Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs: second men’s one-day cricket international – as it happened

Ali’s report is in and, with that, goodnight. Thanks for joining. Elsewhere: Kusal Mendis is the player of the match for his century but he also deserves credit for a big call with the ball: continuing with Sachindu Colombage after Jos Buttler tucked into him, leading to the wicket of Joe Root.

Not a bad way to close the summer this: a series decider at the Oval on Sunday. Weather’s been decent in London the last couple of days, too. I’ll be honest, I have my moments where I question the point of 50-over cricket … but this was a nice reminder of how thrilling this format can be.

After four comprehensive defeats, Sri Lanka are finally up and running on this tour. The turning point has to be Jos Buttler’s injury, tweaking his left hamstring when the game was heading England’s way. In the end, the matchwinners are Kusal Mendis with his 121 and Dunith Wellalage with his three wickets.

We’re heading to a decider! 49.5: Another dot. 49.4: Archer swings hard outside off but the ball finds short extra cover. That should be the game. England need 17 from two. 49.3: WHAT A STOP! Archer smashes the ball down the ground for what seems a certain six, but Kamindu Mendis leaps to his left to keep it in.

It’s, well, a dropped catch … but let’s not be silly. 49.2: Full toss from the seamer, and Tongue bunts for one. Archer can certainly hit them. England need 17 from four. 49.2: Madushanka sends down a wide! England need 19 from five balls. Josh Tongue is the last man in.

Madushanka is in from over the wicket, Buttler – somehow – connects … but finds the man at deep midwicket. 49th over: England 303-8 (Buttler 69, Archer 0) Archer can’t get Malinga away and England need 19 from the last over, with Buttler – in serious pain – on strike.

Buttler tries a scoop but doesn’t get any bat on it. He then awkwardly swishes to long-off and hobbles again for one. Malinga nails his yorker to Jacks, who is swinging for the hills now. And he goes! The ball flies high into the sky and Janith Liyanage runs in from long-on to collect.

Jacks can’t finish the job tonight. 48th over: England 302-7 (Buttler 68, Jacks 52) Buttler returns with a dodgy left hamstring and is clearly in pain as he swings away for one. And Jacks middles the last ball of the over for a straight six! What a game! England need 20 from 12 balls.

LET ME REPEAT: JOS BUTTLER’S BACK! Overton crunches Fernando to long-off for one before Jacks swings to the square-leg rope for four! That’s the first boundary in years! The yorker follows before a full toss … Overton doesn’t middle it and Asalanka takes a brilliant grab running back to mid-off!

There’s a check to see if it’s a waist-high no-ball but I think it’ll be OK … and it is. 47th over: England 289-6 (Overton 1, Jacks 41) Some turnaround this. England need 33 from 18 balls. Malinga sends in a fierce yorker, living up to his name. An off-cutter follows and Jacks can’t connect properly.

And then another terrific, reverse-swinging yorker that Jacks plays back to the bowler. Oh, that feels harsh from the umps, calling a wide on a slower ball. That looked OK to me. And then, finally, a wicket! Atkinson pulls straight to deep midwicket and Malinga fully deserves it.

Sri Lanka are well in control here. 46th over: England 285-5 (Atkinson 15, Jacks 40) Atkinson dives to make his ground at the non-striker’s end and takes a blow to the helmet from the throw directed at the stumps. Ow. Jacks flicks down the leg-side but Kusal Mendis makes a vital stop to deny a boundary.

Fernando continues to search for the toe-thumping yorker before surprising Atkinson with a bouncer. This is strong death bowling, and I reckon this is Sri Lanka’s game now. England need 37 from 24 balls. 45th over: England 280-5 (Atkinson 12, Jacks 38) Wellalage rips the ball past the outside edge and narrowly misses off-stump.

The dots are really piling up now for England, with Atkinson getting a big forward-defence out. The left-arm spinner concedes just one as Atkinson keeps the strike and he finishes with figures of three for 49. England need 42 from 30 balls. 44th over: England 279-5 (Atkinson 11, Jacks 38) Asitha Fernando finds Atkinson’s front pad and roars in appeal … but that looks to be sliding down the leg-side.

But he’s out the next ball! It’s a tailing yorker, one of Fernando’s specialities, and Atkinson’s going to review after being hit on the toes … that’s sliding down leg I reckon. Yep, just missing. The barest of margins. Nonetheless, it is another dot ball, that required rate climbing.

A wide helps England and they need 43 from 36 balls. 43rd over: England 275-5 (Atkinson 9, Jacks 37) Wellalage tweaks away in his penultimate over, the singles continuing. England need 47 from 42 balls. 42nd over: England 269-5 (Atkinson 5, Jacks 35) Madushanka is keeping it very tight from around the wicket, with Atkinson taking a single after a couple of dots.

The seamer opts for a slower-ball bouncer to Jacks, who remains calm. The equation still favours England as these two keep churning out ones. 41st over: England 265-5 (Atkinson 3, Jacks 33) Colombage is back, that required rate above six now. Rathnayake has been great at short extra cover and makes another diving stop there.

Jacks and Atkinson have to settle for singles. England need 57 from 54 balls. 40th over: England 259-5 (Atkinson 0, Jacks 30) Gus Atkinson gets a go at No 8. England need 63 from 60 balls. Jacks very nearly punches into extra cover’s hands off Madushanka, who gets Ahmed!

