Joe Root scored 75 as England completed a controlled run chase to defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second one day international, levelling the three match series.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 219 after England’s spinners extracted consistent turn from a surface that rewarded control and variation.
Charith Asalanka led the scoring with 45 from 64 balls, striking a single boundary. Dhananjaya de Silva added 40 as scoring rates remained subdued across the innings.
Adil Rashid delivered the most effective spell, returning figures of two for 34 from ten overs. Root also contributed with the ball, taking two for 13 from his closing overs.
Root anchored the chase through judgement against spin, secure footwork, and control of scoring areas. Once established, Sri Lanka struggled to apply sustained pressure.
He shared a stand of 68 with Ben Duckett, who made 39, followed by an 81 run partnership with Harry Brook that defined the pursuit.
Root’s innings ended when a yorker from Asitha Fernando struck him on the pad as he attempted a leg side stroke. A review followed, with ball tracking confirming umpire’s call.
Brook and Jos Buttler were left to score 42. Buttler was dismissed for 42 after misjudging a sweep against Jeffrey Vandersay. England remained steady as Buttler accelerated late.
Buttler finished unbeaten on 33 from 21 balls, guiding England home with 22 deliveries remaining. The result ended a sequence of 11 away defeats in the format.
A Root without risk, setting the standard
Zak Crawley missed the match with a knee injury, leading England to open with Rehan Ahmed.
The move had domestic precedent. Ahmed has a first class average of 67.7 from four innings, with one century and one half century. His previous experience opening in T20 cricket produced 49 from 32 balls.
Ahmed made 13 from 18 balls in Colombo. The return offered limited evidence on the long term value of the experiment.
Duckett’s 39 came from 52 balls and lacked fluency, leaving his search for form ongoing.
Root again provided stability in the middle order. His innings prioritised accumulation and control, with boundary shots selected sparingly.
The knock took Root beyond 3,500 ODI runs scored in singles. His non boundary strike rate of 59.95 remains the highest recorded in the format.
That figure places him ahead of AB de Villiers on 59.23 and Virat Kohli on 58.10.
Root’s low risk scoring proved decisive on a surface that rewarded percentage play. His output continues without visible decline.
England’s spinners shape the contest
Spin defined the match at the R Premadasa Stadium, where the surface offered substantial grip.
Since the start of 2024, ODIs at this venue have produced an average turn of 2.93 degrees. England generated 3.62 degrees in this match, an increase from 3.15 in the opening game.
England bowled 40.3 overs of spin, the most in a one day international by the side. The previous record stood at 36 overs against Pakistan in Sharjah in 1985.
Six different spinners were used, a first for England in the format.
Rashid led the attack with an economy rate of 3.40, removing Pathum Nissanka and Asalanka.
Support came from Will Jacks and Root with off spin, Rehan Ahmed with leg spin, and Jacob Bethell with left arm orthodox.
Five spinners claimed wickets, matching the highest number by a team in a single ODI innings and the first instance for England.
Seven Sri Lanka wickets fell to spin, the second highest tally achieved by England in the format, behind the eight taken against West Indies at North Sound in 2014.
