Key events
30th over: England 209-4 (Buttler 43, Jacks 3) Fernando continues as Jacks and Buttler collect singles.
29th over: England 205-4 (Buttler 42, Jacks 1) Lovely shape from Colombage as he flights it up outside Will Jacks’ off-stump. Just two runs off the over – and the dismissal of Joe Root.
WICKET! Root c Rathnayake b Colombage 15 (England 203-4)
The leggie is kept on by Kusal Mendis and he strikes! Tossed up outside off, inviting the drive, and Root finds the hands of short extra cover. Good captaincy and well bowled by the man under pressure. Sri Lanka keep themselves in the game.
28th over: England 203-3 (Buttler 41, Root 15) Wellalage is off, Asitha Fernando back. Buttler dabs the ball into the leg-side … it looks a gentle hit but it sprints to the deep midwicket rope. And then a chance! Buttler edges, Kusal Mendis leaps to his right, but it’s just out of reach, running away for four. Buttler has 41 off just 22 balls.
27th over: England 194-3 (Buttler 33, Root 14) Colombage returns after a poor first over early on, and he begins with a full toss. Buttler’s surely going to go after him … and thumps down the ground for six. Colombage continues to toss it up – the right thing to do – but Buttler can still mis-hit for six, over long-off. And then a long-hop down the leg-side that Buttler puts away with ease. The leggie closes the over with a dot and he shouldn’t feel too annoyed with himself – he’s bowling against one of the most destructive white-ball hitters ever.
26th over: England 177-3 (Buttler 17, Root 13) Buttler misses with his reverse sweep against Wellalage, and he’s lucky that leg stump is still intact. The spinner gives it air, and Buttler middles it this time, through the covers for four. And then a massive hit down the ground for six! A little too much flight there from Wellalage and Buttler doesn’t want a patient rebuild.
25th over: England 166-3 (Buttler 7, Root 12) Oh no. Buttler pulls Madushanka, it should be cut off by the rope, but a misfield gifts the new batter a boundary. It looks a lovely late summer evening at Headingley … but there are plenty of empty seats. We do have a decent game on, though. England need 156 runs from 25 overs.
24th over: England 158-3 (Buttler 1, Root 10) Buttler cuts for one but that’s another delicious over from Wellalage. He’s got three for 17 from four overs.
WICKET! Brook lbw Wellalage 1 (England 157-3)
Sky have just shown Marco Jansen’s one-handed grab for South Africa to get rid of Matt Renshaw in their ODI against Australia today. Ridiculous.
Here’s a leg-before shout against Brook, prodding forward, and Sri Lanka want to go upstairs. There’s no bat on it, and DRS says it’s smashing leg-stump! What a spell this is from Wellalage! England have lost three wickets for 14 runs.
23rd over: England 156-2 (Brook 1, Root 9) OK then, have we got ourselves a game? Madushanka bounds in from around the wicket against Harry Brook and he’s found some accuracy after his struggles with the new ball.
WICKET! Banton st Kusal Mendis b Wellalage 73 (England 153-2)
Root greets Wellalage with a sweep, helping the ball around the corner for four. The spinner then gives it some air, but Banton and Root nab quick singles. There’s some turn on offer … and he uses it to dismiss Banton! Again, tossed up, inviting Banton down the pitch for a whack, but the right-hander’s nowhere near it and Kusal does the rest. Lovely, loopy, left-arm bowling.
22nd over: England 153-2 (Brook 0, Root 7)
21st over: England 146-1 (Banton 72, Root 1) Madushanka is back and Joe Root has his first run, flicking off the pads.
20th over: England 143-1 (Banton 71, Root 0) A fine over by Wellalage, just 23 but already such a smart bowler.
WICKET! Duckett b Wellalage 67 (England 143-1)
Duckett can’t help himself – out comes the reverse sweep, one of his trademarks, against Wellalage, and off it runs for four. And then the breakthrough! It’s beautifully bowled by the left-arm spinner, tossed up outside off, inviting the loose drive and there’s enough turn to knock back the stumps.
19th over: England 137-0 (Banton 70, Duckett 62) Banton and Duckett look at ease, knocking Asalanka for ones. There’s no need to do anything risky after such a rapid start.
18th over: England 131-0 (Banton 67, Duckett 59) Dunith Wellalage is up next for Sri Lanka and his left-arm spin is on target, conceding just two from his first over.