The seamer goes short and the batter gets a bit of glove down the leg-side, failing with his pull shot. 39th over: England 256-4 (Ahmed 0, Jacks 27) A good stop at short extra cover from Rathnayake keeps Jacks on strike as Wellalage tries to squeeze out a few dots.

Rehan Ahmed gets the forward defence out and it’s a good over for Sri Lanka. England need 66 from 66 balls. 38th over: England 255-4 (Ahmed 0, Jacks 26) Rehan Ahmed walks in with still quite a bit of work to do. It might not be how they wanted, but Sri Lanka are back in this.

England need 67 from 72 balls. Buttler is on strike and clearly doesn’t look right as he blocks the ball. He punches behind point … and walks through for a single. And that’s enough: Buttler retires hurt. This is a massive shame – he’s played so well tonight. Buttler is up but he doesn’t look in a state to carry on … well he’s got the helmet on so he’s going to have a go.

Malinga’s been getting the ball to skid on while going stump-to-stump. Buttler sprints for two but is in quite a bit of pain, down on the ground and calling for the doc. Oh, it’s the left hamstring that’s in trouble here and this looks serious. 37th over: England 251-4 (Buttler 64, Jacks 25) Dropped!

Wellalage leaps to his left for a return grab off Buttler but can’t claim a stunner. And then it gets worse: Jacks slogs away for six. 36th over: England 244-4 (Buttler 63, Jacks 19) Jacks has been so impressive in white-ball cricket for England this year, and he nails a straight drive off Malinga for four.

35th over: England 239-4 (Buttler 62, Jacks 15) Wellalage is back and Jacks finds the boundary – it’s still puzzling me as to why the two spinners aren’t bowling together. 34th over: England 233-4 (Buttler 61, Jacks 10) Malinga is back and Jacks absolutely pummels a pull shot for four.

But the quick gets his revenge with a leg-before! The batter decides to review. It looks high, having hit Jacks on the back leg and above the pad … and it’s missing the stumps. 33rd over: England 228-4 (Buttler 61, Jacks 5) Colombage’s really good fun to watch and Buttler’s having to be patient now, the bowler having found his spot … scrap that, the former England captain launches over deep midwicket for six.

And then a thump down the ground for six more! 32nd over: England 214-4 (Buttler 48, Jacks 4) Kusal Mendis doesn’t agree with me. Fernando continues, and Buttler very nearly clunks the ball to midwicket. Just three runs off it as pressure builds on the batting pair.

31st over: England 211-4 (Buttler 45, Jacks 4) Colombage’s found his rhythm, keeping Jacks on strike with a string of dots. There’s turn there when Buttler finally gets a hit, and it’s another really good over from the leg-spinner. Time to get Wellalage back on from the other end I reckon.

30th over: England 209-4 (Buttler 43, Jacks 3) Fernando continues as Jacks and Buttler collect singles. 29th over: England 205-4 (Buttler 42, Jacks 1) Lovely shape from Colombage as he flights it up outside Will Jacks’ off-stump. Just two runs off the over – and the dismissal of Joe Root.

The leggie is kept on by Kusal Mendis and he strikes! Tossed up outside off, inviting the drive, and Root finds the hands of short extra cover. Good captaincy and well bowled by the man under pressure. Sri Lanka keep themselves in the game. 28th over: England 203-3 (Buttler 41, Root 15) Wellalage is off, Asitha Fernando back.

Buttler dabs the ball into the leg-side … it looks a gentle hit but it sprints to the deep midwicket rope. And then a chance! Buttler edges, Kusal Mendis leaps to his right, but it’s just out of reach, running away for four. Buttler has 41 off just 22 balls. 27th over: England 194-3 (Buttler 33, Root 14) Colombage returns after a poor first over early on, and he begins with a full toss.

Buttler’s surely going to go after him … and thumps down the ground for six. Colombage continues to toss it up – the right thing to do – but Buttler can still mis-hit for six, over long-off. And then a long-hop down the leg-side that Buttler puts away with ease.

The leggie closes the over with a dot and he shouldn’t feel too annoyed with himself – he’s bowling against one of the most destructive white-ball hitters ever. 26th over: England 177-3 (Buttler 17, Root 13) Buttler misses with his reverse sweep against Wellalage, and he’s lucky that leg stump is still intact.

The spinner gives it air, and Buttler middles it this time, through the covers for four. And then a massive hit down the ground for six! A little too much flight there from Wellalage and Buttler doesn’t want a patient rebuild. 25th over: England 166-3 (Buttler 7, Root 12) Oh no.

Buttler pulls Madushanka, it should be cut off by the rope, but a misfield gifts the new batter a boundary. It looks a lovely late summer evening at Headingley … but there are plenty of empty seats. We do have a decent game on, though. England need 156 runs from 25 overs.

24th over: England 158-3 (Buttler 1, Root 10) Buttler cuts for one but that’s another delicious over from Wellalage. He’s got three for 17 from four overs. Sky have just shown Marco Jansen’s one-handed grab for South Africa to get rid of Matt Renshaw in their ODI against Australia today.

