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| Harry Brook raced to a 57-ball hundred |
England’s white-ball resurgence reached a significant milestone in Colombo as a breathtaking century from Harry Brook, backed by a masterclass from Joe Root, powered England to a commanding 53-run victory over Sri Lanka in the third ODI. The win sealed a 2–1 series triumph, marking England’s first away ODI series victory since March 2023, and underlining the growing confidence in their revamped one-day setup.
On a surface historically challenging for teams batting second, England produced a near-flawless batting display to post a mammoth 357 for 3, a total that ultimately proved beyond Sri Lanka despite a valiant century from Pavan Rathnayake.
England’s Batting Firepower Arrives in Style
England’s innings was a tale of patience transforming into devastation. Early signs did not suggest the carnage that would follow. Openers Ben Duckett and Rehan Ahmed struggled to impose themselves against disciplined Sri Lankan bowling, crawling along at under three runs per over. Ahmed’s dismissal in the 11th over, pulling Wanindu Hasaranga to short midwicket, left England at 40 for 2, a position that momentarily tilted the contest in the hosts’ favour.
That moment proved to be Sri Lanka’s best window of opportunity.
Joe Root Lays the Foundation
Walking in during the seventh over, Joe Root once again showcased why he remains England’s most reliable ODI anchor. On a pitch offering grip and turn, Root resisted the temptation to force the pace early. Alongside Jacob Bethell, he steadied the innings with intelligent rotation of strike and selective boundary-hitting.
Bethell played his role superbly, compiling a fluent 65, as the pair added 126 runs, neutralising Sri Lanka’s spin-heavy strategy. Root reached his half-century off 54 balls, not through brute force but through precise placement and impeccable game awareness.
By the time Bethell fell, England were well-positioned, but the innings had yet to ignite.
Enter Harry Brook: The Game-Changer
The arrival of Harry Brook changed the entire complexion of the match.
From his very first delivery, which he guided behind square for four, Brook announced his intent. Initially measured, he soon began dismantling Sri Lanka’s attack with astonishing clarity and power. As Root continued to anchor one end, Brook took on the responsibility of acceleration — and did so with ruthless efficiency.
What followed was a display of modern ODI batting at its finest.
Brook and Root’s Match-Defining Partnership
Brook and Root combined for a devastating 191-run partnership off just 113 balls, turning a competitive total into an intimidating one. While Root reached his 20th ODI century — another landmark in an illustrious career — he largely ceded the spotlight to Brook, who was in a different stratosphere altogether.
Brook’s assault intensified after the 43rd over, when he began treating both seam and spin with equal disdain. He repeatedly made room to target the off side, launching spinners over extra cover and dispatching seamers effortlessly into the stands.
His off-side hitting, in particular, was breathtaking — clean, powerful, and perfectly timed.
A Century at Lightning Speed
Brook raced to his century in just 57 balls, one of the fastest hundreds by an England batter in ODI cricket. His final unbeaten 136 off 66 balls included nine sixes and eleven fours, with a staggering 101 runs coming off the last 40 balls he faced.
The final five overs alone yielded 88 runs, and the last two overs went for 40, with Brook facing all but two deliveries. Root, having completed his century, sensibly stayed out of Brook’s way as England surged to 357 for 3 — a total that felt match-winning the moment it was posted.
Sri Lanka’s Bowling Plans Unravel
Sri Lanka had stacked their attack with spinners in anticipation of middle-overs control, but England’s ability to preserve wickets exposed the flaw in that approach. By the 40th over, with only three wickets down, England were primed for a late onslaught.
The figures told a grim story for the hosts:
Asitha Fernando leaked runs at 8.55 per over
Wanindu Hasaranga and Jeffrey Vandersay both conceded 76 runs from their ten overs
Dunith Wellalage, though economical early, was targeted late, conceding 13 runs in his final over
England’s depth and composure proved too much.
Sri Lanka’s Spirited Chase Begins Strongly
Chasing 358 on a difficult surface was always going to require something extraordinary. Sri Lanka began with intent, led by Pathum Nissanka, who exploded in the powerplay with 50 off 25 balls, smashing five fours and three sixes.
Brief cameos from Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis kept Sri Lanka ahead of the required rate early, and for a moment, the chase flickered with belief.
That belief faded quickly.
England’s Bowlers Apply the Squeeze
Once Nissanka was dismissed in the 10th over, England seized control. Wickets began to fall at regular intervals, disrupting Sri Lanka’s momentum. By the time the hosts reached 131 for 4, the asking rate had begun to climb steeply.
England’s bowling effort was a collective one. Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton, Will Jacks, and Liam Dawson each picked up two wickets, applying relentless pressure through the middle overs with tight lines and smart variations.
Rathnayake’s Lone Resistance
Amid the collapse, Pavan Rathnayake emerged as Sri Lanka’s standout performer. Batting at No. 4 for the first time in ODI cricket, the young batter produced a mature and courageous innings, scoring his maiden international century — 121 off 115 balls.
Rathnayake was particularly severe on anything short or overpitched, using his feet expertly against spin to loft the ball cleanly over midwicket. Unlike others around him, he showed composure, choosing to take the game deep despite the mounting pressure.
Fighting Till the End
Rathnayake did not shut up shop even after reaching his hundred. With partners falling around him, he continued to chase an increasingly improbable target. A 50-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Dunith Wellalage briefly revived hopes, but England’s bowlers refused to relent.
As the required rate soared past 12 runs per over, Rathnayake kept swinging, determined to give Sri Lanka a fighting chance. Ultimately, in the 47th over, Sam Curran delivered a pinpoint yorker that shattered Rathnayake’s stumps, bringing both his innings and Sri Lanka’s chase to an end.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 304, falling 53 runs short.
A Landmark Series Win for England
This victory carries significance beyond the scoreboard. It represents:
England’s first away ODI series win since 2023
A major confidence boost under evolving leadership
Continued excellence from senior players like Joe Root
The emergence of Harry Brook as a genuine ODI match-winner
England’s ability to adapt, bat deep, and explode late reflects a side growing into its new era while retaining the experience needed to win abroad.
Sri Lanka’s Takeaways
For Sri Lanka, the series defeat ends an impressive home record — their first ODI series loss at home since 2021. However, Rathnayake’s century offers a significant positive, highlighting the emergence of a player capable of anchoring future chases.
While tactical questions remain, particularly around bowling at the death, Sri Lanka showed enough fight to suggest better days ahead.
Final Word
On a night dominated by clean hitting, calm leadership, and relentless pressure, Harry Brook’s extraordinary century stood as the defining moment. Supported by Joe Root’s timeless class, England delivered a statement performance — one that not only won them the series but reaffirmed their intent to remain a formidable force in one-day cricket.
If this match was any indication, England’s ODI future looks both fearless and formidable.
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