Harry Brook and Joe Root powered England to a series-clinching 53-run win over Sri Lanka in the third ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium, sealing a 2–1 victory and ending a three-year wait for an overseas bilateral ODI series success.
Brook arrived with noise around him and left with the loudest statement. He criticised the pitch before the toss, then dismantled it with an unbeaten 136 off 66 balls.
He played without fear or hesitation. Eleven fours and nine sixes flew from his bat, and England surged to 357, their first 300-plus ODI total in Sri Lanka.
England wobbled early after Ben Duckett and Rehan Ahmed fell cheaply. Sri Lanka sniffed control at 40 for two.
Root killed that momentum calmly. He shaped a composed unbeaten 111 off 108 balls and gave England the spine they needed.
Jacob Bethell matched Root’s control with intent. His 65 helped stabilise the innings before Brook detonated it.
Brook shifted gears brutally in the final stretch. He smashed his fifty off 40 balls and reached three figures from just 57 deliveries as England ripped 130 runs from the last ten overs.
Sri Lanka responded with aggression rather than caution. Pathum Nissanka flew to a 24-ball fifty and dragged the chase into chaos.
Jamie Overton halted the surge despite expensive figures. He removed both Nissanka and Kusal Mendis and broke the rhythm.
Pavan Rathnayake refused to fold. He struck a defiant 121 off 115 balls and fought a lone battle through the middle overs.
England’s spinners squeezed hard as the rate climbed. Adil Rashid, Will Jacks and Liam Dawson shared the control and waited for the collapse.
Sam Curran delivered the finishing blow. He yorked Rathnayake and ended Sri Lanka’s hopes, sealing a statement series win for England.
Brook talked before the match and delivered after it. Root supported him perfectly, and England finally looked like a white-ball side moving forward again.
