COLOMBO : Centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook powered England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka on Tuesday, clinching a 2-1 win in their one-day international series.
Put in to bat, England were under early pressure after Ben Duckett was dismissed for seven and Rehan Ahmed fell for 24 inside the first 11 overs. Root and Jacob Bethell steadied the innings with a measured 126-run partnership for the third wicket.
Bethell made a composed 65 before being dismissed by Jeffrey Vandersay, but Root then found the ideal partner in captain Brook as the pair accelerated decisively. Their unbroken 191-run stand off 113 balls lifted England from a competitive position to a commanding one.
Brook struck an ODI career-best 136 from 66 balls, hitting 11 fours and nine sixes, while Root remained unbeaten on 111 from 108 deliveries as England posted 357-3.
Sri Lanka began their chase positively, with Kamil Mishara making 22 and Pathum Nissanka blasting a 24-ball half-century that included five fours and three sixes before Jamie Overton removed him to halt the momentum.
Captain Charith Asalanka (13) and Janith Liyanage (22) fell cheaply as England’s bowlers applied sustained pressure, leaving the hosts struggling at 202-6 in the 32nd over.
Pavan Rathnayake offered resistance with a composed maiden ODI century, scoring 121, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end. His innings ended when Sam Curran bowled him with a full delivery, and Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 304.
Sri Lanka had won the opening match of the series by 19 runs before England levelled with a five-wicket victory. The teams will now switch formats for a three-match Twenty20 series starting on Friday.
