Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Harry Brook and Joe Root produced contrasting centuries to power England to a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka, sealing a 2-1 win in the one-day international series on Tuesday. Brook smashed an unbeaten 136 off just 66 balls, hitting nine sixes and 11 fours, while Root followed up his second-ODI half-century with 111 off 108 balls as England posted a commanding 357-3.For Sri Lanka, Pavan Rathnayake top-scored with 121 off 115 balls, becoming the last batter dismissed as the hosts were bowled out for 304 in the 47th over.
“Working on a few things in the nets and it paid off,” Brook said. “Glad me, Rooty and Beth could get us to that total … Root is exceptional, to have him in the side helps every day.”Spinners once again played a key role in England’s first major ODI series win away from home since 2023, with Will Jacks (2-43), Liam Dawson (2-48) and Adil Rashid (2-61) sharing six wickets.The defeat marked Sri Lanka’s first home series loss in five years, their previous setback coming against India in 2021.England’s innings had a shaky start, slipping to 40-2 in the 11th over when Ben Duckett fell to offspinner Dhananjaya de Silva’s first delivery and Rehan Ahmed holed out off Wanindu Hasaranga’s third ball. However, Root and Jacob Bethell regained control, displaying confidence against both pace and spin. Bethell contributed 65 runs in a 126-run third-wicket partnership with Root, who dominated the spinners with sweeps and reverse sweeps en route to his 20th ODI century.Brook’s brutal assault in the final five overs proved decisive, as he and Root added 191 runs off just 113 deliveries.Experienced legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, playing his first match of the series, and Jeffrey Vandersay ended with expensive figures of 1-76 each, while pacer Asitha Fernando conceded 0-77 off nine overs, giving away 10 boundaries and two sixes.Sri Lanka’s chase had a bright start with Pathum Nissanka scoring a rapid 50 off 25 balls, but the home side slipped to 94-3 in the 10th over. The young Rathnayake, in his fourth ODI, displayed plenty of promise, striking a dozen fours and a six before Sam Curran bowled him clean with a perfect yorker.“The result was disappointing,” Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka said. “Positive was we found a good player at No. 4, Pavan Rathnayake. (It is) really tough, was thinking the ball might turn, that’s why we played 3-4 spinners, but when it’s not turning, it’s hard to bowl spin.”
