RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka produced a sensational batting display to chase down England’s mammoth 430-run target in the third ODI of the tri-nation series at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, sealing a remarkable victory with one ball to spare.
Sri Lanka reached the target in 49.5 overs, completing what was billed as the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history after England had posted a towering 429 for four in their allotted 50 overs.
The chase began on a shaky note as Sri Lanka lost opener Kamindu Mendis for 18 and captain Kusal Mendis for a duck inside the first five overs, leaving the side struggling at 24.
However, Rathnayake joined Fernando at the crease and the pair launched a strong counterattack against the England bowlers. Their third-wicket stand produced 166 runs from 137 deliveries, with both batters completing half-centuries.
Jamie Overton broke the stand on the first ball of the 28th over, taking a return catch to dismiss Fernando. He fell three runs short of a century, scoring 97 off 83 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.
Dasun Shanaka then joined Rathnayake and the pair kept Sri Lanka’s momentum alive with a rapid 133-run partnership for the fourth wicket. During the stand, Rathnayake converted his half-century into his second ODI hundred.
Sam Curran ended Rathnayake’s superb innings in the 41st over. The opener finished as Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 130 off 106 balls, striking 15 fours and three sixes.
Shanaka continued to attack in partnership with Janith Liyanage, adding 40 runs for the fifth wicket. The all-rounder narrowly missed his maiden ODI century, falling to Liam Dawson for 97. His 50-ball innings included six fours and eight sixes.
After Shanaka’s dismissal, Liyanage took charge and guided Sri Lanka home. He remained unbeaten on 61 from 27 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes, as Sri Lanka sealed victory on the penultimate ball.
For England, Josh Tongue was the leading bowler with three wickets for 79 runs in 8.5 overs. Curran claimed two wickets, while Overton and Dawson took one wicket each.
Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis’s decision to field first backfired as England piled up 429 for four in 50 overs. The total was the highest in the host country, surpassing Pakistan’s previous best of 375 for three against Zimbabwe in 2015.
England made a flying start through openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett, who put on 74 runs before both fell to Dunith Wellalage in successive overs.
Banton, who dominated the opening stand, scored 51 off 50 balls with nine fours, while Duckett made 29 off 39 deliveries.
After the two quick wickets, captain Harry Brook and Joe Root took control of England’s innings with a 159-run third-wicket partnership. Both batters reached their half-centuries during the stand.
Asitha Fernando ended the partnership on the first ball of the 38th over, dismissing Root for 69 off 66 balls. Root’s innings included eight boundaries.
Brook then accelerated in the final phase of the innings alongside Will Jacks as England crossed the 400-run mark. The pair added 185 runs off 77 deliveries before Brook was dismissed off the final ball of the innings by Janith Liyanage.
Brook remained England’s top scorer with a commanding 202 off 116 balls, hitting 21 fours and 10 sixes. Jacks stayed unbeaten on 60 from 33 deliveries, with eight fours and three sixes.
Wellalage was Sri Lanka’s standout bowler, taking two wickets for 56 runs in his 10 overs. Asitha Fernando and Liyanage claimed one wicket each.
