England gained their first away ODI underneath Brendon McCullum as Joe Root led them to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo to stage the three-match collection.
Since including the white-ball place to his Check position in January 2025, McCullum had overseen 10 ODI losses in a row on England’s travels.
The vacationers knew a second defeat in Colombo in three days would guarantee that they had gained solely one among their final eight 50-over collection, however produced a powerful all-round show to make it 1-1 forward of Tuesday’s decider.
Captain Harry Brook deployed 41 overs of spin in a formidable bowling efficiency to bowl Sri Lanka out for 219 earlier than Root made an imperious 75 on a sluggish wicket underneath lights to steer England residence.
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(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Morale-boosting win
Following a dismal Ashes tour which culminated in a 4-1 defeat, this was a morale-boosting win which helps restrict the harm to England’s world rating – as strain builds on their computerized qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
England performed Sri Lanka at their very own recreation by utilizing six spinners, who claimed a mixed seven for 180.
Openers Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka departed cheaply earlier than Kusal Mendis ran himself out for 26.
Sri Lanka’s tempo was sedate, strangled by England’s spinners as Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson once more starred.
(Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
Golden probability
Skipper Charith Asalanka top-scored with 45, however Sri Lanka by no means gained momentum earlier than being bowled out within the remaining over.
Having fallen 19 in need of their goal of 272 at this floor on Thursday, after being spun out by Sri Lanka, it felt England had earned a golden probability to interrupt their malaise.
However, having misplaced 15 of their earlier 20 ODIs, Brook’s males would have been eager to begin effectively.
(AP Photograph/Eranga Jayawardena)
Shock
England sprung a shock by naming spin-bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed, 21, as opener for the primary time in worldwide cricket – changing the injured Zak Crawley.
The 21-year-old has batted at three twice in his 5 Checks in addition to opening within the County Championship and as soon as within the T20 Blast however his promotion from quantity eight was actually an eyebrow-raiser.
Ahmed was bowled by Dhananjaya de Silva for 13 – aided by 4 overthrows – because the gamble did not repay and England’s chase began in wobbly style.
(AP Photograph/Eranga Jayawardena)
A ripper
However Root caressed his first ball for 4 whereas Ben Duckett took the assault to Sri Lanka’s spinners because the pair raced to a stand of 69 in 65 balls.
When their partnership was damaged within the first ODI, it was the beginning of England’s stoop in the direction of defeat, so when Jeffrey Vandersay produced a ripper to bowl Duckett for 39, there would have been rigidity within the England camp at 88 for 2, with 132 nonetheless required.
As Jacob Bethell slapped De Silva to cowl for simply six, panic might need set in.
(AP Photograph/Eranga Jayawardena)
Marched on
However Root marched on, reaching his forty fifth ODI fifty to steer England to 114 for 3 at midway and he was joined in a composed 81-run stand by Brook.
Asitha Fernando had Root trapped lbw to make it 178 for 4, the 35-year-old livid when DRS upheld the choice regardless of him believing he had edged it.
Brook missed a sweep off Vandersay to depart for 42 because the nerves jangled once more, however Jos Buttler crashed 33 to safe a primary away win since November 2024.
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