Ridiculous. Here’s a leg-before shout against Brook, prodding forward, and Sri Lanka want to go upstairs. There’s no bat on it, and DRS says it’s smashing leg-stump! What a spell this is from Wellalage! England have lost three wickets for 14 runs. 23rd over: England 156-2 (Brook 1, Root 9) OK then, have we got ourselves a game?

Madushanka bounds in from around the wicket against Harry Brook and he’s found some accuracy after his struggles with the new ball. Root greets Wellalage with a sweep, helping the ball around the corner for four. The spinner then gives it some air, but Banton and Root nab quick singles.

There’s some turn on offer … and he uses it to dismiss Banton! Again, tossed up, inviting Banton down the pitch for a whack, but the right-hander’s nowhere near it and Kusal does the rest. Lovely, loopy, left-arm bowling. 22nd over: England 153-2 (Brook 0, Root 7) 21st over: England 146-1 (Banton 72, Root 1) Madushanka is back and Joe Root has his first run, flicking off the pads.

20th over: England 143-1 (Banton 71, Root 0) A fine over by Wellalage, just 23 but already such a smart bowler. Duckett can’t help himself – out comes the reverse sweep, one of his trademarks, against Wellalage, and off it runs for four. And then the breakthrough!

It’s beautifully bowled by the left-arm spinner, tossed up outside off, inviting the loose drive and there’s enough turn to knock back the stumps. 19th over: England 137-0 (Banton 70, Duckett 62) Banton and Duckett look at ease, knocking Asalanka for ones. There’s no need to do anything risky after such a rapid start.

18th over: England 131-0 (Banton 67, Duckett 59) Dunith Wellalage is up next for Sri Lanka and his left-arm spin is on target, conceding just two from his first over. 17th over: England 129-0 (Banton 66, Duckett 58) Asalanka’s been economical but Sri Lanka need a wicket – fast.

Duckett and Banton run through the singles. 16th over: England 124-0 (Banton 64, Duckett 55) Here’s Sachindu Colombage, who bowled so well on debut the other day. But he starts with a long-hop and Banton sends it into the crowd! Another short one follows, but Banton pulls to the fielder for a single.

The leg-spinner is struggling with his length here as Banton smacks another six, turning it into a 14-run over. 15th over: England 110-0 (Banton 51, Duckett 54) Banton knocks Asalanka for one to move to his second ODI half-century – his first came six years ago!

I remember that series against Ireland really well because it was Covid and, well, I didn’t have much else on. Strange times. 14th over: England 106-0 (Banton 49, Duckett 52) Banton edges Malinga down to third for four … though I think he was trying to guide it there anyway.

The century stand comes up and, while there’s plenty left to do, I reckon England are winning the series tonight. Banton closes the over with a monster pull for six. 13th over: England 92-0 (Banton 36, Duckett 51) Asalanka is back, though I’d like to see Sachindu Colombage, the leggie, in soon.

Just two singles off it. 12th over: England 90-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 50) Malinga’s begun relatively well here, and he finds a decent line against Duckett from around the wicket. The left-hander clips for two and squeezes a single to bring up his half-century, the 14th time he’s got there in ODIs.

His record in this format is excellent. 11th over: England 87-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 47) Asitha Fernando continues with four men outside the ring, goes short … and Banton’s pull shot falls short of Dunith Wellalage at deep backward square. 10th over: England 82-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 45) Oh, that is so sweet from Duckett, loud off the bat: he crunches Malinga through the covers.

Banton’s racing too, but Duckett looks in real good order here. And just as I type that, Malinga whizzes one past the outside edge, a fine delivery. It’s England’s powerplay though. 9th over: England 77-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 39) Asitha Fernando is back and tighter this time when bowling to Duckett.

The ball pings off Banton’s bat at the end of the over, but it finds cover. It’s a rarity: an over without a boundary. 8th over: England 75-0 (Banton 32, Duckett 38) Eshan Malinga is next up, nabbing a thickish edge from Banton … that runs away for four. A few dots follow – but Duckett pulls the final delivery for another boundary.

That’s 13 so far. 7th over: England 66-0 (Banton 27, Duckett 34) Asalanka’s offies are probably best described as tidy, but his tight start is undone by a wide one outside off, driven by Duckett for yet another boundary. A cut to the ropes follows and Kusal Mendis has got a few problems here.

Who does he turn to next? 6th over: England 57-0 (Banton 26, Duckett 26) Madushanka is kept on by Kusal Mendis, but the left-armer’s woes continue, starting with a leg-side wide. A half-volley is driven elegantly by Duckett for four and that’s the 50 stand, taking just 5.2 overs.

5th over: England 48-0 (Banton 25, Duckett 19) Charith Asalanka is on to save Sri Lanka with his offies … and he races through his over, conceding three singles. 4th over: England 45-0 (Banton 24, Duckett 17) Way too wide from Madushanka and Banton collects another boundary.

This has been a miserable start from Sri Lanka. Michael Atherton sounds exasperated with just how wayward they’ve been. Banton closes the over with a nice dab to third for his fifth four. 3rd over: England 32-0 (Banton 12, Duckett 17) Short, wide and Duckett cuts Fernando for four.

This is really loose from Sri Lanka as Fernando continues to give the left-hander width. The quick switches to around the wicket … and Duckett slaps the ball behind point for four more. Fernando goes straight – and Duckett welcomes the fuller length, driving straight to the ropes.

