England Wins Second ODI by Five Wickets, Levels Series

England secured a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, leveling the three-match series at 1-1 and ending an 11-match losing streak in away ODIs.

Sri Lanka, batting first after losing the toss, managed 219 all out in 49.3 overs on a turning pitch that favored spin. England's captain Harry Brook relied heavily on his spinners, deploying six of them for a record 40.3 overs, the most in an ODI history. The attack claimed seven wickets for 130 runs, with Adil Rashid taking two for 34. Sri Lankan batsmen struggled to build momentum, with several reaching starts but none converting into a half-century as they attempted aggressive shots against the slow bowlers.

In response, England faced similar challenges on the deteriorating surface, where the ball kept low and gripped sharply. The innings began unsteadily, with openers Rehan Ahmed and Ben Duckett falling early. Ahmed, promoted to the top of the order as a surprise pinch-hitter due to Zak Crawley's knee injury, scored 13 before being bowled. Duckett and Joe Root then added 68 for the second wicket, laying a foundation before Duckett departed.