Righto, Taha Hashim’s match report is with us…
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…which means that’s it from me. Thanks for reading, and until next time, peace out.
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Brook thinks England have batted really well apart from in the first game and the team have learnt a lot since Sri Lanka chased 430 in the second.
He wasn’t getting nervy at the end, there was a clear plan, the ball was getting softer with the dew, and he’s happy with how the team saw the game out.
They’ve not had the series they wanted and would’ve liked to be in the final but the team have taken a lot of confidence form the series, “lads are scoring runs, lads are taking wickets” and they’ve got a lot of confidence at the top of their marks.
Kusal thinks Sri Lanka played a good game today, bowling well towards the end of the England innings, but he thinks they should’ve knocked off the runs.
He’s happy with the rus he scored but in the final will have to bat longer than today.
Ben Duckett says England have played some great cricket but not been on the right side of results so he’s happy with the win today.
Otherwise, he explains his form by saying the pitches are great to bat on, while Banton scores quickly, taking the pressure off him, and with Brook at three you know things are going to move at pace.
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It’s looking good for Australia; Lyon getting Bavuma just before the close feels like the crucial blow.
As far as England’s bowling goes, Jofra Archer will come back in, while Mark Wood is arguing strongly for the inclusion of Rashid, saying he’d make it easier for the bowlers at the other end and asking if he couldn’t just have taken Crocombe’s three overs.
Ultimately, though. they know what Rashid can do, and when it comes to the World Cup, I’m sure he’ll be in the XI; they just wanted a look at Crocombe.
Brendon McCullum tells Mark Butcher to “Look”, as his wont, before answering the question. He’s happy an inexperienced side were put in some situations and they’ll have learnt some lessons.
The team showed some fight today, and though they missed some opportunities they did plenty of good stuff, holding their nerve well today when conditions were against them following a 60/40 toss.
Asked about competition for places, he says that’s what you want, and these are good problems to have. They go to Australia in a couple of days and they’ll always do what they think is right for the conditions and opponent, which makes me think Rashid will be back for the next match., and McCullum says he was left out because of the conditions – leg-spin hasn’t been working for anyone in the competition.
Brook, he says, is one of the most tactically astute captains he’s ever encountered – “he wears his intelligence lightly externally,” says McCullum of a bloke famed as something of a doofus, also noting that he seeks advice and has the respect of everyone in the changing room, not just for his acumen but for his leadership.
As far as the bowling goes, first of all, Harry Brook commandeered them really well today, getting his changes right. But otherwise, Liam Dawson did a great job – Adil Rashid will surely return, but there’s plenty to think about, while Sonny Baker has a lot of potential and Jamie Overton proved his value by not playing, because his middle-over work was missed.
England, meanwhile, have found a new opening partnership, left-hand/right-hand, short/tall. Jacob Bethell is a player, but I can’t see him returning at the top of the order – he’ll have to force his way into the middle order with Will Jacks perhaps vulnerable, though of course a lot can change between now and the World Cup.
That was another properly fun contest. It’s great to see Sri Lanka and Pakistan playing so well, because the more teams are doing that, the better for our sport, and the former have found one in Rathnayake, while Arachchige has a bit of something too. The two teams meet in the final on Saturday.
England beat Sri Lanka by 55 runs but fail to make the tri-series final
WICKET! Malinga b Curran 1 (Sri Lanka 331 all out)
Curran goes full, Malinga goes to hit into another dimension, and misses; the ball does not.
WICKET! Fernando c Banton b Dawson 1 (Sri Lanka 331-9)
Fernando unloads the suitcase and Banton, lanking around the rope from long-on, slides into a fine grab. He’s so useful in the deep, and has probably established himself in the team this tour – a serious plus probably worth more in the long run than actually winning it. Dawson finishes with 4-49.
45th over: Sri Lanka 331-8 (Malinga 1, Asithas 1) Target 387 These tailenders are proper tailenders, so they look to slog, adding two from three, and Sri Lanka require 56 runs from 30 deliveries.
WICKET! Rathnayake c Baker b Dawson 118 (Sri Lanka 329-8)
Another slog-sweep, another top-edge, and this time, it plops into the hands of Baker at short fine. That, surely, is the match.
45th over: Sri Lanka 329-7 (Rathnayake 118, Malinga 0) Target 387 Dawson returns and Rathnayake sweeps, top-edges, and can Curran dive at it at midwicket? He can’t quite reach, so that’s four from the first ball of the over.