Fernando’s gone for 23 from his first two overs. 2nd over: England 15-0 (Banton 12, Duckett 1) Dilshan Madushanka is on from the other end and he needs to sort out his line. He goes too straight to Duckett, who clips for one, and he’s too wide to Banton, who cuts for four.

The ball then finds Banton’s pads, and the Somerset man whips away for his third boundary. 1st over: England 6-0 (Banton 4, Duckett 0) Fernando begins … with a loose leg-side wide. He quickly finds his line, getting movement away from the right-hander, and there’s a slip in place, waiting for an early mistake.

A no-ball grants Banton a free hit … and he whips away a low full toss for four. Here we go. Tom Banton’s on strike, trying to make his case as an opener. Asitha Fernando has the ball. Hello, hello, hello. Courtesy of Rob, here are some useful numbers. From 2015 to 2021 (the glory years under Eoin Morgan), England successfully chased down 11 totals above 300 in ODIs.

In the last five years they’ve done it … twice. Against West Indies in 2024 and 2025. That’s all from me. Taha Hashim will be with you for the run-chase. Bye! Sri Lanka’s total was built on a coruscating 121 from their captain Kusal Mendis. But England did well at the death – Sri Lanka scored only 104 from the last 15 overs – and will fancy their chances on an excellent pitch.

50th over: Sri Lanka 321-6 (Wellalage 16, Colombage 3) Colombage is dropped by Buttler off Overton, a sharp one-handed chance after a big deflection. Wellalage splashes another mishit shot that lands in front of Jacks, running back from mid-off. How the actual hell has Jamie Overton not taken a wicket today?

When the book is written on the 100 Best ODI Nought-Fors, this spell from Overton will be in it. No wicket at the death, so he’ll have to be content with a boundaryless final over and figures of 10-0-63-0. 49th over: Sri Lanka 315-6 (Wellalage 12, Colombage 2) Archer’s final over is really good – four singles and a wicket.

He bowled better than figures of 10-0-68-1 might suggest. Liyanage is beaten for pace and heaves Archer straight to Root at extra cover. He played a useful cameo of 32 from 26 balls. 48th over: Sri Lanka 311-5 (Liyanage 32, Wellalage 10) Liyanage picks a slower ball from Overton and creams it over mid-off for four to bring up the 300.

Wellalage joins the funwith a top-edged scoop over the keeper’s head for his first boundary. Another top edge somehow lands short of the man running in from mid-off, a continuation of Overton’s almost perverse misfortune. Two overs remaining. Sri Lanka are on course to beat their highest ODI score against England in this country.

That was also on this ground in 2006, when they made 324 for 2. In 37.3 overs. Imagine Duncan Fletcher’s internal monologue as this was unfolding. 47th over: Sri Lanka 299-5 (Liyanage 27, Wellalage 4) Liyanage stands tall to slap a slower ball from Archer behind square for four.

It’s been a frustrating day for Jofra, who has conceded 64 from nine, but he does well to keep Sri Lanka quiet towards the back end of the over. 46th over: Sri Lanka 290-5 (Liyanage 19, Wellalage 3) Jamie Overton, on for Rehan, bowls a superb over that costs only five.

Liyanage was beaten by a sizzling yorker that just missed the leg stump. Overton’s figures of 8-0-47-0 are mildly scandalous; he’s probably been England’s best bowler. 45th over: Sri Lanka 285-5 (Liyanage 16, Wellalage 1) Dunith Wellalage, who landed a few lusty blows at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, is the new batter.

Rathnayake pushes Archer to deep cover, tries to steal a second run and pays the price. Root’s throw was well wide of the stumps, but Buttler stretched to retrieve it and broke the wicket with the diving Rathnayake short of his ground. Brilliant wicketkeeping.

44th over: Sri Lanka 276-4 (Rathnayake 44, Liyanage 14) Rehan does indeed continue. Liyanage heaves an inelegant reverse sweep over Archer at short third, with the ball running down the slope for four. The usual ones and twos make it a decent over; nine from it.

Sri Lanka would love ten an over from here; that would take them to 336. 43rd over: Sri Lanka 267-4 (Rathnayake 40, Liyanage 9) Jofra Archer makes an expensive return to the attack. Rathnayake back cuts expertly for four; Liyanage trumps that shot with a deft uppercut over the keeper’s head.

After a peedie wobble, Sri Lanka are back on course for a 300+ score. 42nd over: Sri Lanka 256-4 (Rathnayake 34, Liyanage 4) Rehan Ahmed continues to stall Sri Lanka with an over that contains two dots and four singles. It’s not without risk, because Sri Lanka will go after him sooner rather than later, but Brook will probably give him at least one more over.

41st over: Sri Lanka 252-4 (Rathnayake 32, Liyanage 2) Rathnayeke slugs Atkinson for six over wide long-on – that shot was vaguely reminiscent of MS Dhoni’s immortal World Cup-winner in 2011 – before pulling four behind square. Sri Lanka needed a big over; 15 runs constitutes a big over.

