Duckett and Dawson Lead England to Consolation ODI Win Over Sri Lanka
Ben Duckett's 167 and Liam Dawson's four wickets secure a 55-run victory in Lahore before the tri-series final.
England earned a 55-run consolation victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, Pakistan, behind a career-best 167 from opening batter Ben Duckett and a four-wicket haul from spinner Liam Dawson. Although England had already been eliminated from contention for the tournament final after dropping their first three matches, the triumph marked their first One-Day International victory on Pakistani soil since 2005.
After Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss for the seventh consecutive time on tour and chose to field, England capitalized by posting 386 for five, the highest ODI total ever recorded at Gaddafi Stadium. Duckett set the tone alongside opening partner Tom Banton, who struck 74 off 75 deliveries. The pair combined for a commanding 163-run stand across the first 25 overs, laying a formidable foundation.
Duckett reached his sixth career ODI century off 89 balls and eventually compiled 167 from 132 deliveries, featuring 24 boundaries, 17 of which were directed to the leg side. Duckett surpassed his previous format best of 165, which he also achieved at Gaddafi Stadium against Australia during the Champions Trophy. Captain Harry Brook, batting at No. 3 for the first time in ODIs, added 44 in a swift 107-run partnership with Duckett. Late-order contributions pushed the total even higher, as Jordon Cox added 43 off 27 balls, Will Jacks struck 30 off 21, and Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 21.
Chasing 387, Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when fast bowler Sonny Baker bowled Kamindu Mendis for four in the fourth over. However, Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando stabilized the innings with an 84-run stand for the second wicket. Dawson intervened in the 17th over, having Fernando caught by Jacks at deep extra cover for 48. Kusal Mendis pressed forward, scoring 89 from 71 deliveries and adding 80 runs with Pavan Rathnayake before Joe Root coaxed an edge behind to the wicketkeeper.
Rathnayake, who had struck a hundred during Sri Lanka's record run-chase against England in Rawalpindi the prior week, mounted another aggressive challenge. He compiled 118 off 77 balls, hitting 15 fours and a six to achieve his third ODI century against England this year. Middle-order batters Janith Liyanage and Sahan Arachchige contributed 27 and 30 runs respectively, capitalizing as England's bowlers struggled to grip the ball amid evening dew.
The contest turned decisively in England's favor when Dawson claimed Rathnayake's wicket in the 45th over, inducing a mistimed sweep that produced a top edge to fine leg. Dawson finished with career-best figures of 4 for 49 as England ran through the tail, capturing the final three Sri Lankan wickets for just three runs to bowl the opposition out for 331 in the 48th over.
The result closed out England's tri-series campaign with a 1-3 record. Prior to Thursday's win, England had suffered an 87-run defeat to Pakistan in Rawalpindi, failed to defend a total of 430 against Sri Lanka despite Brook's record-breaking double century, and conceded a dramatic one-wicket loss to Pakistan in Lahore. Sri Lanka and Pakistan had already secured their berths in Saturday's championship match at Gaddafi Stadium.
Pakistan and Sri Lanka will square off for the tri-series trophy on Saturday morning in Lahore. England will now shift their focus toward a tour of Australia, where they are scheduled to begin a three-match ODI series in Perth on Friday, Nov. 13, followed by a five-match Twenty20 international series.