England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI: Kusal Mendis 121 Helps Sri Lanka Level ODI Series

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs in the second ODI in Leeds to level the three-match series. Sri Lanka scored 321 for 6 and then restricted England to 305 for 9.

Sri Lanka made a steady start after being asked to bat first. Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis added 45 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka was dismissed for 25 by Gus Atkinson in the ninth over. Kusal Mendis joined Kamindu and the pair added 137 runs for the second wicket. Both batters scored half-centuries. Kamindu made 54 before Atkinson dismissed him.

Kusal went on to score 121. He reached his century in the 31st over and became the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI hundred in England since Angelo Mathews against India at the 2019 World Cup. Kusal was dismissed for 121 by Rehan Ahmed. Rehan also removed Charith Asalanka as Sri Lanka reached 237 for 4 after 40 overs. Pavan Rathnayake then scored 48 and helped Sri Lanka finish on 321 for 6.

England Make Fast Start

England began the chase strongly. Ben Duckett and Tom Banton added 143 runs for the first wicket. Duckett scored 67 from 44 balls, while Banton made 73 from 39 balls. England were 82 without loss after 10 overs and reached 100 in the 14th over. The openers hit 14 fours between them in the first 10 overs.

Dunith Wellalage brought Sri Lanka back into the match. He bowled Duckett and then had Banton stumped in his next over. He also dismissed Harry Brook, leaving England at 157 for 3.

Buttler and Jacks Keep England Alive

Jos Buttler and Joe Root tried to rebuild the innings. Root scored 15 before Sachindu Colombage dismissed him. Buttler continued to attack and reached his fifty from 36 balls. Buttler also became the first England player to score more than 10,000 runs in men’s white-ball internationals. He later retired hurt in the 38th over with a hamstring problem.

Will Jacks kept England in the chase and scored 51 from 59 balls. Gus Atkinson also added useful runs before Malinga dismissed him. Jacks was later caught in the deep off Malinga.

England required 19 runs off the last over. However, Buttler made his way back into the middle but was having problems with his movement. In an attempt to score six on the leg side, he was caught out in the deep by Dilshan Madushanka. England scored 305 runs for the loss of 9 wickets. Sri Lanka won by 16 runs and tied the 3-match ODI series at 1-1.

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