40th over: Sri Lanka 237-4 (Rathnayake 18, Liyanage 1) Rehan’s second spell has been superb: 4-0-16-2, figures that are even more impressive when you consider he was reintroduced with Sri Lanka on 206-2 from 33 overs. Very good bowling from Rehan Ahmed, who befuddles the left-handed Asalanka with his liberal use of the googly.

Asalanka tries to sweep and is beaten; then he tries to sweep and is hit on the body; finally he connects with a sweep and top-edges it straight to Atkinson in the deep. 39th over: Sri Lanka 236-3 (Rathnayake 18, Asalanka 11) Jacks is hooked after one over. Atkinson replaces him and is clattered through midwicket for four by Asalanka.

It’s not a bad over for England despite that boundary, with six coming from it. Dot balls have been a problem for Sri Lanka in this innings. 38th over: Sri Lanka 230-3 (Rathnayake 17, Asalanka 6) Good stuff from Rehan Ahmed – he was hit for four, a cracking shot, but conceded only one from the other five deliveries.

Asalanka is not out Outside the line, next. England still have one review left. England review for LBW! Asalanka skips down to drive Rehan over extra cover for four. Fine shot, not much wrong with the delivery. Rehan’s second spell has been noticeably more accurate than the first.

He has a muted LBW appeal turned down when Asalanka misses a sweep and is hit on the chest. Hang on, Brook fancies a review. 37th over: Sri Lanka 225-3 (Rathnayake 16, Asalanka 2) The wicket is England’s cue to squeeze in another over of spin. Will Jacks does the job well by conceding a couple of runs.

36th over: Sri Lanka 223-3 (Rathnayake 15, Asalanka 1) Harry Brook’s gamble pays off. Kusal Mendis slog-sweeps Rehan Ahmed straight to Tom Banton at cow corner to end a fabulous innings of 121 from 100 balls. Kusal, who was starting to look tired, almost holed out to Banton earlier in the over.

In the end it was second time unlucky. 35th over: Sri Lanka 217-2 (Kusal Mendis 119, Rathnayake 12) Kusal Mendis walks across to a curving yorker from Overton that is homing in on middle stump until the off-balance Kusal deflects it for four. Brilliant hands from Kusal, and maybe a bit of fortune.

Between 2015 and 2021, Eoin Morgan’s England successfully chased a target of 300 or more on 11 occasions. Since Morgan’s retirement it has happened only twice, both against West Indies, so this will be a test no matter how good the pitch. 34th over: Sri Lanka 210-2 (Kusal Mendis 114, Rathnayake 10) Harry Brook gambles by reintroducing Rehan Ahmed, whose first two overs were bullied for 19.

His third is better, with no freebies and only four singles conceded. 33rd over: Sri Lanka 206-2 (Kusal Mendis 112, Rathnayake 8) Overton concedes three singles from his sixth over. Ignore the figures of 6-0-35-0: he has bowled with aggression, skill, variety – and no luck whatsoever.

“Hi Rob,” writes Brian Withington. “Whilst despising the way VAR has been implemented in Premier League football (and genuinely loving my team escaping it by the handy expedient of getting relegated, it must be said that DRS has mostly been a godsend in international cricket.” Yep.

I suspect it’s as much about the culture as the implementation, but either way it has worked brilliantly. 32nd over: Sri Lanka 203-2 (Kusal Mendis 110, Rathnayake 7) Six runs from Atkinson’s over, during which Sri Lanka bring up the 200 with plenty of overs in the tank.

This is a decent test of England’s emerging ODI side. They haven’t bowled terribly – Overton has been excellent, Archer and Atkinson pretty good; Tongue and the spinners have struggled. Time for drinks. 31st over: Sri Lanka 197-2 (Kusal Mendis 107, Rathnayake 4) Kusal ends the over with a deliberate uppercut for four.

In substance, style and especially intent, this has been a gem of a captain’s innings. Yes sir, well played. Kusal drives the next ball for four to reach a thrilling and flamboyant century: 82 balls, 12 fours, three sixes. It that doesn’t inspire his team, not much will.

Yep, he knew. Kusal Mendis reviewed straight away, so maybe he knows he didn’t nick what was a very good ball from Jamie Overton. REVIEW! Kusal Mendis given out on 99 30th over: Sri Lanka 188-2 (Kusal Mendis 99, Rathnayake 3) A couple of singles takes Kusal Mendis to within one run of his seventh ODI century.

Kamindu Mendis charges Atkinson with ultraviolence in mind, only to thwonk the ball high in the air to mid-on. Kamindu goes for 54 from 65 balls; it was a bit of a needless shot with Kusal Mendis going so well at the other end. Kusal looked distinctly unimpressed.

Maybe Kamindu lost some rhythm after being starved of the strike. 29th over: Sri Lanka 182-1 (Kamindu Mendis 54, Kusal Mendis 97) Kusal Mendis gets a leading edge off that Tongue that goes behind square, beats the two fielderso n the edge of the circle and runs away to the boundary.

A steer/edge for four and a quick single take him to 97. A century would be richly deserved. 28th over: Sri Lanka 172-1 (Kamindu Mendis 53, Kusal Mendis 88) Gus Atkinson, who dropped a simple chance when Kusal Mendis was on 17, is given the chance to make amends with the ball.