17th over: England 129-0 (Banton 66, Duckett 58) Asalanka’s been economical but Sri Lanka need a wicket – fast. Duckett and Banton run through the singles.
16th over: England 124-0 (Banton 64, Duckett 55) Here’s Sachindu Colombage, who bowled so well on debut the other day. But he starts with a long-hop and Banton sends it into the crowd! Another short one follows, but Banton pulls to the fielder for a single. The leg-spinner is struggling with his length here as Banton smacks another six, turning it into a 14-run over.
Half-century for Tom Banton
15th over: England 110-0 (Banton 51, Duckett 54) Banton knocks Asalanka for one to move to his second ODI half-century – his first came six years ago! I remember that series against Ireland really well because it was Covid and, well, I didn’t have much else on. Strange times.
14th over: England 106-0 (Banton 49, Duckett 52) Banton edges Malinga down to third for four … though I think he was trying to guide it there anyway. The century stand comes up and, while there’s plenty left to do, I reckon England are winning the series tonight. Banton closes the over with a monster pull for six.
13th over: England 92-0 (Banton 36, Duckett 51) Asalanka is back, though I’d like to see Sachindu Colombage, the leggie, in soon. Just two singles off it.
Half-century for Ben Duckett
12th over: England 90-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 50) Malinga’s begun relatively well here, and he finds a decent line against Duckett from around the wicket. The left-hander clips for two and squeezes a single to bring up his half-century, the 14th time he’s got there in ODIs. His record in this format is excellent.
11th over: England 87-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 47) Asitha Fernando continues with four men outside the ring, goes short … and Banton’s pull shot falls short of Dunith Wellalage at deep backward square.
10th over: England 82-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 45) Oh, that is so sweet from Duckett, loud off the bat: he crunches Malinga through the covers. Banton’s racing too, but Duckett looks in real good order here. And just as I type that, Malinga whizzes one past the outside edge, a fine delivery. It’s England’s powerplay though.
9th over: England 77-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 39) Asitha Fernando is back and tighter this time when bowling to Duckett. The ball pings off Banton’s bat at the end of the over, but it finds cover. It’s a rarity: an over without a boundary.
8th over: England 75-0 (Banton 32, Duckett 38) Eshan Malinga is next up, nabbing a thickish edge from Banton … that runs away for four. A few dots follow – but Duckett pulls the final delivery for another boundary. That’s 13 so far.
7th over: England 66-0 (Banton 27, Duckett 34) Asalanka’s offies are probably best described as tidy, but his tight start is undone by a wide one outside off, driven by Duckett for yet another boundary. A cut to the ropes follows and Kusal Mendis has got a few problems here. Who does he turn to next?
6th over: England 57-0 (Banton 26, Duckett 26) Madushanka is kept on by Kusal Mendis, but the left-armer’s woes continue, starting with a leg-side wide. A half-volley is driven elegantly by Duckett for four and that’s the 50 stand, taking just 5.2 overs.
5th over: England 48-0 (Banton 25, Duckett 19) Charith Asalanka is on to save Sri Lanka with his offies … and he races through his over, conceding three singles.
4th over: England 45-0 (Banton 24, Duckett 17) Way too wide from Madushanka and Banton collects another boundary. This has been a miserable start from Sri Lanka. Michael Atherton sounds exasperated with just how wayward they’ve been. Banton closes the over with a nice dab to third for his fifth four.
3rd over: England 32-0 (Banton 12, Duckett 17) Short, wide and Duckett cuts Fernando for four. This is really loose from Sri Lanka as Fernando continues to give the left-hander width. The quick switches to around the wicket … and Duckett slaps the ball behind point for four more. Fernando goes straight – and Duckett welcomes the fuller length, driving straight to the ropes. Fernando’s gone for 23 from his first two overs.
2nd over: England 15-0 (Banton 12, Duckett 1) Dilshan Madushanka is on from the other end and he needs to sort out his line. He goes too straight to Duckett, who clips for one, and he’s too wide to Banton, who cuts for four. The ball then finds Banton’s pads, and the Somerset man whips away for his third boundary.
1st over: England 6-0 (Banton 4, Duckett 0) Fernando begins … with a loose leg-side wide. He quickly finds his line, getting movement away from the right-hander, and there’s a slip in place, waiting for an early mistake. A no-ball grants Banton a free hit … and he whips away a low full toss for four.
Here we go. Tom Banton’s on strike, trying to make his case as an opener. Asitha Fernando has the ball.
