England won their first away ODI under Brendon McCullum as Joe Root guided them to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo to level the three-match series.
Since adding the white-ball position to his Test role in January 2025, McCullum had overseen ten consecutive ODI losses during his tours to England.
The tourists knew a second defeat in Colombo in three days would see them win just one of their last eight 50-over series, but produced a strong all-round performance to make it 1-1 ahead of Tuesday’s decider.
Captain Harry Brook put on 41 overs of spin in an impressive bowling performance to bowl out Sri Lanka for 219 before Root made an imperious 75 on a slow wicket under lights to guide England home.
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(Robbie Stephenson/PA)
Morale-boosting victory
After a dismal Ashes tour that culminated in a 4-1 defeat, this was a morale-boosting win that helps limit the damage to England’s world rankings – as pressure mounts on their automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
England played Sri Lanka at their own game using six spinners, who claimed a seven for 180.
Openers Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka departed cheaply before Kusal Mendis dismissed himself for 26.
Sri Lanka’s pace was sedate and strangled by England’s spinners as Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson once again starred.
(Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
Golden opportunity
Captain Charith Asalanka top scored with 45 but Sri Lanka never gained momentum before being eliminated in the final.
After falling 19 short of their target of 272 at this ground on Thursday after being knocked out by Sri Lanka, England felt they had earned a golden opportunity to break their slump.
But with Brook’s men having lost fifteen of their previous twenty ODIs, they would have been keen to get off to a good start.
(AP Photo/Eromina by Jayersa).
Surprise
England pulled off a surprise by appointing spin-bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed, 21, as an opener in international cricket for the first time – replacing the injured Zak Crawley.
The 21-year-old has struck twice in his five Tests, as well as opening in the County Championship and once in the T20 Blast, but his promotion from number eight was certainly an eyebrow-raiser.
Ahmed was bowled for 13 by Dhananjaya de Silva – aided by four overthrows – as the gamble did not pay off and England’s chase got off to a shaky start.
(AP Photo/Eromina by Jayersa).
A ripper
But Root stroked his first ball four times as Ben Duckett took charge of Sri Lanka’s spinners as the pair raced to a stand of 69 in 65 balls.
When their partnership was broken in the first ODI, it was the start of England’s slump towards defeat, so when Jeffrey Vandersay produced a ripper to bowl Duckett for 39, there would have been tension in the England camp at 88 for two, with 132 still needed.
When Jacob Bethell punched De Silva to cover just six, there might have been panic.
(AP Photo/Eromina by Jayersa).
Marched on
But Root marched on to reach his 45th ODI fifty to steer England to 114 for three at mid-way, and he was joined by Brook in a composed 81-run stand.
Asitha Fernando trapped Root lbw to make it 178 for four. The 35-year-old was furious when DRS upheld the decision despite thinking he had taken an advantage.
Brook missed a sweep at Vandersay and departed for 42 as nerves rang again, but Jos Buttler crashed in on 33 to secure a first away win since November 2024.
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