1 hour ago
2
Harry Brook’s first masterpiece of the winter, lost in defeat, seems an age ago. It was in his side’s first one-day international against New Zealand back in October, his 101-ball 135 somehow landing in the middle of nine single-figure England scores.
The nightclub bouncer’s punch followed, the Ashes tour went wrong and then came the reveal of the former. A lot has happened, but moments of genius in the middle always lurk close by when it comes to Brook. Here, in their final ODI of the winter, he brought it all together with an unbeaten 136 off 66 balls, taking England to a prized series victory in Sri Lanka, the decider won by 53 runs.
Brook’s carnage – nine sixes to go with 11 fours – meant Joe Root’s 20th ODI century was relegated to a supporting act, Jacob Bethell’s 65 ending up as a cameo. A target of 358 was monstrous, and Sri Lanka gave it a serious go up top, reaching 100 inside 10 overs.
Pathum Nissanka, with a 24-ball half-century, and Kusal Mendis, 20 off his first eight deliveries, laid into Jamie Overton in the powerplay. But the quick also managed to attract the fatal big shot: the former pulled to the catcher in the deep, the latter found Brook at mid-off. The partnerships did not build even as the boundaries continued, regular wickets and more catches for Brook giving England control.
Pavan Rathnayake, 23 years old and playing just his seventh international match, was the consolation for Sri Lanka, the right-hander’s promise leading to a first century for his country. A single through extra cover off Liam Dawson in the 43rd over brought the Premadasa great joy, and Rathnayake refused to give in, threatening to do it all himself. His was the final wicket to fall as England celebrated their first ODI series victory abroad in three years.
After losing the toss in England’s six previous ODIs, Brook finally had it go his way and elected to bat. Having called the ragging Colombo pitch on Saturday “probably the worst” he’d played on, he was critical once again when speaking before the start: “We’d like a nice pitch, but I don’t think it’s going to be a nice pitch.” Pressed by the commentator Russel Arnold on what a “nice pitch” would entail, Brook replied: “High-scoring, boundaries everywhere.”
But variety – turners in Asia, bouncy ones in Australia – elevates the game, and watching an endless stream of big hits can get tiring. Having got his wish, the entertainment value of Brook’s pyro-party was higher than usual because of the challenges presented earlier in the series, when each run scored was precious.
Another 200-something total seemed the limit when England were reduced to 40 for two inside 11 overs. Ben Duckett’s reverse-sweep, usually one of his superpowers, went straight to cover while Rehan Ahmed – opening once again as the tourists stayed unchanged – pulled Wanindu Hasaranga to midwicket for 24.
Hasaranga, the home side’s main weapon with the ball, had been rested for the previous two games and it took just three deliveries for him to strike. But that would be his only breakthrough of the afternoon as Root and Bethell settled in for a 126-run stand.
Root commands respect in all conditions but the numbers are something else in Sri Lanka, where he has three Test hundreds and now averages 76 in ODIs. The cushioned reverse-sweeps were particularly brilliant in his latest effort, and the speed of his footwork when spotting a drag-down stood out, too. Bethell displayed his range against pace in the 30th over, bowled by Asitha Fernando. Four boundaries went to different corners: a clip through mid-on to bring up his half-century, a late cut, a blistering pull and the cover drive to finish.
Bethell perished just as he begin to crank things up, lacing Jeffrey Vandersay to deep midwicket. Brook entered with less than 19 overs to play, there to help out as Root advanced to his century – celebrated with the 35-year-old’s now trademark shrug. Instead, the England captain turned himself into the headliner.
His first stroke was a four behind point but it was his work over extra cover that stunned. Even Dunith Wellalage, whose tight left-arm spin went at under five an over, felt Brook’s force through that region as the right-hander ascended to another level. After reaching his half-century off 40 balls, it took just 17 more to get to his third ODI century. Fittingly, England’s innings closed with another Brook six over cover, Fernando the bowler punished. England had their highest total away from home since the 2023 World Cup.
Sri Lanka, initially, made it look paltry before the tumble of wickets. A fifth-wicket stand between Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage kept them in with a shout, but hesitancy while running cost them, the latter perishing before he could get back to the striker’s end. Wellalage, impressive all series, hung around for 22 before Rathnayake’s milestone moment. Hope remained till the end because of the centurion, but the result, confirmed when Sam Curran finally found a way through Rathnayake, was unfamiliar to Sri Lanka – this is their first ODI series defeat at home in five years.
