RAWALPINDI: Sri Lanka created history by chasing down England’s mammoth target of 430 runs with just one ball to spare in the ODI tri-series, recording the second-highest successful run chase in men’s ODI cricket.
The Sri Lankan batters displayed remarkable courage and attacking intent to overcome the daunting target, producing a memorable performance against England’s bowling attack.
Ratnayake led the charge with a brilliant 130, while Shanaka and Fernando scored 97 runs apiece. Janith Liyanage also played a crucial role, contributing a match-winning half-century to help Sri Lanka complete the historic chase.
Earlier, England’s batters dominated the Sri Lankan bowling attack in Rawalpindi, piling up a huge total and rewriting several records on Pakistani soil.
Benton and Duckett laid the foundation for England’s imposing score before captain Harry Brook unleashed a devastating assault on the opposition bowlers. Brook struck a double century, becoming the first England captain to achieve the feat in ODI cricket.
The innings also produced a historic milestone for Pakistan, with Brook’s double century marking the first time a batter had scored an ODI double hundred on Pakistani soil.
Will Jacks added further firepower with a blistering 30-ball innings, helping England push their total beyond the 400-run mark. England thus became the first team to score more than 400 runs in an ODI on Pakistani soil.
England finished on 429 runs against Sri Lanka, their highest-ever ODI total against the island nation. Their innings featured 13 sixes and 48 boundaries, underlining the scale of their batting onslaught.
Despite England’s record-breaking performance with the bat, Sri Lanka responded with an extraordinary chase to seal a dramatic victory and produce one of the most remarkable run chases in ODI history.
