Sri Lanka completed one of the largest run chases in one-day international cricket history on Thursday, reaching 430 for eight to defeat England by two wickets in Rawalpindi after losing two early wickets for just 24 runs.
The victory came in the third match of the Pakistan ODI triangular series.
England had scored 429 for four from 50 overs, with captain Harry Brook making 202 from 116 deliveries.
Sri Lanka reached the target with one ball remaining.
The result represents the second-highest successful chase in men’s ODI history, behind South Africa’s pursuit of 435 against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.
Brook scores 202 as England reach 429
England captain Harry Brook struck 202 from 116 balls, including 21 fours and ten sixes.
His innings became the fastest double century in men’s ODI cricket and the highest individual ODI score by an England batter.
Joe Root contributed 69 from 66 deliveries, while Will Jacks made an unbeaten 66 from 30 balls.
England accelerated sharply during the closing stages to finish on 429 for four.
The total required Sri Lanka to score at more than 8.6 runs per over throughout the chase.
It was an imposing target, particularly after the visitors lost two wickets inside the fifth over.
From 24 for two to 190 for three
Sri Lanka lost Kamindu Mendis with the score on 23.
Captain Kusal Mendis followed shortly afterwards, leaving the team at 24 for two after 4.2 overs.
Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake then rebuilt the innings.
The pair added 166 runs for the third wicket, taking Sri Lanka to 190 before Fernando was dismissed for 97.
The partnership occupied a substantial portion of the innings and prevented England from maintaining the advantage gained through the early wickets.
Rathnayake continued batting after Fernando’s dismissal.
Dasun Shanaka joined him in another century partnership.
The fourth-wicket stand added 133 runs, taking Sri Lanka to 323 for four.
Rathnayake eventually departed for 130 from 106 balls.
24/2: Score after the early dismissals.
190/3: Third-wicket partnership adds 166 runs.
323/4: Fourth-wicket partnership adds another 133.
430/8: Winning total reached in 49.5 overs.
406 runs: Scored after Sri Lanka fell to 24 for two.
Shanaka and Liyanage finish the chase
Dasun Shanaka scored 97, maintaining the scoring rate after Rathnayake’s dismissal.
Janith Liyanage then produced an aggressive innings during the final overs.
He finished unbeaten on 61 from 27 deliveries.
Sri Lanka lost wickets late in the chase, including two with the score on 423.
The visitors still required seven runs with only a few deliveries remaining.
Liyanage struck the winning six in the final over, taking Sri Lanka to 430 for eight.
The result completed a chase that had appeared increasingly difficult after the early dismissals.
Match produces 859 runs
England’s 429 and Sri Lanka’s 430 produced a combined total of 859 runs.
That makes the match one of the highest-scoring ODIs ever played.
Sri Lanka’s final total also surpassed its previous highest successful ODI chase.
Four batters made scores of 97 or more across Sri Lanka’s innings and Brook’s double century for England.
The partnership figures show how Sri Lanka sustained its chase through the middle overs.
The 166-run third-wicket stand was followed by another 133-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Those two partnerships alone contributed 299 runs.
That represents approximately 69.5% of Sri Lanka’s final total.
Rathnayake follows Pakistan performance with century
Rathnayake’s 130 followed his 79 against Pakistan in Sri Lanka’s opening match of the triangular series.
He has therefore scored 209 runs across his first two innings of the competition.
In the opening match, Rathnayake shared a 119-run fifth-wicket partnership with Janith Liyanage before Sri Lanka lost by 37 runs.
Lakbima News reported on that defeat and the partnership that briefly revived Sri Lanka’s chase.
Against England, Rathnayake’s contribution was larger, and Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order completed the pursuit.
The two performances have made him one of Sri Lanka’s leading contributors during the opening stage of the tournament.
Sri Lanka remain in contention for the final
The victory gives Sri Lanka its first win of the triangular series after the defeat to Pakistan.
England have lost their opening two matches.
The competition now moves from Rawalpindi to Lahore.
Sri Lanka are scheduled to face Pakistan on October 27 and England again on October 29.
The final is scheduled for October 31, with the two leading teams from the league stage progressing to the title match.
Sri Lanka’s victory over England provides an important result before the remaining fixtures in Lahore.
