Sri Lanka complete record chase after Brook’s 202 fails to save England

Sri Lanka completed the second-highest successful chase in men’s one-day international history, reaching England’s target of 430 in Rawalpindi with a six from Janith Liyanage and one ball remaining. The Guardian reported that England captain Harry Brook’s record 202 was ultimately not enough. England made 429 for four, their fourth-highest ODI total and their highest outside England against a Test-playing nation, according to the report.

Brook’s innings was the centrepiece, with the captain reaching 200 from 114 balls, faster than Shubman Gill’s previous mark of 117 balls. Brook’s 202 was also England’s highest individual ODI score, surpassing Ben Stokes’s 182 against New Zealand in 2023. It was the first double century by a batter in an ODI defeat and the highest individual score in a losing innings, the Guardian said.

He was supported by Joe Root and Will Jacks. Root made 69 before being dismissed, while Jacks remained unbeaten on 66 from 30 balls. Brook reached his century from 75 deliveries and moved from 100 to 150 in 22 balls before accelerating to the double century.

Sri Lanka’s chase began badly, with the side reduced to 24 for two. Pavan Rathnayake then made 130, Avishka Fernando scored 97 and Dasun Shanaka added 97. Shanaka hit eight sixes, according to the Guardian, as Sri Lanka overturned England’s imposing total.

England recovered momentum in the final over after Josh Tongue dismissed Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga with consecutive deliveries. Sri Lanka needed eight from the over, but Liyanage struck a six down the ground and finished on 61 with one ball to spare. The match produced 859 runs, the second-highest aggregate in ODI history and the highest in a game involving England.

The teams also recorded 93 fours and 552 runs in boundaries, both reported as ODI records. There were four century partnerships, an ODI record-equalling total. England had stands involving Brook with Root and Jacks, while Rathnayake shared major partnerships with Fernando and Shanaka for Sri Lanka.

The result left England with back-to-back defeats in the tri-series, and the Guardian said the team would have selection issues to consider for its next two matches. Adil Rashid was left out in favour of Liam Dawson, while Sam Curran conceded 103 runs from nine overs, breaking his own England record for runs conceded in an ODI innings. Brook said the innings had no value to him because England lost, according to the report.

Sri Lanka’s chase was surpassed only by South Africa’s 438 for nine against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.