Sri Lanka Claims Victory Over England in First ODI

The first one-day international, held at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, saw Sri Lanka outplay England, securing a 19-run victory.

Sri Lanka set a challenging target of 272 runs, finishing at 271-6 in their allotted 50 overs, with Kusal Mendis contributing a significant 93 runs off 117 balls and Liyanage adding 46 runs from 53 deliveries. England’s Rashid was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 44 runs.

In response, England could only muster 252 runs, falling short in 49.2 overs despite notable performances from Duckett, who scored 62, and Root, contributing 61 runs. Madushan led the Sri Lankan bowling attack with impressive figures of 3 wickets for 39 runs.

This defeat marks a continuation of England’s struggles following their recent Ashes series loss, where they finished with a 4-1 record against Australia. Transitioning into this ODI format, England faced a difficult challenge against Sri Lankan spinners on a slow pitch.

Tasked with chasing down 272 runs, England’s innings began with promise but quickly fell apart. Duckett and Root provided a solid opening partnership, yet both players were dismissed while attempting risky sweeps against the skilled Sri Lankan bowlers, leading to a rapid decline in England’s scoring rate.

After losing eight wickets for just 84 runs, including stumping dismissals for Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, England found themselves in a precarious position. Jamie Overton’s late innings efforts required 20 runs off the final over, but his miscalculated shot resulted in a total of 252 all out, leaving the team still looking for answers.

With this loss, England now trails 1-0 in the three-match series and has suffered 11 consecutive ODI defeats on foreign soil.

No Break for England

Following the intense Ashes series, England’s players now face a stark contrast with the less pressured environment of the Sri Lankan tour. However, for some, it may feel like an unwelcome return to the grind.

Five members of the Ashes squad participated in the match in Colombo. Will Jacks was also part of the squad but was sidelined due to illness, while Brydon Carse remains available.

The implications of this ODI series are significant, as England seeks victories to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup. Additionally, the upcoming T20 matches serve as vital preparation for next month’s World Cup in the shorter format.

For head coach Brendon McCullum, securing wins in this format is essential to alleviate mounting pressure on his position. Meanwhile, captain Harry Brook is in need of positive outcomes to move past the recent controversy involving an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in Wellington.

Historically, England has struggled against spin bowling, and the challenge was compounded by their recent experiences in Australia. With only two training sessions in Colombo due to a swift schedule, adaptations to the local conditions will be crucial in the forthcoming games.

England’s Struggles Against Spin

Setting a target of 272 runs is considered modest in modern ODIs, yet at this venue, it is a challenging ask, as only three instances have seen higher successful chases.

Zak Crawley, in his first ODI appearance in over two years, fell early, edging a drive to slip for just six runs. However, Duckett and Root initially steadied the ship, with Duckett finding form after a shaky start.

Duckett’s struggle was evident, as he managed only 21 runs off his first 37 balls before finding his groove. Root, with his experience in these conditions, excelled, running hard and finding gaps until England’s grip on the match began to slip.

Duckett was dismissed lbw while attempting a reverse sweep against Vandersay’s leg-spin, and Root followed suit shortly after, falling to Dhananjaya da Silva’s off-spin. As the wickets tumbled, England’s innings unraveled.

Brook’s dismissal came when he was stumped off Asalanka’s bowling, while Bethell, who struggled to get going, was also stumped after misreading Wellalage’s delivery.

Despite a brief resistance from Rehan Ahmed and a quick-fire 34 from Overton, England’s chase never seemed likely to succeed.

Mendis Shines for Sri Lanka

England opted for three frontline spinners, with Ahmed stepping in for Jacks, but they may have required even more spin options. Bethell’s contribution was limited to just three overs, while Root did not bowl at all.

England’s 33 overs of spin bowling were the second-most they have ever bowled in an ODI. Rashid was particularly impressive, earning 3 wickets for 44 runs, while Dawson maintained an economical 1-31 with 41 dot balls.

Curran showcased his versatility, occasionally bowling left-arm spin and even deceiving Nissanka with a slow delivery for England’s first wicket. When Sri Lanka was precariously positioned at 124-4, England had a chance to tighten their grip, but Mendis and Liyanage’s partnership of 88 proved pivotal.

Liyanage struck two sixes in his innings of 46, while Mendis anchored the innings, displaying his experience with clever boundary placements. With Mendis at the helm, Sri Lanka accelerated, scoring 80 runs in the final 10 overs, a surge that ultimately proved decisive.

Overton’s bowling style was not well-suited to the pitch, and he was taken for 23 runs in a single over, a critical moment that highlighted the difference between the two sides.

What They Said

England captain Harry Brook commented, “The toss proved very crucial in the end. Sri Lanka played a very good game and deserved the victory. We bowled really well through the middle, and our spinners were exceptional. But they got hold of us in the last over, which is part of one-day cricket. They’ve got extremely good spinners who were able to extract a lot from the surface.”

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka added, “I know there are areas we need to improve, especially in fast bowling. We were aware that the first 25 overs wouldn’t spin much, but after the 25th-30th over, it started spinning, and we bowled really well.”