Sri Lanka displayed a fierce resolve to stop England’s chase and secure a 16‑run win, bringing the three‑match One‑Day International series level at 1‑1 after the game at Headingley in Leeds. The encounter was packed with twists, most notably the innings of Jos Buttler. The English wicket‑keeper‑batsman seemed poised to turn the match in his side’s favour, but in the 38th over he was forced to retire hurt after pulling up with what looked like a hamstring strain while England were 254‑4. He managed to limp back onto the field in the 48th over, but could muster only two more runs before being dismissed for the second time.
England’s middle order collapsed quickly after Buttler’s departure. Will Jacks, who had reached a half‑century, fell for 52, while Rehan Ahmed was out without scoring, Gus Atkinson contributed just 16 and Jamie Overton managed only two runs. From the 37th over onward England managed a solitary four and a six, indicating how the scoring rate had stalled. The comeback by Sri Lanka was remarkable.
Earlier in the innings Ben Duckett (67) and Tom Banton (73) had given England a blistering start, but the Sri Lankan bowlers, led by Dunith Wellalage’s spell of 3‑49, turned the tide. Captain Kusal Mendis anchored the chase with a magnificent 121, providing the backbone of the Sri Lankan total. When Sri Lanka posted 322, England entered the chase with optimism. The hosts surged past 50 runs inside the first six overs and were 82‑0 after ten overs, needing 240 more to win – their highest ever ODI Powerplay score against Sri Lanka.
Duckett celebrated his tenth ODI fifty in the 12th over, and Banton notched his second fifty in the 15th, continuing his march towards a career‑best innings. The breakthrough came when Wellalage, with a deceptive delivery, dismissed Duckett for 67 and soon after trapped Banton out of his crease. Two overs later he bowled England captain Harry Brook (lbw) after a successful review, reducing England to 157‑3 with 165 runs still required. Sachindu Colombage then claimed the prized wicket of Joe Root (17).
Although England crossed the 200‑run mark, they still faced a steep climb with 21 overs remaining. Buttler arrived at the crease looking the likely difference‑maker, attacking from the outset and reaching his 46th ODI half‑century in just 36 balls.
However, while sprinting between the wickets he suffered a hamstring injury and had to retire hurt. Jacks attempted to steady the innings, reaching his own fifty, but Sri Lanka tightened the screws, restricting the scoring rate and taking wickets at regular intervals. Ahmed, Atkinson and Overton all fell as the visitors’ death‑over bowlers seized control. Buttler returned for a final, desperate attempt to rescue England, but could add only two more runs before Kamindu Mendis took a catch to dismiss him again at the start of the 50th over.
This left Jofra Archer (0 no‑ball) and Josh Tongue (1 no‑ball) needing 19 runs from the final over. Only three runs were scored, sealing a hard‑won victory for Sri Lanka that highlighted their character and resilience.
Sri Lanka’s innings began with a solid foundation after winning the toss and electing to bat on a firm Headingley pitch. Pathum Nissanka (25) fell on the final ball of the ninth over, but the visitors were 46‑1 at the end of the Powerplay.
The partnership between Kamindu Mendis (54) and captain Kusal Mendis (121) then flourished, taking the side past the 100‑run mark in the 20th over. Mendis reached his half‑century in the 23rd over with a massive six, while Kamindu celebrated his fourth ODI fifty from 56 balls. England’s spin options – Ahmed (2‑48), Jacks (0‑33) and Tongue (0‑55) – came under pressure as the Sri Lankan pair continued to dominate.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 30th over when Harry Brook caught Kamindu on the boundary. Undeterred, Kusal Mendis kept the momentum, reaching his century in just 82 balls in the 31rd over, aided by a successful review that overturned an initial caught‑behind decision. The Sri Lankan captain’s innings was his seventh ODI hundred, featuring 12 fours and three sixes.
It also made a costly drop by Atkinson in the 15th over, when Mendis was only on 17, even more significant. Mendis was eventually dismissed in the 36th over while attempting another boundary, falling to a deep catch by Banton and leaving Sri Lanka at 222‑3.
Contributions from Charith Asalanka (11), Pavan Rathnayake (47), Janith Liyanage (32), Wellalage (16‑no‑ball) and Sachindu Colombage (3‑no‑ball) in the closing stages pushed the total to 321‑5, a score just enough to level the series. After the match, Sri Lanka’s captain and Player of the Match Kusal Mendis reflected: "I'm so happy winning and getting the hundred. The overall performance was very good. We started really well and the middle order batted really well.
Nothing special, basic cricket and I was very happy with 320, we wanted more than 300 on this pitch. Wellalage bowled really well, the whole team, after the powerplay. The guys gave 100 per cent.
Today is finished and now we have to focus on the next game and do the basics right." England captain Harry Brook added: "It was an outstanding game. You can look back and dwell on many different areas but that is not what this team does, we go back to the drawing board and get ready for The Oval.
We put up a really good fight with the ball. To restrict them to 320 and have the chance to chase that down was a hell of an effort. The lads got the chase off to a flyer. You couldn't really ask for much more.
We probably stalled in that middle period and lost a few too many wickets, but the fight we showed was great. We've got a great opportunity now to try and win this series, and a great opportunity for 12 months' time. In pressure situations, like the one that awaits us at The Oval, it will be great to see where we are as a team." The series will be decided on Sunday, 27 September, at The Kia Oval, with the first ball scheduled for 10.30 am and live coverage on Sky Sports. All times are UK and Ireland.