Sri Lanka beat England to level ODI series 1-1

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs in the second one-day international at Headingley on Thursday, September 24, tying the three-match series 1-1 and setting up a decider at The Oval on Sunday. Sri Lanka made 321 for six after choosing to bat, then restricted England to 305 for nine in 50 overs. Captain Kusal Mendis led Sri Lanka’s innings with 121 from 100 balls, hitting 14 fours and three sixes. It was his seventh ODI century. He shared a 137-run second-wicket partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 54 from 65 balls, as Sri Lanka built a strong platform. Pavan Rathnayake added 48 from 39 deliveries, helping the visitors post a total England could not reach. England’s openers put on 143 for the first wicket, with Tom Banton making 73 and Ben Duckett scoring 67. Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage then claimed three wickets for 49 runs, including the dismissals of Duckett, Banton and Harry Brook, leaving England 157 for three. England recovered through contributions from Jos Buttler and Will Jacks, who made 69 and 52 respectively, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers held the hosts to 305 for nine.