Wednesday, January 28, 2026-England sealed a thrilling 2‑1 ODI series victory over Sri Lanka with a commanding 53‑run win in the third and deciding match in Colombo, powered by match‑defining centuries from Joe Root and captain Harry Brook. After being set a challenging target of 357‑3, England’s batters dominated from the middle overs, with Root anchoring the innings and Brook launching a blistering assault that swung the momentum decisively in the tourists’ favour.
Root provided a composed foundation with an unbeaten 111, his 20th ODI century, steering England through early instability and setting up the platform for Brook. The skipper then unleashed a spectacular display of power hitting, finishing unbeaten on 136 off just 66 balls with a flurry of boundaries and sixes to turn England’s total into a massive score rarely seen on Sri Lankan soil. Their unbroken 191‑run partnership proved the backbone of England’s innings and ultimately put Sri Lanka under sustained pressure.
Sri Lanka’s reply featured a spirited effort, highlighted by Pavan Rathnayake’s maiden ODI century, but England’s bowlers struck at key moments to prevent any realistic chance of a chase. The result marked England’s first away ODI series win in almost three years and a significant morale boost for the visitors as they gear up for an upcoming T20 series ahead of the World Cup cycle.
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