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44th over: Sri Lanka 325-7 (Rathnayake 114, Malinga 0) Target 387 Curran tries a yorker and it’s not bad, but Rathnayake stretches and somehow carves four to backward point, great improv. A single follows, and Sri Lanka require 62 runs from 36 deliveries.
WICKET! Wellalage run out 1 (Root/Curran) (Sri Lanka 320-7)
Wellalage taps to backward point and Rathnayake, frustrated at being denied strike, finds himself at the same end when his mate doesn’t move. So the ball goes in to Curran, who enjoys the drama and confrontation, opting not to break the stumps immediately, Cox wildly waving arms like the air traffic controller from Jimbo and the Jet Set. Reason being, if he goes immediately, it’s Rathanayake who’s out, and in the delay, Wellalage steps out of the crease, so it’s he who’s gone.
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44th over: Sri Lanka 320-6 (Rathnayake 109, Wellalage 1) Target 387 Curran returns, his first ball a dot…
43rd over: Sri Lanka 320-6 (Rathnayake 109, Wellalage 1) Target 387 Who’s John Travolta’s favourite cricketer? Wella wella lage! Crocombe will be feeling a bit better having barely participated in this match, and when balls four and five of his over cede just one, he’s almost out. But then he offers width and Rathnayake punches into the ground, Atkinson unable to slide-tackle it when really he had to go with hands, and that’s four more. Sri Lanka need 67 runs from 42 deliveries.
WICKET! Arachchige c Brook b Crocombe 30 (Sri Lanka 315-6)
The ruse works! With the rate now above 9.5, Arachchige unloads the suitcase, hitting high, very high, but not off the middle, and Brook pouches at long-off. We’re down to the last batter.
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43rd over: Sri Lanka 315-5 (Rathnayake 105, Arachchige 30) Target 387 Crocombe returns, Brook suddenly showing his trust, and his first delivery is clattered to the fence at extra, Duckett unable to reach it with a dive. A yorker follows, though, fine comeback, and they run one when it’s dug out.
42nd over: Sri Lanka 310-5 (Rathnayake 100, Arachchige 30) Target 387 Curran’s had a poor series, but if he can deliver his best death-bowling here, brought on early, he’ll feel a bit better. He begins with a yorker, Arachchige digging it out for one, then Rathnayake wallops a full toss back at him and he flings up a hand, getting a proper fistful of ball … but putting it down. There’s a run-out chance though, but instead of kicking or even sliding in, he instead bends to pick up, which takes long enough for Archchige to recover his ground. Curran then asks for the trainer, his guilty hand smarting, as well it should, and when a single follows, Woody wonders if Rathnayake is being careful to make his century instead of looking for boundaries; pressure takes funny forms, because he’s been batting with so much freedom until now, when he couldn’t be inner. A slower ball follows, Arachchige marmalising fresh air out of the ground, and when he takes a single next up, Rathnayake flows to mid-on and that’s another century! Well batted sir! Sri Lanka require 77 runs from 48 deliveries.
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41st over: Sri Lanka 306-5 (Rathnayake 98, Arachchige 28) Target 387 England will feel one more wicket probably does it; Sri Lanka know it’s on, and this pair are nicely set. Atkinson, though, delivers exactly the over his team need, three ones, a two and a one coming from the first five balls, but can he finish it off? Too right he can, a brutal yorker securing a precious dot. Sri Lanka require 81 runs from 54 deliveries.
40th over: Sri Lanka 300-5 (Rathnayake 96, Arachchige 24) Target 387 Whatever happens from here, this is another beautifully paced chase from Sri Lanka, batting sensibly but violently to make sure they’re always in touch and never flailing. Offered width by Baker, Archchige unloads the suitcase, punishing through point for four, and then we’re shown that the appeal of lb which England didn’t review, and have a look! The ball actually brushed the glove, so had they gone upstairs, it was gone, caught behind. Instead, though, he adds a single, then Rathnayake lofts over extra for four, holding the position so long you wonder if the wind’ll change and he’ll be like that forever; frankly, you’d take it, it’s a beautiful position. Sri Lanka require 87 runs from 60 deliveries.
