Sri Lanka Script Historic ODI Chase to Beat England in Rawalpindi

KARACHI -UNS: Sri Lanka produced a remarkable batting display to pull off the second-highest successful run chase in One-Day International (ODI) history, defeating England by four wickets in the third match of the tri-nation series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Chasing a daunting target of 430, Sri Lanka reached 433 for six in 49.5 overs, sealing victory with just one ball remaining in a thrilling encounter.
England had piled up 429 for four in their allotted 50 overs, powered by captain Harry Brook’s sensational double century. However, their mammoth total proved insufficient as Sri Lanka’s batters delivered a stunning response.
Sri Lanka’s chase began on a shaky note, with Kamindu Mendis dismissed for 18 and captain Kusal Mendis falling for a duck inside the first five overs. The early setbacks left the visitors struggling at 24 runs.
Kamil Mishara Rathnayake and Asitha Fernando then steadied the innings with a magnificent third-wicket partnership of 166 runs from 137 deliveries, bringing Sri Lanka firmly back into contention.
Fernando played an outstanding innings of 97 from 83 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes. His knock ended in the 28th over when Jamie Overton caught him off his own bowling, narrowly denying the batter a century.
Rathnayake continued to anchor the innings after Fernando’s departure, finding an aggressive partner in Dasun Shanaka. The pair added 133 runs for the fourth wicket, keeping Sri Lanka’s required run rate within reach.
Rathnayake reached his second ODI century before Sam Curran brought his impressive innings to an end in the 41st over. The opener top-scored with 130 off 106 deliveries, including 15 fours and three sixes.
Shanaka then took charge with a blistering display of power-hitting, joining Janith Liyanage for a 40-run fifth-wicket stand. The all-rounder came agonisingly close to a maiden ODI hundred but was dismissed for 97 by Liam Dawson.
His explosive innings came off just 50 balls and featured six fours and eight sixes, keeping Sri Lanka firmly on course for an extraordinary victory.
With the pressure mounting in the closing overs, Liyanage delivered the decisive contribution, remaining unbeaten on 61 from only 27 deliveries. His innings included seven fours and three sixes as Sri Lanka crossed the finish line on the penultimate ball.
For England, Josh Tongue was the leading wicket-taker with three wickets for 79 runs in 8.5 overs. Curran claimed two wickets, while Overton and Dawson took one apiece.
Earlier, England had dominated proceedings after Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis elected to field first. The decision appeared to backfire as the visitors’ opponents produced a formidable total of 429 for four, setting a new record for the highest ODI score in the host country.
England’s previous benchmark in Pakistan had been surpassed by the hosts themselves, who scored 375 for three against Zimbabwe in 2015.
Openers Tom Banton and Ben Duckett provided England with a brisk start, putting together 74 runs before left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage dismissed both batters in successive overs.
Banton scored 51 from 50 balls, hitting nine fours, while Duckett contributed 29 off 39 deliveries.
Captain Brook and Joe Root subsequently took control, building a commanding 159-run partnership for the third wicket. Both batters passed the half-century mark before Asitha Fernando broke the stand by dismissing Root for 69 off 66 balls, an innings that included eight boundaries.
Brook, however, continued his assault and combined with Will Jacks to devastate Sri Lanka’s bowling attack in the final stages. Their extraordinary fourth-wicket partnership produced 185 runs from just 77 deliveries.
Brook ultimately finished with a magnificent 202 from 116 balls, striking 21 fours and 10 sixes. His double century was not enough to secure victory, as Janith Liyanage dismissed the England captain on the final delivery of the innings.
Jacks remained unbeaten on 60 from 33 balls, with eight fours and three sixes, helping England surpass the 400-run mark.
Despite England’s record-breaking batting performance and Brook’s outstanding individual achievement, Sri Lanka’s remarkable run chase stole the spotlight in Rawalpindi, delivering one of the most memorable victories in ODI cricket.