3 days ago
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It has been a rough few years for England’s 50-over side, but the glow of their World Cup victory has not completely disappeared. Joe Root and Adil Rashid, both part of the 2019 class, were the protagonists of the second one-day international against Sri Lanka, setting up a five-wicket victory to level the series.
Rashid led the England attack on another turner, taking two for 34 as Harry Brook used a national ODI record 40.3 overs of spin, limiting Sri Lanka to 219. It was still a serious challenge, particularly in a must-win game for the tourists, their winless run away from home in ODIs having stretched to 11 on Thursday.
Root’s calming qualities were desperately required. He advanced to 75 before Asitha Fernando’s tailing yorker had him out lbw and it was not the smoothest finish as Brook followed soon after. But Jos Buttler took the baton and was at the other end as Will Jacks ended the losing streak. Brendon McCullum, finally, has his first ODI victory abroad as England’s white-ball coach.
Jacks returned to the England XI in place of Zak Crawley – out with a knee injury – leading to an eye-catching promotion. Rehan Ahmed, at No 8 on Thursday, was at the top of the order for the first time in his international career. It was a funky call, but not entirely unfamiliar to the 21-year-old, who has opened in the County Championship and batted at three in the Big Bash this month.
The change meant Brook had an extra bowler and he wanted to play with all his toys after losing the toss. The arrival of Root’s off-breaks in the 30th over made him England’s eighth bowler, the sixth spinner, as England tied the hosts down on a surface that was ragging for the part-timers as well.
Rashid made great use of it. He did not concede a boundary in his 10 overs, masterfully floating the ball above the eyeline and inviting catches in the deep from Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka. The 37-year-old also pulled off England’s finest moment in the field, a low tumbling grab at deep fine leg to remove Janith Liyanage and hand Jamie Overton his second wicket.
Overton and Sam Curran were tight with the new ball, but with Jacks and Liam Dawson economical Brook stuck to spin at the death, leading to the unlikely sight of Root taking the final over. It lasted three deliveries, Root inviting fatal slogs from Dunith Wellalage and Fernando to close an innings that never found any real thrust.
Asalanka top-scored with a 64-ball 45, but the real blow was the dismissal of Kusal Mendis, who had battled for an unbeaten 93 earlier in the week. The No 3 cut hard while on 26 and set off before turning back; Jacks’s throw from point beat him to the striker’s end.
Out came Ahmed alongside Ben Duckett, but the partnership was brief. Ahmed’s only boundary was courtesy of overthrows before he was met by Dhananjaya’s deception, the off-spinner getting the ball to swing in to the right-hander and knock back the stumps.
Duckett began slowly, going scoreless off his first 10 deliveries, the drought packing in a failed ramp and a successful review after he was given out lbw. But he settled as Root took command. England’s all-time leading run-scorer brought an assuredness to the crease that had not been seen all game, whipping off his pads and scoring at a decent click.
Duckett advanced to 39 before Jeffrey Vandersay ripped a leg-break hard to bowl the left-hander, but Root and Brook dug in for an 81-run stand. Brook was some way off his best, his 42 taking 75 balls before falling to Vandersay with a missed sweep.
With 31 required off 44 balls and two new men in the middle, Sri Lanka still had a shout. Buttler narrowly escaped twice with a couple of aerial strokes against the dangerous Fernando, but his power game shone through. A decider awaits on Tuesday.
