England’s alarming ODI slump continued as Harry Brook’s side slipped to a 19-run defeat by Sri Lanka in the series opener in Colombo.
England were 129-1 after 27 overs and chasing 272 thanks to a 117-run stand between Ben Duckett (62 off 76 balls) and Joe Root (61 off 90) to slump to 252, including a collapse of 5-35 as Duckett and Root’s Brook (Jackett and Root’s Brook lb6) saw off each other. (15) stumped and Sam Curran (5) caught and bowled.
Rehan Ahmed’s enterprising 27 off 21 kept his team in the hunt, but Dunith Vellalage hit him brilliantly at long-off, leaving England requiring 69 from the final five overs, and when Jos Buttler (19 off 20) and Liam Dawson (2) departed later, the game was all but turned.
Overton (34 off 17) – who conceded 23 runs from Sri Lanka’s final over – hit four fours and two sixes to reduce England’s chase to 20 off the last six balls, but then dismissed Pramod Madhushan two deliveries away.
England have lost 11 of their 15 ODIs in 2025 and were beaten 3-0 in New Zealand during October and November – episode during which Brooke got into a fight with a nightclub bouncer – while this tour of the subcontinent began just two weeks after the end of the dreadful Ashes in Australia which they lost 4-1.
England – currently eighth in the ODI rankings and by no means assured of automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. – will look to keep the streak alive by winning the second leg in Colombo on Saturday (9am UK), ahead of the final at the same venue next Tuesday.
Kusal Mendis made 93 not out from 117 balls to power Sri Lanka to 271-6 and Adil Rashid was England’s pick of the bowlers, taking 3-44 to move to 238 wickets in his ODI career, and his colleague Ahmed (1-61), a late replacement for Villa’s three bowlers in Ill’s strike one, along with left-armer Karan (1-40) and left-armer Dawson (1-31).
More to come.
Joe Root’s half-century was his 44th in one-day internationals for England.
England v Sri Lanka – Results & Fixtures
All times Great Britain and Ireland
- First ODI (Thursday, January 22) – Sri Lanka win by 19 runs (Colombo)
- Second ODI (Saturday, January 24) – Colombo (9am)
- Third ODI (Tuesday, January 27) – Colombo (9am)
- First T20 (Friday, January 30) – Pallet game (1.30 p.m.)
- Second T20 (Sunday, February 1) – Pallet game (1.30 p.m.)
- Third T20 (Tuesday, February 3) – Pallet game (1.30 p.m.)