In the SL vs ENG match in Rawalpindi on Thursday, which was the third game of the ongoing ODI tri-series in Pakistan, the Lankans pulled off the second-highest successful run chase in ODI cricket history, with just one ball to spare.
Harry Brook, the England captain, created history by becoming the first England men’s batsman to register an ODI double century, propelling his side to 429/4 batting first after Sri Lankan skipper Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bowl first.
However, by the end of the night, Brook was left disappointed and jolted, so much that his double century “doesn’t mean anything now, being on the losing side,” and that “it has no value whatsoever in my eyes.” That is because despite piling up a double hundred, Brook ended up on the losing side as his bowlers “didn’t execute well enough with the ball,” allowing the Lankans to amass their highest successful ODI run chase.
In addition to Brook smashing a double century, England had three half-centurions: Tom Banton, Joe Root, and Will Jacks.
Sri Lanka’s response was equally emphatic. Opener Avishka Fernando creamed 97 off 83; and while captain Mendis was dismissed for a duck, no. 4 batsman Pavan Rathnayake produced what could be called an innings of a lifetime: 130 runs off 106 balls in one of the tallest run-chases in ODI cricket.
That this was Rathnayake’s maiden ODI century in what was only his ninth ODI innings speaks volumes of his temperament and potential.
Veteran finisher Dasun Shanaka blasted 97 off 50 balls, and Janith Liyanage whacked 61* off 27 deliveries, including launching the winning six when six runs were required off two balls.
“Everybody showed character and took responsibility. That’s why we chased 430 runs,” a chuffed Mendis said in the post-match ceremony.
Top 5 successful run chases in ODI cricket history:
- 435 – South Africa vs Australia, Johannesburg, 2006
- 430 – Sri Lanka vs England, Rawalpindi, 2026
- 406 – India vs West Indies, Guwahati, 2026
- 375 – Netherland vs West Indies, Harare, 2023 (Super Over win)
- 372 – South Africa vs Australia, Durban, 2016
Fans on Twitter hailed the Sri Lankan batters’ efforts for this epic run chase, while many also expressed shock at the consistent run-fests that have been happening in white-ball cricket in recent years.
It was only last month that India gunned down the target of 406 against the West Indies in Guwahati with a whopping 39 balls to spare.
SL vs ENG: Check out some Twitter reactions to the Sri Lanka vs England slugfest in Rawalpindi
Meanwhile, in the ODI tri-series 2026, each of the three teams has played against each other once, and Pakistan won both their games, Sri Lanka won one, and England conceded defeats in both outings.
These three matches were hosted in Rawalpindi; the next three fixtures will take place in Lahore before the final, also slated for Lahore on October 31.
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