Sri Lanka showed great fight to halt England’s chase and clinch a 16-run victory, levelling the three-match ODI series at 1-1 at Headingley in Leeds. It was a match filled with drama encapsulated by Jos Buttler's innings. Buttler looked like he was going to be the match-winner but in the 38th over, he had to retire hurt after pulling up with England on 254-4 due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.
Buttler limped back out in the 48th over but could add only two more runs before being dismissed. Will Jacks (52), Rehan Ahmed (0), Gus Atkinson (16) and Jamie Overton (2) also fell as England's chase floundered, with just one four and one six coming from the 37th over onwards. It was a remarkable comeback from Sri Lanka after Ben Duckett (67) and Tom Banton (73) had given England an incredibly strong start, but inspired bowling from Dunith Wellalage (3-49) proved decisive, alongside a sensational 121 from Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The series will now be decided on Sunday September 27 at The Kia Oval, with first ball at 10.30am, live on Sky Sports. When Sri Lanka set England a target of 322, the hosts would have been optimistic about chasing it down - even more so after Banton and Duckett made a blistering start, with Asitha Fernando (1-68) and Dilshan Madushanka (2-54) struggling for line and length. England raced past 50 inside six overs and reached 82-0 after 10, needing 240 more for victory.
It was their highest-ever ODI Powerplay score against Sri Lanka. More milestones quickly followed, with Duckett bringing up his 10th ODI fifty in the 12th over before Banton reached his second in the 15th. The latter continued to canter towards a career-best score with England firmly in control.
Sri Lanka finally found the breakthroughs they needed through Dunith Wellalage, who single-handedly began to derail England's chase. His deceptive delivery accounted for Duckett for 67 before he caught Banton out of his crease. Wellalage struck again when England captain Harry Brook (1) was trapped lbw two overs later, with Sri Lanka successfully reviewing the original decision.
England were suddenly 157-3 and still needed 165. Sachindu Colombage (1-55) then claimed the prized wicket of Joe Root (17). Although England passed 200, they still had plenty of work to do with 21 overs remaining.
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