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England beat Sri Lanka in 3rd ODI, win series 2-1
27 Jan 2026

England beat Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on January 27.

The visitors racked up a mammoth 357/3, riding on tons from Joe Root and Harry Brook. A 65-run knock from Jacob Bethell also bolstered them.

In response, Sri Lanka had a fiery start before they lost successive wickets. Pavan Rathnayake's defiant ton couldn't get them home.

How SL started their chase
Start

Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka gave SL a flying start.

Although Mishara (22) and Kusal Mendis (20) departed following their rapid knocks, Nissanka continued his barrage of boundaries.

The ninth over, bowled by Sam Curran, brought up Nissanka's half-century. He fell to Overton after scoring a 25-ball 50.

Nissanka smashed 5 fours and 3 sixes, taking SL toward 100 within 10 overs.

Rathnayake keeps SL alive
Knock

Rathnayake held his end despite the top-order collapse (94/3). He moved the scoreboard along with Charith Asalanka (13) and Janith Liyanage (22).

Although SL crossed 200 by 31 overs, Will Jacks dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva to take their sixth wicket.

Rathnayake, who had earlier completed his half-century, found a reliable partner in Dunith Wellalage. The duo propelled SL past 250 before the final powerplay.

SL lose despite Rathnayake's ton
Hundred

After the 40th over, back-to-back dismissals of Wellalage (22) and Wanindu Hasaranga (9) stalled SL's chase.

However, Rathnayake's century, which came in the 43rd over, kept SL in the hunt. He upped the ante with a couple of hits, but another wicket mounted more pressure on him.

SL crossed 300, but Sam Curran dismissed Rathnayake to wrap up the match.

Maiden ODI ton for Rathnayake
Numbers

Rathnayake hammered 121 off 115 balls, laced with 12 fours and a six.

The Lankan batter converted his maiden ODI 50-plus score into a century. This was his fourth appearance for Sri Lanka in the format.

Before this match, Rathnayake had 73 runs in three ODIs. Overall, the Lankan batter completed his seventh century in List A cricket.

England recover from early blows
Recovery

Electing to bat in the decider, England were 19/1 with Ben Duckett's early departure. They were soon down to 40/2 as Hasaranga dismissed Rehan Ahmed.

Root then joined forces with Jacob Bethell as the two batters powered the visitors with a 126-run stand.

The dismissal of Bethell didn't impact England, who were later poweredby an unbeaten 191-run partnership between centurions Root and Brook.

Root slams his 20th ODI ton
Root

Root returned unbeaten on 111 (108), having slammed 9 fours and a six.

The English batter completed his 20th century in ODI cricket. Playing his 189th ODI, the batter has gone past 7,500 runs (now 7,577) as he averages 49.52.

No other Englishman owns even 15 centuries or 7,000 runs in the format.

Root made 61 and 75 in the first two ODIs.

61st ton across formats
Fact

Root now has 61 centuries for England across formats. He is followed by former captain Alastair Cook (38). Notably, 41 of Root's international centuries have come in Test cricket. Only India's Virat Kohli (85) owns more international hundreds among active players.

Brook's career-best ODI score
Brook

Brook hammered 9 sixes and 11 fours en route to his 136* off just 66 deliveries. This was his third ODI hundred as he also boasts 6 fifties.

The England captain also recorded his career-best score in the format.

Brook's 57-ball ton is the fourth-fastest against SL, as per ESPNcricinfo. He also scripted the joint sixth-fastest ton for England.

England back to winning ways
Fact

It is worth noting that England won their first ODI series away from home since May 2023. The Englishmen lost in West Indies (twice), India, and New Zealand before winning in Sri Lanka.