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39th over: Sri Lanka 290-5 (Rathnayake 91, Arachchige 19) Target 387 Who is the Spice Girls’ favourite cricketer? Arachchigechigahhhh. Yeah, sorry. It transpires that appeal at the end of the last over would’ve been umpire’s call on the stumps, so wasn’t, in fact, going down. Otherwise Brook goes back to Atkinson and, after a two and one, Rathnayake, who will surely have to do most of the work if Sri Lanka are to win, swipes, and edges a cover-drive through wide third for four. A one and a two follow, then a no ball, and the free hit adds a further single; 13 from the over. Sri Lanka need 97 runs from 66 deliveries.
38th over: Sri Lanka 277-5 (Rathnayake 88, Arachchige 13) Target 387 Baker is such a whole-hearted cricketer – you can tell he absolutely loves it, desperate to be handed responsibility. On the other hand, Brook clearly doesn’t trust Crocombe, perhaps not on this deck, perhaps not at all; his two overs for 17 might be all he gets. Ah, such is elite sport. Meantime, Baker sends down three dots, and when balls four and five yield singles, he’s in good shape then, when Arachchige misses looking to reverse-scoop, wearing it on the pad, there’s a shout, and it looks not bad. But when the umpire says no, Cox insists it was going down. Sri Lanka need 110 runs from 72 deliveries.
37th over: Sri Lanka 275-5 (Rathnayake 84, Arachchige 12) Target 387 Root returns, presumably to go at the lefty, and that’s lovely from Arachchige, slamming through cover for four, then waiting and waiting to tickle fine past his own off-peg for four more. I love the composure and precision of that, but Root responds well enough, three singles from four balls completing the over.
36th over: Sri Lanka 264-5 (Rathnayake 83, Arachchige 2) Target 387 I love Arachchige’s double ch, a worthy successor to Sangakkara’s dub-ks. Anyhow, he gets going with a two to square leg as Baker goes around, Atkinson making a mess of his pick-up, then they run one on a wide, and that’s 15 from the over – which England will take, given it yielded the wicket. Sri Lanka needs 125 runs from 85 deliveries.
WICKET! Liyanage c Brook b Baker 27 (Sri Lanka 258-5)
Every time England have been desperate for a wicket, they’ve found one. Baker, sent on to break the partnership, lands one of his yorkers, Liyanage digs it out but with power, and finds Brook at mid-off. That might be too much for the Lankans…
35th over: Sri Lanka 258-4 (Rathnayake 81, Liyanage 27) Target 387 Baker returns and sends down a wide half-volley, Rathnayake square-driving for four then, after a single, a shorter one with bounce facilitates the slash over third for four; lovely shot, and such intelligent batting.
34th over: Sri Lanka 249-4 (Rathnayake 76, Liyanage 23) Target 387 Talking of Lyndon B, does anyone know why Americans love the middle initial thing? Even Johnny B Goode was into it, and he play a guitar just like a-ringin’ a bell; Daniel L Harris would like to know. Anyhow, Dawson returns and Rathnayake takes two to deep cover then, after a single apiece and served a short one, he rocks back and muscles four over midwicket. Oh, and when he sends Liyanage back following the final delivery, the single they want not on, Cox throws to the bowler’s, Dawson breaks the stumps … but the batter was hame. The required rate is now 9.20.
33rd over: Sri Lanka 240-4 (Rathnayake 69, Liyanage 22) Target 387 Curran continues and, after three singles, Curran has the audacity to try a short one, Liyanage makes himself a cuppa, reads Robert Caro’s biography of Lyndon B Johnson, and massacres into the stands for six.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 231-4 (Rathnayake 66, Liyanage 15) Target 387 Jacks returns and Liyanage waits for him, a long hop muscled to the fence at deep backward square for four; that’s 34 off the last 13. Gosh, and a cover-driven four follows, this is great stuff from these two, and a pull to midwicket for a third four emphasises the point. At drinks, rthe required rate is 9.08, Sri Lanka still well in this.
32nd over: Sri Lanka 218-4 (Rathnayake 53, Liyanage 15) Target 387 S-Cuzz returns and, after a leg bye, Rathnayake muscles down the ground, Banton skidding around the rope to save the boundary. But a delivery that my grandma would describe as “velly poower” follows, Rathnayake slapping a moon ball around the corner for four, before edging four more; a single completes the over.
