Sri Lanka secured a 16‑run victory over England at Headingley, Leeds, to level the three‑match One‑Day International series 1‑1. The visitors posted a total of 321 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs, while England were all out for 305 for 9 in response.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Surge
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka elected to bat first. The opening partnership of Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis added 45 runs before Nissanka was dismissed lbw by England pacer Gus Atkinson for 25 in the ninth over. Nissanka’s knock included three fours and a six. After the early wicket, the innings gained momentum as Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis built a massive second‑wicket stand of 137 runs. Both batsmen reached half‑centuries, and it marked the first occasion on the tour that Sri Lanka recorded two individual scores above 50 in a single innings.
Kamal Mendis was eventually caught at mid‑on off Atkinson when attempting a lofted drive, ending his contribution at 54. Kusal Mendis, meanwhile, pressed on toward his own milestone. After a caught‑behind decision was overturned when he was on 99, he completed his century with a boundary off Jamie Overton in the 31st over, becoming the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI hundred in England since Angelo Mathews in the 2019 World Cup. He finished on 121, the highest individual score of the match.
Following Kusal’s century, Pavan Rathnayake added a valuable 48 runs, partnering with the centurion for a 40‑run stand before Kusal was dismissed while attempting a slog‑sweep off Rehan Ahmed. Charith Asalanka fell a few overs later, giving England their second wicket of the innings. Rathnayake continued to accelerate in the death overs, hitting regular boundaries and a six off Atkinson. He combined with Janith Liyanage for a 40‑run partnership before being run out while attempting a second run on a misfield by England captain Joe Root. Liyanage contributed two fours off Overton as Sri Lanka crossed the 300‑run threshold in the 48th over. The team added 84 runs in the final ten overs, finishing on 321 for 6.
England’s Chase and Collapse
England’s reply began explosively. Openers Ben Duckett and Tom Banton combined for 14 fours in the first ten overs, taking the score to 82 for no loss. Duckett reached his half‑century in 44 balls, while Banton made 73, including a four and a six off Eshan Malinga, and hit his own fifty off 39 balls. The pair amassed 143 runs inside 20 overs, putting England in a commanding position.
The momentum shifted when Sri Lankan pacer Dunith Wellalage broke through. He bowled Duckett for 67, then stumped Banton for 73 in the next over, and subsequently trapped captain Jos Buttler lbw, reducing England from 143 for 0 to 157 for 3. The middle order, led by Buttler and Joe Root, attempted a recovery. Buttler struck a flurry of fours and sixes, reaching a 36‑ball fifty and becoming the first England player to surpass 10,000 runs in men’s white‑ball internationals. However, Root was dismissed for 15 by bowler Sachindu Colombage.
Buttler continued his assault, hitting two sixes in a single over from Colombage. Mid‑innings, he suffered a hamstring issue that required physiotherapy, and he retired hurt midway through the 38th over. Will Jacks contributed with boundaries, a six off Wellalage, and a leg‑before‑wicket decision that was overturned early in his innings. Rehan Ahmed’s brief cameo ended with a five‑ball duck, caught down the leg side off Madushanka.
With 63 runs required from the final ten overs, Jacks and Gus Atkinson steadied the chase, though Sri Lankan bowlers kept a tight line, denying boundaries for several overs and employing reverse swing and cutters. The required run rate climbed to 42 from the last five overs, then eased to 33 from the final 18 balls as England struggled to find the rope. Atkinson fell to Malinga, and Jacks managed a four off Fernando before Jamie Overton removed him. Jacks then hit a six in the same over to reach a 59‑ball fifty.
Buttler returned to the crease despite limited mobility, but his attempts were thwarted. Malinga delivered a decisive over, conceding only a single run and taking the wicket of Jacks, who was caught deep while trying to clear the fence. England required 19 runs from the final over. Buttler attempted a leg‑side six off Madushanka but was caught deep, sealing England’s defeat and confirming a series‑tying win for Sri Lanka.
Key Performances and Records
The match featured several notable individual achievements. Kusal Mendis’ 121 was the first ODI century by a Sri Lankan in England since Angelo Mathews in the 2019 World Cup. His partnership with Kamindu Mendis marked the first instance on the tour of two Sri Lankan batsmen reaching fifty in the same innings. For England, Jos Buttler’s fifty made him the first English player to accumulate more than 10,000 runs in men’s white‑ball internationals.
Bowling figures also highlighted the contest. Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage claimed three wickets for 49 runs, while Eshan Malinga took two for 50. England’s Rehan Ahmed recorded two wickets for 48 runs. The final scoreline read Sri Lanka 321/6 (Kusal Mendis 121, Kamindu Mendis 54, Pavan Rathnayake 48) defeating England 305/9 (Tom Banton 73, Jos Buttler 69, Ben Duckett 69). The 16‑run margin set up a decisive third ODI at The Oval.
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