England produced a dominant batting display in the 3rd ODI against Sri Lanka, piling up a mammoth total before holding their nerve to clinch the match and seal the three-match series 2–1.
England Innings: 357/3 in 50 Overs
England built their innings methodically before exploding in the final phase. The visitors had a steady start in the first powerplay, scoring 40 runs while losing one wicket. Momentum picked up during the second powerplay as England added runs consistently despite Sri Lanka striking at key moments.
Joe Root and Jacob Bethell took charge after England lost a couple of early wickets, guiding the team to 73 for 2 at the first drinks break. Sri Lanka fought back with two sharp reviews, dismissing both Root and Bethell in the middle overs. Still, the pair had already put together a crucial 100-run stand.
Root notched up his fifty in 54 balls. Bethell got there too, reaching his half-century in 64. England cruised past 150 in the 30th over and were sitting at 181 for 3 when they paused for drinks in the 34th, with Root still holding things together. That’s when Harry Brook walked in and completely changed the tempo. England flew beyond 200 in the 37th over, then went wild in the final powerplay—smashing 130 runs without losing a wicket. Brook hammered his half-century in just 40 balls and, before you knew it, raced to a century off 57. Meanwhile, Root brought up a stylish hundred from exactly 100 deliveries. Together, they added 150 for the fourth wicket.
England sailed past 300 and wrapped up their innings on a massive 357 for 3. Root stayed unbeaten on 111; Brook finished with a blazing 136 not out. Sri Lanka’s chase started with a bang. They tore into the target, reaching 104 in the first 10 overs, even though they lost three wickets.
Pathum Nissanka set the tone, cracking a 24-ball fifty as Sri Lanka shot past 50 inside six overs. They crossed 100 in under 10 but started to falter once England picked up wickets in the middle stretch. By drinks in the 17th, Sri Lanka were 136 for 4—still fighting, but in need of a partnership. Pavan Rathnayake dug in, playing with calm and purpose. He reached his fifty in 57 balls and later brought up a hard-earned century.
Sri Lanka made it past 200 in the 31st over, with Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage keeping hopes alive. A seventh-wicket stand added 50, but wickets in the final powerplay slowed things down. Sri Lanka got to 300 in the 47th over but couldn’t quite keep up with the required rate.
Harry Brook took Player of the Match honors with his unbeaten 136 and three catches.
Joe Root, with 247 runs and two wickets in the series, was named Player of the Series.
England sealed the ODI series 2–1.
Their deep batting lineup and relentless finish made the difference, while Sri Lanka had their moments but just couldn’t match England’s firepower at the end.