31st over: Sri Lanka 206-4 (Rathnayake 43, Liyanage 14) Target 387 Root continues and Liyanage knows he can’t hang about, thrashing six over deep square, then making room to flay the next ball for six more over midwicket, tremendous behaviour. Brook might be telling himself off here, sticking with Root one over too long when he ought to have yanked him while the going was good, all the more so when Rathnayake sweeps for four. Eighteen off the over, the required rate now 952.
30th over: Sri Lanka 188-4 (Rathnayake 38, Liyanage 1) Target 387 Liyanage gets off the mark with a force to midwicket, then Rathnayake goes down the ground for one more.
WICKET! Shanaka lbw b Dawson 4 (Sri Lanka 186-4)
Not even close, the ball hammering the middle of leg, and well played Liam Dawson, not just for the delivery but for convincing brook to review the decision. That might, I think, be the match, because we’re still a fair way out and I don’t know the remaining Lanka batters are ready to sustain the scoring for 20 overs.
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31st over: Sri Lanka 186-3 (Rathnayake 37, Shanaka 4) Target 387 Dawson gives one some loop and Shanaka comes down, discharging an almighty hoik across the line and missing. The ball cracks the pad, England appeal and when it’s rejected they review. It’s a good shout, i think, but was the ball missing leg stump? I’m going umpire’s call.
30th over: Sri Lanka 186-3 (Rathnayake 37, Shanaka 4) Target 387 Root rattles through another over, Brook looking to keep things moving rather than seek another wicket, and four singles make it a decent decision. The required rate is now 9.57, pressure on Sri Lanka is mounting.
29th over: Sri Lanka 182-3 (Rathnayake 35, Shanaka 2) Target 387 Dawson returns, Brook wanting a quiet over to keep pressure on, and three singles are good enough. It may well be that Mendis wicket is the key moment in this match, Root affecting it despite not batting.
28th over: Sri Lanka 179-3 (Rathnayake 33, Shanaka 1) Target 387 Shanaka gets off the mark into the on-side and Rathnayake adds one more, but what a cricketer Joe Root is. There’s the batting, obviously, but he can catch and bowl too, a legitimate option when hoping to restrict runs or nab a wicket.
WICKET! Mendis c Cox b Root 89 (Sri Lanka 177-3)
Only gold! Kusal goes down on one knee to sweep and must’ve tickled the blue Rizla of under-edges, because after Cox takes a smart catch down the leg side, he pretty much gives himself out, walking off self-flagellating; he knows he’s missed an opportunity there.
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27th over: Sri Lanka 177-2 (Kusal 89, Rathnayake 32) Target 387 Root and his goldenish arm into the attack and Kusal defends his loosener.
26th over: Sri Lanka 177-2 (Kusal 89, Rathnayake 32) Target 387 Boundaries are coming too easily and Atkinson gives him a gimme – why is it called that again, what a strange word – short, on leg, and it gets what it deserves, monstered to deep backward square for four. The required rate is now down to 8.65, and if it’s there at 40 overs, Sri Lanka will be favourites if they’ve batting left. England just can’t put them under pressure, the ballm slippery now, and two singles complete the over.
25th over: Sri Lanka 170-2 (Kusal 83, Rathnayake 31) Target 387 A one then a two, before Rathnayake gets his front leg out of the road to clout for four through cover, then, after a single, Kusal mooches down to devastate Jacks back over his head for six. They’ve come back so well after the doing they took in England not long ago.
24th over: Sri Lanka 155-2 (Kusal 75, Rathnayake 24) Target 387 Atkinson returns and Mendis steps back, waits … then schmeisses him over extra, holding the pose, finding the light and smizing, a word I didn’t know had made it into the dictionary; hold tight Tyra Banks. Anyhow, six runs, then a single, then another, then Rathnayake nails over mid-on for four. England won’t be panicking yet, but they will be concerned.
23rd over: Sri Lanka 142-2 (Kusal 73, Rathnayake 13) Target 387 Jacks into the attack and it’s notable that the fielders are slipping a bit, the dew beginning to do its thing. Rathnayake eases the first ball of the over to fine leg for two, then four singles follow, before he closes out with two more to cover.
