England's Batting Collapse Hands Sri Lanka ODI Victory
England's disappointing run in one-day international cricket continued in Colombo as they fell 19 runs short of Sri Lanka's total of 271-6, succumbing to a familiar batting collapse that has plagued their recent performances away from home.
Mendis Anchors Sri Lankan Innings
The foundation of Sri Lanka's victory was built upon Kusal Mendis's composed unbeaten knock of 93 runs. After a slow start that saw him score just two runs from his first 15 deliveries, Mendis grew into his innings with elegant late cuts and square drives. His red-inker proved to be the defining contribution, continuing his excellent recent form at home where he now averages 67.25 in 20 games since the beginning of 2024.
Sri Lanka's innings gained crucial momentum in the closing stages, with Dunith Wellalage's explosive 12-ball 25 providing late fireworks. The final over proved particularly costly for England as Jamie Overton conceded 22 runs, allowing the hosts to post a competitive total on a surface that rarely produces 300-plus scores.
England's Promising Start Fades Away
England's chase began promisingly with Ben Duckett and Joe Root building a solid foundation through their 117-run partnership. Both batsmen reached half-centuries in the same over, with Root displaying his customary fluency while Duckett battled through some initial scratchiness to register his first competitive fifty since last summer's fifth Test against India.
The turning point arrived when Duckett fell for 62, trapped leg-before attempting another reverse sweep against Jeffrey Vandersay. Root followed soon after for 61, leaving England at 164-6 after having been comfortably placed at 129-1. The middle-order collapse proved decisive, with England's usual aggressive approach replaced by what appeared to be more conservative tactics that ultimately failed to deliver.
Spinners Dominate Under Colombo Lights
Sri Lanka's spin attack exploited the turning conditions expertly under the Colombo floodlights. The left-armer Dunith Wellalage proved particularly influential, claiming two crucial wickets during England's collapse while also contributing valuable runs with the bat.
England's own spin department performed creditably, with Adil Rashid returning tidy figures of 3-44 and Liam Dawson conceding just two boundaries in his first ODI appearance since November 2022. Sam Curran also demonstrated innovation with his 'moon ball' - a dipping, deceptive delivery that accounted for Pathum Nissanka early in Sri Lanka's innings.
Captain Brook's Brief Reign
Harry Brook's tenure as England's ODI captain began in disappointing fashion as he was stumped for just six runs, deceived by substantial turn from Charith Asalanka. The dismissal symbolized England's broader struggles, extending their winless away run in ODIs to eleven consecutive matches.
There were brief moments of hope during the chase, particularly when Rehan Ahmed illuminated the night with an enterprising 27 and Jamie Overton demonstrated his power-hitting capabilities with a late burst of 34. With 20 runs required from the final six deliveries, victory remained mathematically possible, but a mistimed shot off Pramod Madushan's full toss ended England's resistance.
Selection Surprises and Absences
The match featured several unexpected team selections, with England including 21-year-old Rehan Ahmed after Will Jacks fell ill. Sri Lanka curiously rested their primary bowling threat, wrist-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, while Maheesh Theekshana - ranked third in ICC bowling rankings - was also absent.
The afternoon began with promotional activities for the upcoming T20 World Cup, featuring skydivers from the armed forces landing with the trophy, but the cricket that followed proved compelling enough without additional spectacle. England now face the challenge of bouncing back in the remaining two matches of the series, needing to address their recurring batting collapses if they are to reverse their dismal away record in the 50-over format.