Kusal glides Atkinson’s first ball behind square for three. Later in the over he charges down the track and is beaten. 27th over: Sri Lanka 166-1 (Kamindu Mendis 52, Kusal Mendis 84) A much better over from Tongue – no boundaries, four from it. In other news, there’s a bison on the loose in Durban 26th over: Sri Lanka 162-1 (Kamindu Mendis 51, Kusal Mendis 82) Sri Lanka continue to play low-risk cricket against Archer, knowing they can cash in at the other end.

It’s weird to see Archer with figures of 6-0-35-0 because five of those overs have been excellent. (The other one, his third, went for 17.) 25th over: Sri Lanka 159-1 (Kamindu Mendis 50, Kusal Mendis 80) Tongue replaces Overton and is pongoed for back-to-back boundaries by Kusal Mendis.

There’s no time to describe them because he has just lashed Tongue over long on for six more! This is pulsating stuff. An overpitched slower ball is scrunched past extra cover for another boundary, and Kusal keeps the strike with a cheeky single that makes it 19 from the over.

Kusal Mendis scored 29 from his first 34 balls; he’s belted 51 from the last 27. 24th over: Sri Lanka 140-1 (Kamindu Mendis 50, Kusal Mendis 61) Kamindu tucks Archer for a single to bring up his half-century: 56 balls, four fours, three sixes. There have been a few too many dot balls but he has played some eye-catching strokes.

Sri Lanka need him to anchor the innings at around a run a ball. “Thankfully Kamindu Mendis is ambidextrous only in bowling and not in batting,” writes Krishnamoorthy V, “else the difficulty of a liveblogger would have reached 11 on a dial of 10 when there is one Mendis too many like now.” Now you’ve got me thinking about the hardest liveblog shifts.

There was an ODI in Bangladesh – I’d have to check but I think it was Tuesday 2 March 2010 – when I had a dicky everything and had to run to the toi- well, never mind. 23rd over: Sri Lanka 136-1 (Kamindu Mendis 49, Kusal Mendis 59) Jacks returns and is smoked down the ground for four by Kusal Mendis.

That brings up a terrific fifty – Sri Lanka’s first of this white-ball tour – from 47 balls. Later in the over he desecrates Jacks over midwicket for a big six. A captain’s innings doesn’t have to be an over-my-dead-body job, not in the 21st century, and Kusal is showing Sri Lanka the way through his fearless strokeplay.

22nd over: Sri Lanka 123-1 (Kamindu Mendis 49, Kusal Mendis 46) England need a wicket, so Harry Brook turns to Jofra Archer in place of Rehan Ahmed (2-0-19-0). Sri Lanka know what Brook is up to and treat Archer with respect; four singles and a wide are the result.

“You are undoubtedly the crème de la crème of cricket commentators, but eighteen out of twenty is exactly nine out of ten,” writes Bob from Boston. “Or do I miss the joke?” You do miss the joke, and what a juvenile one it was. (We may also need to talk about your definition of the word ‘undoubtedly’.) 21st over: Sri Lanka 118-1 (Kamindu Mendis 47, Kusal Mendis 44) Kusal edges Overton for four, straight through second slip at catchable height.

Overton has had no luck today – but there is no recourse to Dame Fortune when Kamindu hooks a monstrous six over square leg. Crumbs, he mullered that. 20th over: Sri Lanka 105-1 (Kamindu Mendis 40, Kusal Mendis 39) Kusal Mendis gets stuck into Rehan, sweeping and gliding two excellent boundaries.

Such a good player to watch when he’s in form. 19th over: Sri Lanka 95-1 (Kamindu Mendis 40, Kusal Mendis 29) A stunning one-handed grab from Buttler down the leg side, but alas the ball from Overton came off the pad off Kamindu Mendis. Another of those slightly weird overs in which Sri Lanka have specialised today: one boundary, five dot balls.

18th over: Sri Lanka 91-1 (Kamindu Mendis 36, Kusal Mendis 29) Rehan Ahmed’s first ball is a long hop that Kamindu Mendis besmirches into the crowd for six. At the risk of plagiarising Lana del Rey, whoopsie-daisy! The rest of the over is fine, three singles from it.

17th over: Sri Lanka 82-1 (Kamindu Mendis 28, Kusal Mendis 28) Big Overs hurries Kusal into a top-edged hook that lands short of Atkinson running in from fine leg. When Overton is bowling well he looks a serious handful, and not a pleasant one. Time for a drink.

16th over: Sri Lanka 78-1 (Kamindu Mendis 27, Kusal Mendis 25) Another four-ball from Jacks, too full and too straight this time, is feasted upon by Kusal Mendis. Might be time for a look at Rehan Ahmed. 15th over: Sri Lanka 71-1 (Kamindu Mendis 26, Kusal Mendis 19) Oh dear.

Kusal Mendis has been dropped, a simple chance to Gus Atkinson at long leg. Kusal lifted Jamie Overton’s second ball high in the air on the leg side, where Atkinson steadied himself… and then cagged it. He had to reach forward, so either he misjudged it slightly or it swirled in the breeze.

Either way Atkinson would catch that 18 times out of 20, arguably nine times out of 10. Overton has an appeal for caught behind turned down when Kusal Mendis feels for a cross-seam delivery. The technology confirms tghere was no edge, though interestingly Kusal’s head snapped round towards the keeper.

