13, and England move to 269/3 after 45, with Root 101 and Brook 63, the stand really gathering pace.

Another expensive over for Sri Lanka as England pile on 18 runs. Brook stays in full attack mode, cracking multiple boundaries and racing to 98 off just 56, while Root rotates strike smartly to move to 110. A couple of wides in the over only add to the pressure, with the bowlers losing control at a crucial stage. England surge past the 300 mark, reaching 317/3 after 48 overs, with Brook on the brink of a superb century and Root continuing his composed, match-shaping knock.

Brook goes berserk against Vandersay, brings up his hundred with a boundary and then unleashes a mix of sixes, fours and smart running. A 22-run over as England surge to 339/3 after 49, Brook 120 (62), Root 110.

England finish with a flourish, 18 off the final over to cap a brutal late surge. A single gets it going before Brook takes over again, launching a huge six and later carving a boundary after a wide adds to the pressure. He then signs off in style with another towering six, putting an exclamation mark on a stunning knock. Brook ends unbeaten on 136 off 66, Root a composed 111 off 108, as England post a commanding 357/3 after 50 overs, a dominant batting display built on a perfect blend of class and power.

Innings Break

Back for the chase, Nissanka takes strike with Kamil Mishara alongside him. Jamie Overton has the new ball, a wide slip in place as England hunt an early breakthrough.

Wicket against the run of play. Will Jacks strikes with his very first ball as Kamil Mishara goes after a short, wide delivery but mistimes the cut off the toe end. The ball loops to backward point where Rehan Ahmed keeps his eyes on it and completes a simple catch. Mishara departs for 22 off 17, handing England a timely breakthrough.

Another twist in the powerplay as Overton strikes again! After being taken for boundaries earlier in the over, he gets his reward by removing Kusal Mendis for 20 off 9. It was in the slot outside off and Mendis went hard, trying to go aerial, but couldn’t get under it, ends up slicing it to mid-off where Brook holds on to a sharp catch. Overton roars in celebration as Sri Lanka slip to 85/2 after 8 overs.

Overton strikes straight away as Nissanka falls for a quick 50 off 25, mistiming a pull to sub fielder Tom Banton. Asalanka responds with a crisp cover drive for four and Rathnayake adds another boundary past point as Sri Lanka reach 104/3 after 10 overs.

Rashid strikes to break the stand! He fires in a quicker, flatter one and Asalanka goes for the pull but doesn’t commit, hitting it straight to mid-wicket where Brook takes a simple catch. A soft dismissal again and Sri Lanka slip to 131/4 in 15 overs. Janith Liyanage is the new man and he survives the final ball of the over, pushed out toward backward point.

Tidy over for England as the pressure builds. Just four runs come off it with Liyanage and Rathnayake unable to find the boundary, forced to settle for singles and a couple nudged into the gaps. Sri Lanka move to 148/4 after 20 overs, but the run rate is dipping and England tightening their grip in the middle phase.

Oh that’s a horrible mix-up! Liyanage taps it gently to cover and takes off, but Rathnayake hesitates and then sends him back far too late. Brook is quick to the ball and fires it in to Buttler, who does the rest with Liyanage stranded well short. A needless run-out just when Sri Lanka needed a stand. Only three from the over and a big wicket.

Jacks delivers another breakthrough as Dhananjaya holes out trying to force the pace, miscuing a heave to short mid-wicket where Brook takes a simple catch. After the wicket, the over stays tight with Wellalage beaten by a sharp-turner and forced to settle for singles. Just 3 runs and a wicket, Sri Lanka slip to 205/6 after 32 overs, with Rathnayake holding on 66 (69) but running out of support.

Dawson gets his man with clever bowling! He drags it wider outside off to the left-hander, slows it up, and Wellalage takes the bait with a slog-sweep, only managing a top edge. Jacks moves across and takes a neat low catch at point. Just three runs and a wicket in the over as Sri Lanka slip to 252/7 after 40 overs, with Rathnayake still battling on 92.

Rashid strikes again but Rathnayake steals the spotlight! Hasaranga falls trying to go inside-out, slicing to deep cover where Duckett takes a calm catch. Vandersay survives a brief DRS scare, then nudges a couple around. But the moment of the over belongs to Rathnayake, he dances down and whips Rashid through mid-wicket for four to move to 99, one short of a superb hundred. Sri Lanka 271/8 after 42 overs, with Rathnayake carrying the fight.

Special moment for Rathnayake! He uses his feet to Dawson, drives to long-off and picks up the single that brings up his maiden ODI hundred, helmet off, bat raised, soaking in the applause after a composed, mature knock under pressure. The rest of the over stays quiet with Vandersay adding a couple, just four runs in it, but a huge personal milestone as Sri Lanka move to 275/8 after 43 overs.

Dawson strikes again to dent Sri Lanka’s late push. Vandersay charges but Dawson smartly drags the length back, forcing a miscue that lobs off the toe-end to long-off where Sam Curran takes a safe catch. The new batter Asitha Fernando then survives a couple of deliveries as Dawson keeps it tight, just one run and a wicket in the over. Sri Lanka 298/9 after 46, with Rathnayake still fighting on 115.

That’s the end of a brave effort! Sam Curran fires in a pinpoint yorker on leg stump and Rathnayake can’t dig it out, beaten on the under-edge as the ball sneaks through and crashes into the stumps. A superb knock of 121 off 115 comes to an end, and with it Sri Lanka’s innings. They’re bowled out for 304, a competitive total built largely around Rathnayake’s outstanding century.

England seal the series 2–1, finishing strong after a high-scoring contest. Clinical moments with both bat and ball across the decider prove the difference as they edge a competitive Sri Lankan side.

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