Overview
- England won the second ODI by five wickets, reaching 223-5 with 22 balls to spare to tie the series 1-1 ahead of the January 27 decider in Colombo.
- The visitors bowled 40.3 overs of spin and used six slow-bowling options, setting a new team record for spin overs in an ODI.
- Joe Root sealed Sri Lanka’s innings with two late wickets and then top-scored with 75, sharing key stands with Ben Duckett (39) and Harry Brook (42) before Jos Buttler finished unbeaten on 33.
- Sri Lanka were dismissed for 219 in 49.3 overs, led by Charith Asalanka’s 45 and Dhananjaya de Silva’s 40, with Kusal Mendis run out for 26.
- Harry Brook called the surface the “worst pitch I’ve ever played on,” as England ended an 11-match away ODI losing streak and set up the series decider at the same venue.