Tom Banton smashed a commanding 126 runs from just 105 deliveries, steering England to a massive 223‑run victory in the third One‑Day International against Sri Lanka and clinching the series 2‑1 at the Oval. Banton’s unbeaten knock, the highest of his career, was bolstered by solid contributions from captain Harry Brook, who struck 77 off 66 balls, and the in‑form Jordan Cox, who added 76 from a brisk 52‑ball effort. Their combined assault set a daunting target of 356 for the visitors after England’s full 50‑over innings, with Sri Lanka’s Dilhara Fernando emerging as the most successful bowler, claiming three wickets for 52 runs – two of those coming on the final two balls of England’s innings.
The pressure on Sri Lanka intensified early when Sonny Baker dismissed Pathum Nissanka (caught for 1) with only the eighth delivery of their chase, marking Baker’s first ODI wicket. From that point the Sri Lankan batting line‑up began to crumble. Despite a spirited 35‑run cameo from captain Kusal Mendis off just 26 balls, the side slumped from 36‑1 to 82‑6 within ten overs.
A particularly confusing run‑out of Pavan Rathnayake (18) added to the chaos: Jordan Cox initially removed the bails before a direct‑hit from Archer knocked the stumps down, yet the umpire still gave Rathnayake out, sparking a brief debate among officials. England’s bowlers then took full control. Liam Dawson produced an excellent spell, taking three wickets for just 17 runs, while Gus Atkinson added two for 26.
Their disciplined bowling ensured that Sri Lanka’s lower order could only add a half‑century before the innings folded, handing England a comfortable series‑winning margin and capping off a successful home summer for Brendon McCullum’s side, which has now recorded 12 victories in 14 white‑ball matches. The early phase of Sri Lanka’s innings also saw Ben Duckett (who was out for a duck) bowled cleanly by Dilshan Madushanka (1‑49), and a surprisingly brief cameo from Joe Root, who managed only 18 runs off 37 balls before being dismissed by Janith Liyanage. The partnership that truly turned the game in England’s favour was the 150‑run stand between Brook and the eventual player‑of‑the‑match Banton. Their partnership was finally broken when Brook was caught on the boundary by Dunith Wellalage.
Banton’s innings was a masterclass in aggressive batting. He struck 21 fours and five sixes, only falling when he attempted a sixth six and was caught by Malinga at long‑on. Yet England’s momentum did not stop there.
Will Jacks contributed a quick 25 off 21 balls, and Cox accelerated the scoring rate in the final overs, reaching his half‑century in just 42 deliveries. The innings concluded with Fernando and Dawson each taking a wicket on the last two balls of the 49th over, leaving England at a formidable 355‑7. Sri Lanka’s chase never recovered from the early wicket of Nissanka. Apart from captain Mendis, no batsman managed to pass 20 runs, and the side was further hampered by the controversial run‑out of Rathnayake.
After the initial confusion, Archer’s direct‑hit was ultimately upheld as a legitimate dismissal. The subsequent wickets of Charith Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage fell within eight balls, pushing Sri Lanka to 82‑6 with no recognized top‑order batsmen remaining. Dawson’s late spell, which claimed three of the final four wickets, sealed England’s dominant win with 21.5 overs still remaining.
Post‑match, England captain Harry Brook praised his side’s performance in an interview with Sky Sports: "I thought that was a near‑perfect performance – everyone chipped in and it was an exceptional win. There were tough periods, but the patience we showed was exceptional.
We want to adapt to conditions every game; each surface is slightly different. That’s the kind of side we want – we want to win when conditions aren’t in our favour and when they are, we want to dominate. We’re building a squad where players can step into roles and perform exceptionally well. I have full confidence in anyone who comes in." Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis reflected on the defeat: "We struggled with the batting and then made some mistakes in the field, including myself.
I think we played good cricket in the second ODI and when we go to Pakistan after this, we need to be better. We made too many mistakes." Overall, the match highlighted England’s depth in both batting and bowling, with Banton’s maiden century serving as the centerpiece of a comprehensive team effort. The win not only secured the series but also reinforced England’s reputation as a versatile side capable of delivering under varying conditions, while Sri Lanka will look to regroup and address the issues exposed during the chase before their upcoming tour of Pakistan.