Taha Hashim
Hello, hello, hello. Courtesy of Rob, here are some useful numbers. From 2015 to 2021 (the glory years under Eoin Morgan), England successfully chased down 11 totals above 300 in ODIs. In the last five years they’ve done it … twice. Against West Indies in 2024 and 2025.
That’s all from me. Taha Hashim will be with you for the run-chase. Bye!
England need 322 to win
Sri Lanka’s total was built on a coruscating 121 from their captain Kusal Mendis. But England did well at the death – Sri Lanka scored only 104 from the last 15 overs – and will fancy their chances on an excellent pitch.
50th over: Sri Lanka 321-6 (Wellalage 16, Colombage 3) Colombage is dropped by Buttler off Overton, a sharp one-handed chance after a big deflection. Wellalage splashes another mishit shot that lands in front of Jacks, running back from mid-off. How the actual hell has Jamie Overton not taken a wicket today?
When the book is written on the 100 Best ODI Nought-Fors, this spell from Overton will be in it. No wicket at the death, so he’ll have to be content with a boundaryless final over and figures of 10-0-63-0.
49th over: Sri Lanka 315-6 (Wellalage 12, Colombage 2) Archer’s final over is really good – four singles and a wicket. He bowled better than figures of 10-0-68-1 might suggest.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 312-6 (Liyanage c Root b Archer 32)
Liyanage is beaten for pace and heaves Archer straight to Root at extra cover. He played a useful cameo of 32 from 26 balls.
48th over: Sri Lanka 311-5 (Liyanage 32, Wellalage 10) Liyanage picks a slower ball from Overton and creams it over mid-off for four to bring up the 300. Wellalage joins the funwith a top-edged scoop over the keeper’s head for his first boundary. Another top edge somehow lands short of the man running in from mid-off, a continuation of Overton’s almost perverse misfortune.
Two overs remaining. Sri Lanka are on course to beat their highest ODI score against England in this country. That was also on this ground in 2006, when they made 324 for 2. In 37.3 overs. Imagine Duncan Fletcher’s internal monologue as this was unfolding.
47th over: Sri Lanka 299-5 (Liyanage 27, Wellalage 4) Liyanage stands tall to slap a slower ball from Archer behind square for four. It’s been a frustrating day for Jofra, who has conceded 64 from nine, but he does well to keep Sri Lanka quiet towards the back end of the over.
46th over: Sri Lanka 290-5 (Liyanage 19, Wellalage 3) Jamie Overton, on for Rehan, bowls a superb over that costs only five. Liyanage was beaten by a sizzling yorker that just missed the leg stump.
Overton’s figures of 8-0-47-0 are mildly scandalous; he’s probably been England’s best bowler.
45th over: Sri Lanka 285-5 (Liyanage 16, Wellalage 1) Dunith Wellalage, who landed a few lusty blows at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, is the new batter.
WICKET! Sri Lanka 282-5 (Rathnayake run out 48)
Rathnayake pushes Archer to deep cover, tries to steal a second run and pays the price. Root’s throw was well wide of the stumps, but Buttler stretched to retrieve it and broke the wicket with the diving Rathnayake short of his ground. Brilliant wicketkeeping.
44th over: Sri Lanka 276-4 (Rathnayake 44, Liyanage 14) Rehan does indeed continue. Liyanage heaves an inelegant reverse sweep over Archer at short third, with the ball running down the slope for four. The usual ones and twos make it a decent over; nine from it.
Sri Lanka would love ten an over from here; that would take them to 336.
43rd over: Sri Lanka 267-4 (Rathnayake 40, Liyanage 9) Jofra Archer makes an expensive return to the attack. Rathnayake back cuts expertly for four; Liyanage trumps that shot with a deft uppercut over the keeper’s head. After a peedie wobble, Sri Lanka are back on course for a 300+ score.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 256-4 (Rathnayake 34, Liyanage 4) Rehan Ahmed continues to stall Sri Lanka with an over that contains two dots and four singles. It’s not without risk, because Sri Lanka will go after him sooner rather than later, but Brook will probably give him at least one more over.
41st over: Sri Lanka 252-4 (Rathnayake 32, Liyanage 2) Rathnayeke slugs Atkinson for six over wide long-on – that shot was vaguely reminiscent of MS Dhoni’s immortal World Cup-winner in 2011 – before pulling four behind square. Sri Lanka needed a big over; 15 runs constitutes a big over.
