England captain Harry Brook produced a stunning display of attacking cricket to guide his side to a memorable ODI series victory over Sri Lanka, sealing a 53-run win in the third and final match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The result handed England a 2-1 series triumph and marked their first overseas bilateral ODI series win in three years.
Brook was the standout performer of the match, delivering an audacious unbeaten 136 from just 66 balls.
Under pressure after a mixed tour, the right-hander responded in emphatic fashion, dominating the Sri Lankan bowling attack with fearless stroke play.
His innings was packed with clean hitting, combining power and precision as England surged to a formidable total of 357 for three, their highest ODI score in Sri Lanka.
While Brook provided the late acceleration, Joe Root played the perfect anchoring role. Root compiled a composed unbeaten 111, registering his 20th ODI century and ensuring stability through the middle overs.
He was well supported by Jacob Bethell, whose fluent 65 added momentum at a crucial stage.
The unbroken partnership between Root and Brook transformed England’s innings from competitive to commanding, leaving Sri Lanka with a daunting chase.
Sri Lanka began their reply explosively, with opener Pathum Nissanka racing to a rapid half-century and setting an aggressive tone inside the powerplay.
Kusal Mendis also chipped in with a quick burst of runs, briefly putting England under pressure. However, regular wickets prevented the hosts from building sustained partnerships, allowing England to regain control of the contest.
The brightest moment for Sri Lanka came through young batter Pavan Rathnayake, who produced a fighting maiden ODI century in only his seventh international appearance.
Displaying maturity beyond his years, Rathnayake held one end together and kept Sri Lanka’s hopes alive deep into the innings.
Despite his valiant effort, the rising required run rate and lack of support at the other end proved too much to overcome.
England’s bowling attack maintained discipline in the latter stages, with Sam Curran delivering the decisive breakthrough by dismissing Rathnayake to close out the match.
The victory not only secured the series but also ended Sri Lanka’s long unbeaten run in home ODI series.
Harry Brook apologised after a late-night altercation with a nightclub bouncer during England’s New Zealand tour.
For England, the performance was a timely boost, highlighting Harry Brook’s impact as captain and underlining a renewed sense of direction in their white-ball setup.
The series win could prove a defining moment as they look ahead with confidence to future international challenges.
