Sri Lanka efficiently defended their fortress on the R. Premadasa Stadium, securing a 19-run victory over England in the first ODI to take a 1-0 lead within the three-match sequence. Selecting to bat first on a floor that traditionally favours the workforce setting a goal, the hosts posted a aggressive 271/6, underpinned by a resilient, unbeaten 93 from Kusal Mendis. In reply, England appeared set for a cushty chase throughout a century stand between Joe Root (61) and Ben Duckett (62). Nonetheless, a dramatic middle-order collapse, triggered by Sri Lanka’s disciplined spin trio, noticed the guests fall from 129/1 to 252 all out. Regardless of a sensational late-inning heist try by Jamie Overton, who blazed 34 off simply 17 balls, the Lankans held their nerve to wrap up the competition within the closing over.
Kusal Mendis anchors Sri Lanka to 271 as England’s spin assault impresses
The opening innings was a story of consolidation and late-over acceleration as Sri Lanka navigated a dry, sluggish pitch to achieve a complete of 271/6. After a gradual 50-run opening stand between Pathum Nissanka (21) and Kamil Mishara (27), Adil Rashid (3/44) led the fightback for England by eradicating each openers in fast succession. Mendis then took cost, taking part in a masterclass of subcontinental anchoring. Battling via seen again cramps halfway via his knock, Mendis struck 11 boundaries in his 117-ball keep, refusing to let the English spinners settle. He discovered an ideal companion in Janith Liyanage, who contributed an important 46 in an 88-run fifth-wicket partnership that stabilized the hosts after that they had slipped to 124/4. A late explosive cameo from Dunith Wellalage (25* off 12), together with a 23-run closing over in opposition to Overton, supplied the ultimate flourish to the Lankan complete.
Joe Root and Ben Duckett fifty in useless as England center order collapses
England’s chase started with the early lack of Zak Crawley, however Root and Duckett rebuilt the innings with a composed 117-run second-wicket partnership. Each batters reached their half-centuries, Root’s forty fourth in ODIs and Duckett’s ninth, mastering the spin with reverse sweeps and nimble footwork. Nonetheless, the sport turned on its head within the twenty eighth over when Jeffrey Vandersay (2/39) trapped Duckett LBW. The dismissal sparked a staggering collapse the place England misplaced eight wickets for simply 84 runs. Captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell have been each deceived by the flip and stumped by Mendis, whereas Wellalage (2/41) ripped via the decrease center order. From 129/1, England plummeted to 213/9, leaving the tail with an unattainable mountain to climb regardless of Root’s anchor function earlier within the day.
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England’s embarrassing away streak continues as World Cup 2027 qualification looms
This 19-run defeat marks a grim milestone for the guests, as it’s now England’s eleventh consecutive away loss within the ODI format, a streak stretching again via a number of sequence. At the moment ranked eighth within the ICC ODI rankings, England are precariously near the cutoff for computerized qualification for the World Cup 2027.
With solely the highest eight groups (excluding hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe) assured a spot, England’s latest struggles away from house have put them at risk of being pressured right into a qualifying match in opposition to lower-ranked nations. The dearth of a transparent 50-over template and the continued absence of key pacers like Jofra Archer has left Brendon McCullum’s facet trying to find solutions. They have to now win the remaining two matches in Colombo to keep away from one other sequence defeat and salvage essential rating factors.
Right here’s how followers reacted:
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 Beat England by 19 runs within the first ODI performed at RPS Colombo.
Sri Lanka main 1-0 within the three match ODI sequence.
That is England’s eleventh consecutive ODI defeats away from House. #SLVENG
— Nibraz Ramzan (@nibraz88cricket) January 22, 2026
Jamie Overton fought until the top however Sri Lanka gained the primary ODI by 19 runs and go 1-0 up
England have now misplaced their final 4 ODIs in a row#SLvENG
— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) January 22, 2026
McCullum and Key have completely destroyed what as soon as was an virtually unbeatable white-ball workforce. Sackable offences #SLvENG
— Deano (@deanocx) January 22, 2026
We CANNOT go right into a World Cup with Jamie Overton bowling on the loss of life
— No Context County Cricket (@NoContextCounty) January 22, 2026
Oh What a miserable Winter as an England Cricket Fan😔Thrashed 3-0 in New Zealand in an ODI Collection… Thrashed 4-1 within the Ashes Take a look at Collection in Australia and now misplaced this 1st ODI in Sri Lanka🤬I’ve watched up each ball of each sport too ffs, Surprising😭 #SLvENG
— BlueNoseBear⚽️🏏🐻💙 (@YouBearsssssss) January 22, 2026
He could not however cannot blame him the center order performed horribly dangerous. From 129-1 they went to 165-6 in 12 overs. One other ODI defeat for England, they’re actually struggling at cricket #SLvENG
— Gaurav Jindal (@gj100596) January 22, 2026
What a sport.. properly performed @OfficialSLC regardless of that almost coronary heart assault giving final 3-4 overs..
Good begin for the sequence.. #SLvENG
— Ahamed Nishadh (@ahamednishadh) January 22, 2026
Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 have by no means misplaced a white-ball sport on January 22 and 2026 simply proved it once more! #SLvENG
✅ Gained vs Australia — 2006
✅ Gained vs South Africa — 2012
✅ Gained vs South Africa — 2017
✅ Gained vs England — 2026 pic.twitter.com/mGvO7e3ocA— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) January 22, 2026
1️⃣-0️⃣ UP! 🇱🇰💪
Sri Lanka begin the sequence on a excessive with a 19-run win in opposition to England!#SLvENG #SriLankaCricket #SriLanka #CricketNation pic.twitter.com/e9nVqfTzIi
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 22, 2026
Sri Lanka safe a 19 run win over England to go 1-0 up within the three-match ODI sequence 🙌#SLvENG #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/QcM0aA9g67
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) January 22, 2026
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