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22nd over: Sri Lanka 134-2 (Kusal 71, Rathnayake 7) Target 387 Baker returns and, after a single to Rathnayake, Mendis steps to leg to help the next delivery around the corner and over the fence at fine leg, Dawson thinking for a second he might get it; nahman. A single follows, then Rathnayake slogs towards cow, Jacks doing well to catch up with it and flick back from the rope; a further single means its 11 from the over, the required rate 9.03/
21st over: Sri Lanka 123-2 (Kusal 63, Rathnayake 3) Target 387 Three singles from the first three balls of what is Dawson’s sixth over, rate climbing above nine. A further single follows, and that’s another useful over from England’s tweaker.
“I was interested in your (and Butcher’s) comments on the baffling selection of Dawson over Rashid,” emails Tom van der Gucht. “I was always perplexed by the continual selection of Bashir over Leech et al on the basis of what stats and data implied his high release point and bounce could achieve over what Leech was achieving. In that way, Bazball was (and possibly still is) the anti-Moneyball by eschewing impact centred data over potential.”
Bashir, I think, was a Stokes project; he liked the look of him and knew Leech would never be elite, so thought he could shaman him into shape.
20th over: Sri Lanka 119-2 (Kusal 62, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 And that’s why! Having secured strike with a single from the last ball of the previous over, when Baker returns, he makes him wish he hadn’t, a delivery which sits up and begs to be spanked duly slaughtered over midwicket for six. The comeback, though, isn’t bad, the remaining five deliveries ceding just a single; for context, the required rate is 8.88.
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19th over: Sri Lanka 112-2 (Kusal 55, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 Dawson pitches one on leg which allows Kusal time to step away deep in the crease thereby creating a short length which allow him to hump through midwicket for four. A single follows, so England won’t mind the over as a piece, but they have to get rid of Kusal forthwith.
18th over: Sri Lanka 107-2 (Kusal 50, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 Crocombe, who rose to fame with consecutive hat-tricks in the Champo is on this tour, it is said, so Stephen Fleming can check him out for the Test series in South Africa. He suffered in his first over but this one is much better, Kusal taking two lots of two, the second of which raises his fifty. If the Lankans are to make a fist of this, he’ll probably need to double it.
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17th over: Sri Lanka 104-2 (Kusal 42, Rathnayake 1) Target 387 A single to Rathnayake, then Kusal cuts hard for four, before retaining the strike with a single.
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WICKET! Avishka Fernando c Jacks b Dawson 48 (Sri Lanka 97-2)
Avishka makes room to slam over extra and this looks like six, but the ball goes high enough such that a bit of wind catches it and, as it drops, Jacks makes it around the rope to hold a goodun, side-on. England needed that, badly.
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17th over: Sri Lanka 97-1 (Avishka 48, Kusal 42) Target 387 Dawson continues and Kusal eases him behind square on the off-side for one, then Avishka retreats and just about defends in front of his stumps.
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16th over: Sri Lanka 96-1 (Avishka 48, Kusal 41) Target 387 Crocombe replaces Curran and Avishka takes an immediate liking. His third ball is clubbed over mid-on for four, his fourth flicked to fine leg, also for four, then his sixth is timed to midwicket! Sri Lanka are pacing this beautifully, 13 off the over and that’s drinks.
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15th over: Sri Lanka 83-1 (Avishka 36, Kusal 40) Target 387 Better from Dawson, two singles from the over, but England will know wickets in hand are bad for them and they don’r have Jamie Overton, their middle-period maestro.
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14th over: Sri Lanka 81-1 (Avishka 35, Kusal 39) Target 387 I like the way Kusal is commandeering this chase, turning up every now and again to keep his team in the hunt. One off five deliveries, so he steps forward to the sixth, presenting the full face to send an off-drive to the fence.
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13th over: Sri Lanka 76-1 (Avishka 35, Kusal 34) Target 387 Now Avishka wants in, twinkling feet creating the length he wants to dematerialise six over midwicket; great start to the over. Two singles follow and, after a good period for the bowlers, they’re back under pressure.
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12th over: Sri Lanka 67-1 (Avishka 26, Kusal 34) Target 387 Coming from around, Curran again finds a tight line, his first four deliveries yielding just two singles. But then Kusal who, after a dry period, looks bang into this, first waits to haul around the corner for four, then reads the fuller one coming next, stepping down to clobber fo mo to long-off. England could do with a wicket.
