England Crushed by Sri Lanka in Record-Breaking ODI

By the Editorial Team · Friday, October 23, 2026

Sri Lanka chased down England's record ODI total of 430 runs with a thrilling two-wicket win, marking only the second successful 400+ chase in ODI history. Despite Harry Brook’s fastest double-century, England’s bowling struggled, leaving them under pressure to win their next match to stay in the tri-series final contention.

England suffered a heavy defeat against Sri Lanka in a record-breaking One Day International (ODI) match held in Rawalpindi. Chasing a massive target of 430 set by England, Sri Lanka achieved a thrilling two-wicket victory with just one ball to spare, marking only the second time in ODI history that a team has successfully chased a total over 400.

England’s innings was highlighted by Harry Brook’s remarkable double-century, scored off just 114 balls, the fastest double-ton in ODI cricket. Brook’s 200 was supported by contributions from Tom Banton (50), Joe Root (69), and Will Jacks (66 not out). Despite this strong batting display, England’s bowling attack struggled significantly, conceding runs at over seven an over and failing to contain Sri Lanka during the crucial middle overs.

Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily, with captain Kusal Mendis run out without facing a ball and an early loss of two wickets for 24 runs. However, Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake stabilized the innings with a 166-run partnership. Rathnayake scored an impressive 130, while Fernando contributed 97. Later, Dasun Shanaka added 97 runs, playing a vital role in keeping the chase alive.

The match reached a tense climax with Sri Lanka needing six runs off two balls. Bowler Josh Tongue managed to dismiss Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga in successive deliveries, bringing Tongue on the brink of a hat-trick. However, Janith Liyanage delivered a decisive boundary by lofting the final ball over long-off to seal the win for Sri Lanka.

England’s spinner Sam Curran finished with expensive figures, conceding 103 runs in nine overs, reflecting the overall difficulties England faced in curbing Sri Lanka's powerful batting lineup.

Reflecting on his innings, Brook acknowledged the quality of the contest, stating that Sri Lanka had outplayed England despite his own personal milestone. His performance highlighted his status as one of the leading all-format batsmen in the world, with commentators noting his growing ability to dominate bowlers across formats.

This defeat leaves England with two losses in the ongoing tri-series, putting pressure on them to secure a win against Pakistan in Lahore next Sunday to maintain hopes of reaching the final.

Meanwhile, in South Africa’s ongoing Test series against Australia, a separate contest unfolded at Port Elizabeth, setting the stage for a decider next week in Cape Town, the site of the infamous ball-tampering incident from eight years ago. Australia, after a poor first innings total of 99, improved in their second innings to reach 295 but were ultimately dismissed thanks to key wickets from Wiaan Mulder and Kagiso Rabada. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma played a pivotal innings of 179 to help his team gain the upper hand. The series remains poised ahead of the final match.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.