RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka pulled off a sensational two-wicket victory over England on Thursday, completing the second-highest successful run chase in One-day International history after Harry Brook’s record-breaking double century had powered the visitors to a mammoth 429-4 in the tri-series match.

Chasing 430, Sri Lanka reached 430-8 with one ball to spare, riding on Pavan Rathnayake’s 130, half-centuries from Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka, both of whom fell for 97, and a blistering unbeaten 61 from Janith Liyanage.

The victory overshadowed a historic innings from England captain Brook, who became the first English batter to score an ODI double century and the fastest player to reach the milestone, getting there in 114 balls. His 202 off 116 deliveries included 21 fours and 10 sixes.

South Africa hold the record for the highest successful ODI chase, having scored 438-9 against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006 while pursuing a target of 435.

England’s total was built around Brook’s extraordinary assault, with Joe Root contributing 69, Will Jacks remaining unbeaten on 66 and Tom Banton scoring 50. Brook shared a 159-run stand with Root before adding 185 with Jacks, helping England plunder 156 runs in the final 10 overs.

Brook initially struggled to find his rhythm, scoring 13 off his first 24 deliveries, but shifted gears with consecutive sixes off Kamindu Mendis. He subsequently reached his half-century off 42 balls and century off 75 before racing to 200, surpassing the previous record of 117 balls set by India’s Shubman Gill.

Root, meanwhile, became the first England batter to complete 8,000 ODI runs during his 197th appearance in the format. Brook was caught at deep point off the final delivery of the innings after bringing up his double century with a paddle-swept four.

Sri Lanka’s pursuit began disastrously when they slumped to 24-2, with captain Kusal Mendis run out without facing a delivery. Their position deteriorated further when Avishka was given out leg-before wicket at 38-3, but he successfully overturned the decision on review and joined Rathnayake in a match-changing 166-run partnership.

Rathnayake struck 15 fours and three sixes in his highest international score before falling for 130, caught at long-on off Sam Curran. Shanaka then took charge, smashing six fours and eight sixes in a 50-ball innings. His 133-run partnership with Rathnayake came off just 79 deliveries and restored Sri Lanka’s hopes.

Shanaka, too, fell three runs short of a century, caught in the deep off Liam Dawson, leaving Sri Lanka needing 67 from the final six overs.

That was when Liyanage produced a remarkable finishing effort. Walking in at No. 7 with 107 required from 58 balls, he struck seven fours and three sixes, taking 23 runs off one Sam Curran over as the match swung decisively towards Sri Lanka.

England pacer Josh Tongue briefly revived his side’s hopes in the final over, removing Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga with successive deliveries. With seven needed off three balls, Asitha Fernando managed a single to bring Liyanage back on strike.

Liyanage then launched Tongue over long-off for six off the penultimate delivery, sealing a remarkable win and sending the Sri Lankan players rushing onto the field in celebration.

Curran endured a particularly difficult outing, conceding 103 runs in nine overs, the worst figures by an England bowler in ODI cricket.

“I’m very happy as a captain,” Sri Lanka skipper Mendis said. “Everyone believed we could do it. Every day we talk about showing character in team meetings, and it’s about showing we can get any score.”

Brook praised Sri Lanka’s effort but admitted his own landmark had been overshadowed by defeat.

“Both teams were exceptional. Sri Lanka just outplayed us, unfortunately,” he said. “It was a nice innings, but being on the losing side, it has no value whatsoever in my eyes.”

The result handed England their second defeat in three days in the tri-series. Pakistan, who have won both their matches against Sri Lanka and England, are scheduled to face England in Lahore on Sunday.

Scoreboard

ENGLAND:
T. Banton c Liyanage b Wellalage50
B. Duckett lbw Wellalage29
J. Root c Wellalage b A.M. Fernando69
H. Brook c Arachchige b Liyanage202
W. Jacks not out66

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, NB-2, W-9)13
TOTAL (for four wickets, 50 overs)429
FALL OF WICKETS:1-74 (Banton), 2-85 (Duckett), 3-244 (Root), 4-429 (Brook)
DID NOT BAT: J. Cox, S. Curran, J. Overton, G. Atkinson, L. Dawson, J. Tongue
BOWLING: A.M. Fernando 10-1-68-1 (2nb); Madushanka 10-0-89-0; Malinga 10-0-91-0 (6w); Wellalage 10-0-56-2; Shanaka 6-0-74-0 (2w); K.D. Mendis 2-0-17-0; Liyanage 2-0-32-1 (1w)

SRI LANKA:
K.D. Mendis b Tongue18
A. Fernando c & b Overton97
K.G. Mendis run out0
P. Rathnayake c Banton b Curran130
D. Shanaka c Banton b Dawson97
J. Liyanage not out61
S. Arachchige c Jacks b Curran13
D. Wellalage b Tongue8
E. Malinga b Tongue0
A.M. Fernando not out1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-1, W-3)5
TOTAL (for eight wickets, 49.5 overs)430
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-23 (K.D. Mendis), 2-24 (K.G. Mendis), 3-190 (A. Fernando), 4-323 (Rathnayake), 5-363 (Shanaka), 6-406 (Arachchige), 7-423 (Wellalage), 8-423 (Malinga)
DID NOT BAT: D. Madushanka
BOWLING: Atkinson 7-0-57-0 (2w); Tongue 8.5-1-79-3; Overton 10-0-77-1 (1w); Dawson 10-0-71-1; Curran 9-0-103-2; Jacks 5-0-41-0

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by two wickets.
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Pavan Rathnayake

Published in Dawn, October 23rd, 2026