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11th over: Sri Lanka 57-1 (Avishka 25, Kusal 25) Target 387 Dawson in the attack and, after a dot, Avishka comes forward and knocks back to the bowler, the ball dropping just short of his dive. Butch, meanwhile, tells us England think left-arm finger-spin is more effective on these pitches than leggies; I get that, but also, who those bowlers are also matters. Two singles off the over.
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10th over: Sri Lanka 55-1 (Avishka 24, Kusal 24) Target 387 Curran replaces Baker, and after three dots, Kusal stretches down the track, a nothing-shot dropping just short of the fielder at mid-on; maiden, and that’s that with the powerplay.
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9th over: Sri Lanka 55-1 (Avishka 24, Kusal 24) Target 387 There is no part of me that understands why England would prefer Liam Dawson to Adil Rashid – no comment on the former, it’s just I think the latter is essential. Anyhow, Atkinson finds a little extra pace, so Avishka uses it, punishing to the fence between square leg and mid-on then, when sent a fuller one, a big stride turns it into a slot ball and he power-glides through extra for a second boundary-four in two balls, holding the pose as well he might.
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8th over: Sri Lanka 47-1 (Avishka 16, Kusal 24) Target 387 Now that’s more like it, Kusal again spanking down the ground and this time, he targets the bowler, Baker hopping to get out of the road and the ball rushes away for four. So it’s a short one by way of riposte, but it sits up and pleads for ill treatment, duly meted out with a slam over square leg for six. Oooh yeah! A single to each batter, then Kusal takes a pigeon step forward, in order to launch a drive over the top and down the ground for a second six of the over. The response is good, pace, bounce, full, Kusal doing well to get the bat down and keep it out. Eighteen off the over.
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7th over: Sri Lanka 29-1 (Avishka 15, Kusal 7) Kusal edges into his foot, saving himself from a chop-on, then Atkinson hits him on the meat of the thigh; Brook declines to review when the appeal is rejected, intimating it’s too high. Eeesh, Kusal then hammers down the ground ... and into Avishal, who saves four, but when he’s subsequently offered one in the slot, he pulls for four and will feel much better about existing.
“You say pitot,” begins Brian Withington. “Less affirming news it may have been in the culinary sense, but surely life affirmingly Peak Guardian OBO?”
I think my previous This Is So Guardian riff was doing the Tour de France discussing Europe’s best beaches and cuisines.
6th over: Sri Lanka 22-1 (Avishka 15, Kusal 1) More like it, another greenidge-style pull, uppish and leg aloft, earning Avishka four; another to deep square soon follows, before Banton makes a decent saving dive.
Greenidge? Did someone say Greenidge?
Related: West Indian epic: when Gordon Greenidge unleashed hell on Australia
5th over: Sri Lanka 14-1 (Avishka 7, Kusal 1) Sri Lanka didn’t start especially swiftly when chasing430, but they won’t like what they’ve done so far. Atkinson sends down three dots, then Kusal defends … and the delivery snaps his bat at the handle, hitting near the splice. Smiles are exchanged, then he’s beaten … saving himself with an inside-edge on to the pad. Maiden.
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No doubt if you’re into this, you’re also into this. Australia are rolling…
Related: South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live
4th over: Sri Lanka 14-1 (Avishka 7, Kusal 1) Baker’s jib bears an appealing cut; he plays with attitude, moxie and skill. I think we’ll be seeing plenty of him over the next bit – in various formats.
WICKET! Kamidu Mendis b Baker 4 (Sri Lanka 13-1)
REDEMPTION! As Peter Drury might’ve shrieked – or shrucked, were that the past participle. This is a terrific ball, hitting roud about a length and almost gathering speed, cramping Kamindu, who can’t sort out feet and hands quickly enough to stop it from rearranging his timber, done for pace.
