Sri Lanka pulled off a historic chase against England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, as the venue witnessed a run-fest unfold. The aggregate of 859 runs scored at the venue is the second-highest in ODIs after South Africa vs Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.
England, batting first after Sri Lanka won the toss, put 429 runs on the board, with Harry Brook scoring 202 off 116 balls, reaching his double century in 114 balls, the fastest in the format yet. Three other batters, including Joe Root, Tom Banton and Will Jacks, chipped in with 50+ runs each, with Jacks’ being the most demolishing of the three. It was Jacks who paired up with Brook in the final ten overs to play havoc with Sri Lanka’s bowling line-up. The two batters scored 156 runs off the final 60 balls as Brook reached his second hundred off just 41 balls.
Sri Lanka pull off a historic chase
Sri Lanka had a somewhat shoddy start to the chase, but Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake built a partnership to steady the run-scoring and set the tone for the carnage that was to unfold in the latter stages of the innings. Dasun Shanaka, Janith Liyanage and Sahan Arachchige had the crowd ducking for cover as they started dealing in boundaries.
The 256 runs scored by Sri Lanka in the middle phase meant the task for them in the final overs became rather easier. They lost as many as five wickets in the final ten, but the chase stayed on. It was in the final over, the first three balls of which saw Sri Lanka losing two wickets for just one run, that Liyanage sealed the win with a six over long-off.
Sri Lanka retain second place
Having picked up their first points, Sri Lanka retain the second place on the points table, with Pakistan still at the top. England, however, were able to make their Net Run Rate (NRR) rise. With this game, the Rawalpindi leg of the series has concluded, with all the remaining games, including the final, set to be played in Lahore.
Pakistan and England will face each other for the second time this series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Sunday. A win there would be crucial to the visitors’ survival in the tri-series.
Pakistan ODI Tri-series Updated Points Table
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Runs galore in Rawalpindi end with Sri Lanka gunning down a 430-run target against England