Rathnayake's Century Powers Record Sri Lanka Chase Against England in ODI Tri-Series 2026

RAWALPINDI: In a match that will forever be etched into the annals of cricket history. Sri Lanka defeats England by two wickets in the third match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series. On a day where local boundary ropes were rendered utterly obsolete, a combined aggregate of 859 runs was scored, highlighted by Harry Brook's double century and a match-winning, spectacular Rathnayake's century.

Choosing to bat first, England looked destined to completely bat Sri Lanka out of the tournament. Openers Tom Banton (50) and Ben Duckett (29) laid a steady foundation with a 50-run opening stand. Following their dismissals by Dunith Wellalage, Joe Root joined forces with skipper Harry Brook to construct a masterful 159-run partnership. Root played a steady, anchor role, scoring 69 off 66 balls before falling to Asitha Fernando.

From there, it was a pure, unadulterated assault from the England captain. Brook orchestrated a historic masterclass, blasting a jaw-dropping 202 runs off just 116 deliveries, featuring 21 fours and 10 towering sixes. His blistering knock made him the first English batsman to score an ODI double-century, setting a terrifying global benchmark for the fastest double-hundred in 55 years of fifty-over history (off 114 balls). 

Supported by Will Jacks, who smashed an unbeaten 66 off just 30 balls in an explosive 185-run stand, England capitalized on a tiring bowling unit to post a seemingly unassailable total of 429 for 4.

Faced with a mountainous climb, the Sri Lankan dressing room refused to capitulate. Despite losing 2 wickets inside the powerplay to slip to a precarious 24, a spectacular recovery was born. Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake put together a phenomenal, resilient 166-run third-wicket partnership to stable the ship. Fernando fell agonizingly short of a milestone, departing for a brilliant 97.

However, the cornerstone of the chase belonged to Rathnayake. Walking into a high-pressure cauldron, he hammered his maiden international century with a superb 130 runs off 106 balls, peppered with 15 boundaries and 3 sixes. Rathnayake found a strong partner in Dasun Shanaka, who brutally assaulted the English bowlers, clearing the ropes 8 times to smash a rapid 97 off just 50 deliveries in a thrilling 133-run stand.

The tense ENG vs SL encounter went right down to the wire when both set batsmen fell in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka needing 67 off the final 6 overs. Janith Liyanage then played a high-impact cameo under immense pressure. Needing 8 runs from the final over, English paceman Josh Tongue shifted the momentum back, taking two wickets in two balls to leave the game on a knife-edge. 

With extreme death-over pressure mounting, Liyanage held his nerve, smashing a brutal six off the penultimate delivery to win the game and finish unbeaten on 61 off just 27 balls. With the winning maximum, SL won by 2 wickets with a single ball to spare, triggering wild celebrations in the dugout. 

With this legendary victory, Sri Lanka has blown the tri-series wide open before the action shifts to Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium.