England defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets with 22 balls to spare in the second ODI of the three-match series at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Sri Lanka scored 219 and were all out with three balls remaining. Charith Asalanka (45) was the highest scorer for Sri Lanka, while Dhananjaya de Silva contributed 40 runs. Joe Root (2/13 in 2.3 overs), Jamie Overton (2/21 in 5 overs), and Adil Rashid (2/34 in 10 overs) kept the scoring rate under control and did not allow the Sri Lankan batters to score freely.

Chasing a target of 220, Root struck his 45th ODI half-century and anchored the chase with a calm and controlled innings. Although he could not finish the match, his contribution had already put England firmly in charge. Harry Brook scored 42 runs off 75 balls, while Jos Buttler finished the chase with 33 runs off 21 balls. Root played a crucial role as England ended their long away losing streak by defeating Sri Lanka by five wickets in Colombo. The win helped England level the three-match series at 1-1 and snapped an 11-match winless run on foreign soil.

Root’s Calm Knock Sets the Platform

Joe Root scored 75 runs from 90 balls, showing excellent control on a difficult pitch. His innings stood out for its low-risk approach, with a control percentage close to 90. Root eventually fell to a sharp yorker from Asitha Fernando, but by then England were well ahead of the game.

Harry Brook briefly raised hopes for Sri Lanka when he was trapped lbw by Jeffrey Vandersay after scoring 42 from 75 balls. However, Jos Buttler quickly shut the door on any comeback. Buttler struck a few powerful shots and stayed unbeaten on 33 from 21 deliveries as England finished the chase with 22 balls remaining.

Spin-Heavy Bowling Effort Chokes Sri Lanka

England’s bowlers and fielders laid the foundation for the win with a disciplined team performance. England used eight bowlers in total, including six spinners, and bowled 40.3 overs of spin. This was a new England ODI record, breaking the previous mark of 36 overs set in Sharjah in 1984-85.

Wickets were shared across the attack. Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton, and Joe Root picked up two wickets each, with Root claiming the final two balls of the innings. Liam Dawson, Rehan Ahmed, and Will Jacks also chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Sri Lanka struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for 219 in 49.3 overs.

Sri Lanka Get Starts but Fail to Capitalise

Several Sri Lankan batters showed promise but none managed to convert their starts into a big score. Charith Asalanka top-scored with 45 from 64 balls, while Dhananjaya de Silva made 40 from 59 deliveries.

England kept tight control throughout, never allowing the scoring rate to rise for long periods. Although partnerships developed, they failed to push on.

Five Sri Lankan batters scored at least 25 and faced more than 30 balls, but the highest score remained Asalanka’s 45, highlighting their inability to finish strong.

Batters Fall Trying to Force the Pace

The pitch at the Premadasa Stadium was dry and slow, with limited boundary options square of the wicket. After losing the toss, Harry Brook summed up the challenge by saying the key was “Keeping the stumps in play.”

Sri Lankan batters tried to use their feet to access the straight boundaries, but this approach backfired. Four of the top five batters lost their wickets attempting aggressive shots.

Kamil Mishara looked to lift the tempo but was caught by Ben Duckett inside the circle. Pathum Nissanka, after a patient start, lofted a drive straight to long-off. Dhananjaya hit one low to Root at midwicket, while Asalanka fell attempting a slog sweep to deep midwicket.

Kusal Mendis was run out for 26 after a lapse in concentration. He cut the ball straight to point and set off for a single, only for Will Jacks to produce a direct hit that caught him well short.

England’s Chase Built on Patience

Chasing a smaller target than in the first ODI, England approached the innings with composure. Rehan Ahmed, promoted to open in the absence of Zak Crawley, and Ben Duckett focused on rotating the strike rather than attacking early.

Rehan eventually fell to a surprise inswinger from Dhananjaya, but Duckett and Root then steadied the innings. They added 68 runs in 67 balls, an impressive effort given the tough batting conditions.

Jeffrey Vandersay broke the stand with a sharp leg-break that bowled Duckett. Jacob Bethell soon followed, giving Sri Lanka a brief opening.

Root and Brook Seal the Game

Any hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback quickly faded as Root and Brook put together the best partnership of the match. Root continued to manipulate the field with ease, while Brook provided solid support.

Their stand effectively sealed the match, ensuring England crossed the line without further drama and squared the series.

Brief Scorecard