Sri Lanka stun England with record 430 chase in ODI thriller
Harry Brook hits fastest ODI double century for England, but Sri Lanka pull off a remarkable chase of 430 in Rawalpindi.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Harry Brook scores the first-ever ODI double century by an England batter with 202 runs from 114 balls.
- Sri Lanka complete the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history with a score of 430-8.
- The match sets a record aggregate of 847 runs and a total of 123 boundaries across both innings.
- Janith Liyanage hits the match-winning shot off the penultimate ball to secure victory for Sri Lanka.
A historic and thrilling one-day international tri-series match took place in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, where England suffered a stunning defeat despite a sensational double century from Harry Brook. England posted a massive total of 429-4 from their 50 overs, which marked the highest halfway total in an ODI in Pakistan. However, Sri Lanka, led by captain Kusal Mendis, produced a remarkable response to chase down the target and win 430-8 with just one ball to spare.
Brook broke Ben Stokes' previous England record of 182 by becoming the first English player to score an ODI double hundred, reaching the milestone off just 114 deliveries. His dazzling knock featured 21 fours and 10 sixes, helping England add 156 runs in the final 10 overs alone. Although he was dropped on 185, Brook reached his double hundred with a paddle-sweep before being caught at third man on the final ball of the innings.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Despite solid contributions from Will Jacks with 66* and Joe Root with 69, England's bowling attack struggled significantly. Without the rested Jofra Archer and leg-spinner Adil Rashid left out tactically, Sam Curran conceded 103 runs from his nine overs, marking the most expensive figures for an English bowler in an ODI. Compounded by dew on the field and mounting pressure ahead of the World Cup, England failed to defend their target.
"With six needed from two balls, Liyanage pummelled Tongue's penultimate delivery of the match down the ground for a match-winning maximum."
BBC Sport
Sri Lanka faced an early wobble when they were reduced to 24-2, but Pavan Rathnayake played a brilliant knock of 130 runs, supported closely by Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka, who both contributed 97 runs each. Maintaining the required run rate throughout, Sri Lanka needed 8 runs from the final over. Josh Tongue bowled with precision to dismiss Dinuth Wellalage and Eshan Malinga consecutively, setting up a nail-biting finish.
One-day international cricket matches often face unique tactical challenges influenced by environmental factors such as evening dew, which makes gripping the ball difficult for bowlers defending large totals in South Asian conditions. Sri Lanka's decision to field second demonstrated a sharp reading of pitch conditions and underscored the importance of adapting strategies ahead of major global tournaments.
The match aggregate of 847 runs stands as the second-highest in ODI history, trailing only the legendary 2006 encounter where South Africa chased down 435 against Australia. This reflects how modern limited-overs cricket continues to evolve with increasingly aggressive batting approaches.
Ultimately, Janith Liyanage had the final say in the dramatic climax, smashing the winning boundary to spark joyous celebrations and hand Brook an unprecedented defeat despite his record-breaking double century.
Source: BBC Sport
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