4th over: Sri Lanka 13-0 (Kamindu 4, Avishka 7) Baker looked properly poorly with himself at that drop, so he charges in and nails an inswinging yorker that has Avishka hopping; he does well to jam down a bat and keep it out. He tries a similar delivery fourth ball and this time it’s nurdled into the on side for one.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (Kamindu 4, Avishka 6) A wide, then a short one from Atkinson, so Avishka lifts one leg and briancharleslaras it around the corner for four. In comms, Nass chastises the length but, when England were batting, the Lankan bowlers were being chastised for being too full. Which tells us this track is a belter, with a pretty small area to hit to avoid being splattered. Anyhow, Avishka tries a similar shot to the one which brought him a boundary, cuthbertgordongreenidging to wide fine leg, if such a thing is linguistically possible, Baker runs, in dives forward, and will it carry? Just about, he gets both hands to it … and shells it, so they run one. Difficult chance, but once he got there he’ll feel he should’ve snaffled it.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 5-0 (Kamindu 4, Avishka 1) Sri Lanka will fancy this but, already into the final so perhaps not as focused in the field, they’ll need to find a bit more intensity with the bat. It’s Sonny Baker to open from the other end – I’m fairly sure Sam Curran and Henry Crocombe will also have fancied first shy – and in comms, Mark Wood makes the case for the former, partly because it means you don’t then have to finagle overs from him in the middle. I’d be especially wary of using him there in South Africa, where the World Cup mainly is, because at his pace he might just sit up pleading to be belted but, in the meantime, Avishka takes a single to third man, then deflects a delivery into his own elboid, a right sair yin.
1st over: Sri Lanka 4-0 (Kamindu 4, Avishka 0) Atkinson begins well, just outside off, and he’ll be wanting to use whatever movement there is while the ball’s young. Mendis, though, edges his third delivery for four – the only runs from the over.
Righto, Gus Atkinson has the ball and we’re about ready to go.
In less affirming news, I’ve just opened a pack of pitot, planning to toast at least all of them to farshmeer with hummus and shito, only to discover they’re off.
Why do bad things happen to good people?
It was touch and go, but you’ll all be relieved to learn I’ve got tomorrow night’s steaks dry brining in the fridge. Phew.
Otherwise, it’s been a funny tour for England: they’re 0-3, and yet there are loads of positives. The question now is whether they continue rotating the team or try and settle on an XI for the World Cup, starting in just under a year from now.
Thanks Tanya and hi everyone. They couldn’t, could they?
Sri Lanka need 387 to win
England are still looking for a win in this triangular tournament, but they will dine at the break confident (ish) that they’ve got enough for Sri Lanka this time, thanks to a tip-top 167 from Ben Duckett, his highest ODI score. The commentators think the batting conditions aren’t as easy as in the 800-plus game, but Nasser points out that there was no swing, no seam, other than in the first two overs. Perfect, he says with a grin, for a run chase. The dew is falling at Lahore, but I’m going to leave Daniel Harris to take you through to the close. Thanks for your messages, bye!
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WICKET! Cox c Arachchige b Madushanka 43 (England 386-5)
Arachchige lands with a thump on his back at long off, slipping while collecting Cox’s last-gasp throw of the bat from the final ball of the innings.
50th over: England 386-5 (Curran 21) With a six from Cox, England pass the highest ODI score at the Gaddafi stadium. Cox adds to the bounty next ball by shuffling to the off side and sweeping Madushanka for four, but that’s the last boundary and Cox falls looking for one more. England fall short of 400 but it is still an imposing total for Sri Lanka to chase.
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49th over: England 372-4 (Cox 32, Curran 18) Eshan finds his mojo in his final over, which goes for just five runs.
48th over: England 367-4 (Cox 30, Curran 15) Asitha continues his parsimony into his tenth over, the first three balls going for singles, until Curran spoils the scoresheet, lofting him high …towards the boundary fielder …but he can’t hold on or keep it out and it drops over the rope for six. But figures of 2-63 pretty impressive in this onslaught.
47th over: England 356-4 (Cox 27, Curran 7) Curran plonks out his front foot and shovels a low full toss from Eshan down the ground. With one potential over left, he’s conceded 96.
46th over: England 345-3 (Cox 21, Curran 2) Clever bowling by Asitha first beats Jacks with a yorker and gets his prize the next ball. Root remains marooned between the muscle T-shirts of McCullum and a another coach, as Curran is sent in. Four singles follow.
WICKET! Jacks b Fernando 30 (England 341-4)
Jacks drags a full ball from Asitha onto his stumps and kicks the bail in frustration as he heads home.
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45th over: England 341-3 (Jacks 30, Cox 19) Jacks top edges Shanaka’s first ball for four, who follows up with a wide. His day gets worse when Pavan Rathnayake on the rope crouches into the long barrier but somehow misses and lets Cox’s pull trickle for four.
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44th over: England 327-3 (Jacks 24, Cox 12) Cox, promoted above Root, joins the boundary gang, punching Eshan with pin-point precision between deep midwicket and long on.
