Second one-day international, R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Sri Lanka 219 (49.3 overs): Asalanka 45 (64); Root 2-13, Overton 2-21
England 223-5 (46.2 overs): Root 75 (90), Brook 42 (75); De Silva 2-37
England won by five wickets; Series level at 1-1
England’s long wait for an overseas one-day international win finally ended in Colombo, where discipline with the ball and composure with the bat delivered a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a must-win match that kept the tourists alive in the series. On a surface offering extravagant turn and uneven bounce, Joe Root and Adil Rashid were the decisive figures, blending experience, patience and tactical clarity to level the contest at 1–1.
Sri Lanka, batting first at the R Premadasa Stadium, struggled to escape England’s tightening grip. Acting captain Harry Brook — leading the side on the field while Jos Buttler remains England’s official skipper — made a bold tactical call, deploying 40.3 overs of spin, the most England have ever bowled in an ODI. It was a strategy perfectly suited to the conditions and executed with ruthless precision.
Rashid led the attack superbly, finishing with two for 34 from 10 overs without conceding a single boundary. More than that, he produced the standout moment in the field — a low tumbling grab at deep fine leg to remove Janith Liyanage, turning a promising counterattack into another blow for the hosts. His control, drift and subtle changes of pace repeatedly forced Sri Lanka into mistimed strokes.
Sri Lanka’s innings promised more than it delivered. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis made starts, while Charith Asalanka top-scored with 45, but partnerships never gained momentum. A sharp run-out of Mendis halted the innings just as it threatened to accelerate, and when Root bowled the final over, he struck twice in three balls to close Sri Lanka out on 219 — a total that always felt light on such a testing surface.
England’s chase began with intrigue. Rehan Ahmed, just 21, was opening the batting for the first time in his international career, a surprise move that underlined Brook’s willingness to experiment. Ahmed showed early composure but was undone by Dhananjaya de Silva’s deception, stepping back as the ball swung in and spun past his bat to knock back the stumps.
Ben Duckett endured a nervy start, surviving an lbw decision on review before settling, but England were soon reliant on their senior batter. Root’s innings was a masterclass in control and adaptation. On a pitch that punished force, he relied on soft hands, late contact and constant strike rotation, keeping the required rate in check while others struggled for fluency.
After Duckett was bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay, Root combined with Brook in a crucial stand that reshaped the chase. Brook’s 42 from 75 balls was not fluent, but it was exactly what the situation demanded — resilience, patience and risk management. Together, they added 81 runs and dragged England firmly back into command.
When Root finally fell lbw to Asitha Fernando for a composed 75, England still required work to do. Brook followed soon after, and Sri Lanka sensed an opening. That hope was extinguished by Jos Buttler, whose calm authority and late acceleration broke the game open. He struck several powerful boundaries and a towering six that shifted the momentum decisively back towards England.
Although Will Jacks officially hit the winning runs, the closing stages belonged to Buttler, whose aggression ensured there would be no late collapse. England crossed the line with composure, sealing a victory that carried significance far beyond the scorecard.
The result ended England’s 11-match winless run away from home in ODIs and delivered a vital response after defeat in the series opener. It also marked the first overseas ODI victory under Brendon McCullum’s white-ball regime, achieved through adaptability rather than dominance.
Post-match, Brook described the surface as “probably the worst pitch I’ve ever played on”, while Root admitted it was “not a great wicket for ODI cricket” — yet both praised England’s ability to learn quickly and apply those lessons under pressure. Sri Lanka, by contrast, will rue their inability to turn starts into substance on a pitch that demanded clarity of method.
On a day when flair was secondary to discipline, Root’s serenity and Rashid’s mastery of spin defined the contest, restoring England’s confidence abroad and setting up a compelling series decider.
