## England’s Batting Fireworks Secure ODI Series Victory Over Sri Lanka
England unleashed a spectacular batting display in Colombo, spearheaded by masterful centuries from Joe Root and Harry Brook, to decisively defeat Sri Lanka by 53 runs and clinch the one-day international series. The commanding performance saw the tourists post their highest-ever ODI total in Sri Lanka, a formidable 357-3, setting a daunting challenge that the home side ultimately couldn’t overcome.
After an initial period of consolidation, the innings truly took flight thanks to the elegant composure of Joe Root. The former captain meticulously built his 20th ODI hundred, anchoring the scoreboard with his characteristic precision. He forged a vital 126-run alliance with Jacob Bethell before Harry Brook joined him in the middle, setting the stage for an extraordinary partnership.
As Root brought up his run-a-ball century, Brook shifted gears dramatically, transforming the innings into a high-octane spectacle. The young gun launched a ferocious assault on the Sri Lankan bowlers, rocketing to his century in a breathtaking 57 deliveries. Their unbroken, game-defining partnership of 191 runs propelled England to an imposing total. Brook finished with a career-best 136 not out, while Root remained unbeaten on 111.
Sri Lanka responded with an explosive start of their own, plundering 104 runs within the powerplay despite losing three early wickets. Opener Pathum Nissanka lit up the chase with a blistering fifty off just 24 balls before his aggressive intent led to his dismissal. Unlike the preceding low-scoring encounters, the Colombo pitch offered a much more batter-friendly surface, though it gradually slowed and favored turn as the match progressed.
Pavan Rathnayake offered a glimmer of hope for the hosts, crafting an impressive maiden international century from 104 balls. His measured approach mirrored Root’s earlier effort, but crucially, Sri Lanka lacked an equivalent to Brook’s destructive power at the other end. As wickets continued to tumble around him, Rathnayake attempted to accelerate but was the last man out for a valiant 121, bowled by Sam Curran in the 47th over.
This significant victory not only ends Sri Lanka’s remarkable 12-series unbeaten streak at home in ODIs but also provides a crucial boost to England’s qualification aspirations for the 2027 World Cup.
### Root’s Craftsmanship Meets Brook’s Brutality
The contrasting yet complementary centuries formed the bedrock of England’s monumental total.
#### Root’s Masterclass in Accumulation
Joe Root showcased his enduring class, relentlessly rotating the strike and expertly finding gaps. His innings, while less overtly aggressive, was the vital foundation upon which England’s colossal score was built. He struck nine fours and a single six in a flawless 108-ball performance, scoring freely off both front and back foot, leaving Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggling to apply any sustained pressure. His ability to maintain a brisk scoring rate without taking undue risks provided the perfect platform.
#### Brook’s Blistering Assault
Root’s steady hand allowed Harry Brook the luxury of assessing the conditions before unleashing his full repertoire. Having reached his half-century with a towering six over extra cover, Brook then accelerated with astonishing speed, needing just 17 more balls to reach his hundred. The Sri Lankan attack had no answers as Brook masterfully alternated between advancing down the pitch and hitting powerfully from his crease, sending the ball repeatedly to or over the boundary rope.
### England’s Bowlers Seal the Deal
Chasing 358 was always going to be a gargantuan task for Sri Lanka, demanding a record-breaking pursuit at the R Premadasa Stadium and their highest successful ODI chase ever.
#### Early Lankan Flurry
The fine margins of the chase were evident from the outset, with Nissanka narrowly missing being caught at mid-wicket off Jamie Overton’s bowling. Sri Lanka’s strategy of all-out attack initially paid dividends, as Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, and Kusal Mendis all scored freely. However, their aggressive intent also led to their undoing, with all three departing before the conclusion of the powerplay.
#### Spin Dominance and Control
Once Adil Rashid dismissed Charith Asalanka in the 15th over, England firmly seized control of the contest. The pitch, which had initially been a batter’s paradise, began to offer significant assistance to spin as the innings progressed. England’s bowlers expertly exploited these changing conditions, extracting considerably more turn and bounce than their Sri Lankan counterparts had managed in the first innings, systematically dismantling the home side’s batting lineup.
England now look ahead to the T20 series, commencing on Friday, 30 January. They carry renewed confidence and momentum from securing their first overseas ODI series win since March 2023, and only their second overall since the start of 2024, signaling a positive shift in their white-ball fortunes.