14th over: Sri Lanka 68-1 (Kamindu Mendis 25, Kusal Mendis 17) Five from Jacks’s over, none in boundaries. Meanwhile 13th over: Sri Lanka 63-1 (Kamindu Mendis 22, Kusal Mendis 15) Spectacular stuff from Kusal Mendis, who picks Tongue up over backward square leg for six.

Some shot, that. Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s best all-format batter but Kusal Mendis probably has the highest ceiling. Hard to believe it’s more than a decade since his amazing 176 against Australia at Pallekele. 12th over: Sri Lanka 55-1 (Kamindu Mendis 21, Kusal Mendis 8) Will Jacks, who took his first ODI five-for on Tuesday, gets an early bowl.

He almost strikes when a leading edge from Kusal Mendis lands just short of mid-off. Lest we forget that Jacks is an occasional spinner, he bowls a short ball that is pulled efficiently for four by Kusal. 11th over: Sri Lanka 49-1 (Kamindu Mendis 20, Kusal Mendis 3) Tongue rams a lively delivery past Kusal Mendis’s outside edge.

His last ball bounces more than expected and is fenced just short of point by Kusal. England now have two bovvers boys in Tongue and Jamie Overton. One way or another, that should reduce the number of boring middle overs. “I don’t know about you Rob, but I find this an enthralling series, with the heady prize of 6th place in the ODI rankings,” writes Guy Hornsby.

“England nicked it after the first game, but Sri Lanka are not going to take it lying down. Joking aside, as a neutral, it’s great to see Kamindu Mendis in full flow. He really is superb to watch, as I catch it at lunch at Old Trafford. As I’m not a neutral, I’m wondering what England are trying to do here.

Feels like they’ve set a field to stop singles but either they’re not bowling to the field, or Sri Lanka are finding the gaps too easily. Still, I’m at Old Trafford, where the vibe is fairly funereal. Even with a two thirds full crowd, I have to admit, being in Yorkshire looks a better bet right now.” I suspect England know it’s a 300+ pitch and are pretty happy with the scoreline, especially now Nissanka has gone.

I like this pace attack; it’s the batting, though stronger on paper, that worries me a bit with the World Cup in mind. 10th over: Sri Lanka 46-1 (Kamindu Mendis 19, Kusal Mendis 1) Atkinson had a demoralising Test series against Pakistan, but he maintained the trajectory of his pecker and has bowled excellently in the two ODIs.

Gus Atkinson strikes! Nissanka whips around a fuller delivery that thuds into the pad in front of middle and leg. Up goes the finger and off goes Sri Lanka’s best player. Nissanka reviewed, which was fair enough because it was umpire’s call. 9th over: Sri Lanka 45-0 (Nissanka 25, Kamindu Mendis 18) “Have we decided that cricket isn’t really a squad game any more?” writes Eddy Nason.

“It’s been an ‘unchanged’ kind of late summer.” It was the same in the glory years of Bazball, so it doesn’t surprise me in white-ball cricket. I guess there was no real need to change the Test team in the Pakistan either – the bowlers didn’t have a heavy workload in the first games, and the more Tara* play together, the better.

* Tongue, Archer, Robinson, Atkinson, though stricly speaking it should be Rata. 8th over: Sri Lanka 43-0 (Nissanka 24, Kamindu Mendis 18) Nissanka back cuts Atkinson brilliantly for four more. A straight drive lands just short of Atkinson, reaching to his right in his follow-through.

Once again, a boundary and five dot balls. Though Sri Lanka are going nicely, they need to address those dots. 7th over: Sri Lanka 39-0 (Nissanka 20, Kamindu Mendis 18) Josh Tongue’s third ball is too straight and put away over midwicket by Kamindu Mendis. The rest is dots.

Okay, are dots. 6th over: Sri Lanka 35-0 (Nissanka 20, Kamindu Mendis 14) Another good over from Atkinson, just a single and a leg-bye. He has figures of 3-0-11-0. 5th over: Sri Lanka 33-0 (Nissanka 19, Kamindu Mendis 14) Archer’s third over disappears for 17!

The scoring started when Nissanka blootered a length ball over midwicket for six; it ended when Kamindu Mendis hooked his first six later in the over. Shots! 4th over: Sri Lanka 16-0 (Nissanka 12, Kamindu Mendis 4) Nissanka pull-drags Atkinson past short third for his second boundary.

This looks like a really good pitch, so it’s important that England take early wickets. Sri Lanka know that and have started fairly sedately. Fifty overs is a long time, okay? 3rd over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (Nissanka 7, Kamindu Mendis 4) Archer ends another very accurate over with a bouncer to Kamindu Mendis, who takes on the hook and top-edges it for four.

After eight dot balls, all at Archer’s end, he needed the oxygen of runs. 2nd over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (Nissanka 6, Kamindu Mendis 0) A terrific start from Gus Atkinson, who gets a bit of movement and beats Nissanka with his first and fourth deliveries. Nissanka responds by squirting a square drive for four.

It wasn’t perfectly timed but Headingley has such fast outfield. 1st over: Sri Lanka 1-0 (Nissanka 1, Kamindu Mendis 0) Headingley is usually a great place to bat, so Sri Lanka will probably want upwards of 300. Fifty overs is a long time*, which means Kamindu Mendis can take a bit of time to get his eye in.

