Sri Lanka produced a stunning batting performance to defeat England by two wickets in Rawalpindi on Thursday, completing the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history with a total of 430/8.
Janith Liyanage starred with an unbeaten 61 off 27 balls, smashing a six off the penultimate delivery to seal victory after Sri Lanka needed eight runs from the final over. Pavan Rathnayake led the chase with 130, while Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka contributed 97 each.
After slipping to 24/2, Sri Lanka recovered through a 166-run partnership between Rathnayake and Fernando. Rathnayake then joined Shanaka for a rapid 133-run stand off 79 balls, keeping the chase alive.
Earlier, England captain Harry Brook smashed 202 off 116 deliveries to register the fastest double century in ODI history. Joe Root scored 69 and became England’s first batter to reach 8,000 ODI runs as England posted 429/4.
Brook reached his double century in 114 balls, surpassing Shubman Gill’s previous record of 117 deliveries. However, Liyanage’s late heroics ensured Sri Lanka stole the spotlight in an extraordinary high-scoring contest.