England’s alarming ODI droop continued as Harry Brook’s aspect slid to a 19-run defeat to Sri Lanka within the sequence opener at Colombo.
England have been 129-1 after 27 overs chasing 272 because of a 117-run stand between Ben Duckett (62 off 76 balls) and Joe Root (61 off 90), solely to droop to 252 all out, together with a collapse of 5-35 as Duckett and Root’s lbw dismissals have been adopted by Brook (6) and Jacob Bethell (15) being stumped and Sam Curran (5) caught and bowled.
Rehan Ahmed’s enterprising 27 off 21 stored his group within the hunt however he was then pouched brilliantly at long-off by Dunith Wellalage, leaving England requiring 69 from the ultimate 5 overs and when Jos Buttler (19 off 20) and Liam Dawson (2) departed an over later, the sport was all however up, with Jamie Overton’s late cameo coming in useless.
Overton (34 off 17) – who had conceded 23 runs from the ultimate over of Sri Lanka’s innings – pumped 4 fours and two sixes to chop England’s ask to twenty from the final six balls however he then holed out off Pramod Madushan two deliveries later.
England misplaced 11 of their 15 ODIs in 2025 and have been swept 3-0 in New Zealand throughout October and November – a sequence throughout which Brook had an altercation with a nightclub bouncer – whereas this tour of the subcontinent kicked off simply two weeks after the top of a chastening Ashes in Australia that they misplaced 4-1.
England – presently eighth within the ODI rankings and in no way sure to qualify robotically for the 2027 World Cup – will look to maintain the sequence alive by profitable Saturday’s second recreation in Colombo (9am UK), forward of the ultimate fixture on the identical venue subsequent Tuesday.
Kusal Mendis’ 93 not out from 117 balls underpinned Sri Lanka’s 271-6, with Adil Rashid the decide of the England bowlers, bagging 3-44 to maneuver on to 238 wickets in his ODI profession, and fellow leg-spinner Ahmed (1-61), a late alternative within the XI for the in poor health Will Jacks, one among three bowlers to strike as soon as, alongside left-arm seamer Curran (1-40) and left-arm spinner Dawson (1-31).
Extra to observe.
Joe Root’s half-century was his forty fourth in one-day internationals for England.
England in Sri Lanka – outcomes and fixtures
All occasions UK and Eire
- First ODI (Thursday January 22) – Sri Lanka win by 19 runs (Colombo)
- Second ODI (Saturday January 24) – Colombo (9am)
- Third ODI (Tuesday January 27) – Colombo (9am)
- First T20 (Friday January 30) – Pallekele (1.30pm)
- Second T20 (Sunday February 1) – Pallekele (1.30pm)
- Third T20 (Tuesday February 3) – Pallekele (1.30pm)