He plays out five consecutive dot balls during an accurate opening over from Archer. * Drink Jofra Archer has the new ball in hand; Pathum Nissanka is waiting to face him. Let’s play darts. “Nooooo!” There was something about Dan Lawrence’s pained groan at Edgbaston in England’s first innings of the third Test against Pakistan.

For a split second it looked as if he might plunge his bat into the turf like some tormented Norse warrior. His stumps had already been flattened by his own hand, an attempt to run the ball down past point off Mohammad Imran had ended in him hacking an innocuous delivery emphatically on to them.

The stump microphone amplified Lawrence’s anguished reaction, the noise emanating from his mouth oscillating somewhere between the visceral howl of treading on an upturned plug and the disappointed yelp of missing the last train home. He had been bowled for 65 and another chance of a first Test century had gone begging.

Test batters will tell you how they didn’t feel they “belonged” until they had made a century. That the longer they had to wait to cross the Rubicon of three figures the more it weighed them down. Lawrence has played 17 Tests for England since his first call-up in 2021.

It has been a career of fits and starts through no fault of his own; in the past five years he has batted at Nos 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3 as well as a doomed stint as a makeshift opener. It’s those starts that will eat away at him, though. South Africa’s Matthew Breetzke has continued the spectacular start to his ODI career.

He’s currently 84 not out against Australia in Durban; you can follow that game with Martin Pegan and Geoff Lemon. To reach for the career stats on Cricinfo is no way to go about it. This is a full-on YouTube job: boil the kettle, load up those spells at Headingley, St Lucia and the rest, and take in the whippy, absurd, mesmerising sight of perhaps the fastest English bowler there has ever been.

That’s probably the best way to remember Mark Wood’s career. Tuesday’s announcement of his international retirement was coming from the moment Wood hobbled out of the Ashes last December, the series opener his only appearance. That always felt like the last act, one he rushed back for after surgery on his left knee earlier that year, and the game moves on fast.

England’s seam stocks look healthy across formats, with Jofra Archer there to ramp it up when required. It’s a sore point that Archer and Wood played just two Tests together: one without supporters during the 2020 Covid-bubble summer, the other Wood’s farewell at Perth.

The 36-year-old leaves with 119 Test wickets at 30.8 and 80 one-day international wickets at 40.8, figures that need dissecting. He sparkled when it mattered in 50-over cricket, taking 18 wickets in the 2019 World Cup triumph, and there is a clear before-and-after with the red ball.

Having made his debut in 2015, it took nearly four years for it all to click together, only after Wood lengthened his run-up and was told by Trevor Bayliss that he wanted to see a bit more “mongrel” from his quick. Wood responded by clocking 95mph on the way to his first Test five-wicket haul, against West Indies in February 2019 at the age of 29, setting up his own Benjamin Button tale.

From that Test in St Lucia, his 13th, until his last, he averaged 27, all while hurling the ball with a lithe frame at obscene, unhealthy speeds. England are unchanged. Sri Lanka bring in Eshan Malinga for Dushmantha Chameera. England Banton, Duckett, Root, Brook (c), Buttler (wk), Jacks, Rehan, Overton, Atkinson, Archer, Tongue.

Sri Lanka Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Rathnayake, Asalanka, Liyanage, Wellalage, Colombage, Malinga, Fernando, Madushanka. It’s a lovely autumnal day at Headingley. “Looks like a really good wicket,” says Kusal Mendis. “We have to put a score on the board.” Harry Brook says England would have bowled, so yah boo sucks.

There’s an orgy of live cricket at Guardian Unlimited today. As well as this game, we have: South Africa v Australia: first men’s ODI The final round of the County Championship* * Spoiler: Warwickshire. First ODI report Harry Brook had called on his England players to continue the “high-octane” cricket witnessed during their clean sweep in the Twenty20s but this latest victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international was more of a slow-burn affair.

Gone was the neck-arching carnage of the previous week and in its place, on a tired end-of-season surface, England were bowled out for 265 in 48.1 overs. Brook top-scored with 67 under a warm September sun, before his bowlers rolled the tourists for 176 to take a 1-0 lead into Thursday’s second match at Headingley.

Familiarity with conditions doubtless played its part and Sri Lanka, on the wrong side of the toss, never truly felt in the hunt. For Brook it was an 11th victory as England’s ODI captain, nudging him into credit after 10 defeats and continuing what has been a quiet resurgence in the format this year.

It’s been a while*, you know. Since England won three ODI series in a row; it’s been a while. The last time it happened was in 2023, just before the World Cup, when everything was going to be alright on the night. That grisly title defence was the start of a desperate few years in ODI cricket, but there are signs that Brendon McCullum is giving England the kiss of life in a third format.

If they beat Sri Lanka at Headingley today – and it’ll be an eye-widener if they don’t – England will complete a third series victory of 2026. At this stage they are no more than dangerous outsiders for next year’s World Cup, but even that would have been unimaginable during the annus horribilis of 2025.

England lost 11 out of 15 ODIs and their captain was almost ironed out by a bouncer the night before a game. Off and especially on the field, it feels like a long time ago. * If these four words made your brain jump straight to a Linoleum song, you win an ephemeral trip back to 1997.