43rd over: England 315-3 (Jacks 23, Cox 3) A wonderful innings that by Duckett, a man who has refound his touch. Shanaka runs in with over number six, Jacks flays him down the ground for four and next ball hauls him square past a hapless double act on the rope.
WICKET! Duckett c Asitha b Malinga 167 (England 301-3)
The stroke of a tired man, a slow low full toss blarghed to short fine where Asitha takes it on his knees. The end of a super innings.
41st over: England 298-2 (Duckett 166, Jacks 11) Just four singles in a clever over of varying pace from Shanaka, and a near run out as Duckett sends Jacks back. This is a career best now for Duckett, beatinging his 165 against Australia here during the Champions Trophy in 2025. A prize for anyone who can remember who won the competition.
40th over: England 294-2 (Duckett 164, Jacks 9) A woman with a gorgeous long black mane advertises shampoo in one of those live-action plugs. Duckett finds the gap off Asitha with another pull for four, and England jog five easy singles.
Bonjour Gary Naylor, in France.
“A simply glorious day in Northern France, but the melancholy still clings to these flat fields and to the towns (Saint Quentin, Amiens etc).
“We’re off to bear witness at our great uncle’s stone, dead after three nights in no man’s land as a teenager in the mud and the blood.
“The names on the Menin Gate at Ypres appear like a list of Test Match statistics: English, Hindu and Muslim and everything in between. It’s a reminder that our forefathers fought alongside each other 110 years ago but now play alongside each other.
“Lest we forget.”
Thank you.
39th over: England 285-2 (Duckett 157, Jacks 7) Wellalage finishes his 10 over spell for a heart-shimmering 75. Fair play to Duckett, he’s shown excellent endurance and fitness both today and in the last match, still grinning after 39 overs as he sweeps Wellalage for yet another boundary.
150 for Duckett!
38th over: England 277-2 (Duckett 151, Jacks 5 ) Brook is furious with himself, falling just after shimmying legside and nudging Asitha delightfully down to the rope. Jacks bumps Root further down the order and is off the mark with a Pietersenesque whip through midwicket. And Duckett brings up his 150 to enthusiastic applause.
WICKET! Brook c and b Asitha 44 (England 270-2)
From nowhere, Brook tries to flip Asitha over the keeper but gets in a pickle with his footwork and toe ends him instead back to a delighted Asitha.
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37th over: England 265-1 (Duckett 148, Brook 40) Yes please says Duckett: pulls Wellalage for consecutive boundaries and then with a little nudge brings up the 100 partnership off just 70 balls.
36th over: England 252-1 (Duckett 136, Brook 39) Madushanka, towel tucked into his waistband, starts with three dots, but Duckett spots a wide slower ball and upper cuts it for four. He wipes his brow, I imagine he won’t be quite so game for quick singles in the last few overs.
35th over: England 247-1 (Duckett 131, Brook 39) Duckett dinks a full toss from Eshan Laminga over the keepers head for a very jolly four. Another boundary pulled with oiled joints. The crowd, which has grown, applaud sportingly.
"Intrigued by your reply to TvdG (over 21) which suggested there would be a lot of ‘joshing’ for positions in the England team over the next 12 months,” writes Brian Withington. “I know the coach likes to operate a fairly relaxed regime, but didn’t think selection would resort to a Last One Laughing format - what’s next, Jimmy Carr as chair of selectors?” That would be a divisive choice even for Rob Key…
34th over: England 234-1 (Duckett 119, Brook 38) Madushanka waves his fielders into position, royal blue shirt tucked in neatly. Another one handed haul, a pull at a stretch, this time from Duckett, bounces just before the rope. England are cruising.
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33rd over: England 224-1 (Duckett 112, Brook 35) Just a one-handed pull for six by Brook (almost into the hands of a diving fielder) and then four hauled through mid on. Eshan, elbows pumping, runs in again and Duckett – swivel and pull – sends him behind square for four more. Eighteen from the over.
32nd over: England 206-1 (Duckett 107, Brook 22) Brook has taken 22 balls to find his mojo but bang he hits the rope with a brutal sweep off Wellalage and next ball dispatches him out of the ground. He grins, ominously.
31st over: England 194-1 (Duckett 106, Brook 11) Are England eyeing up that 429 they pistolled against Sri Lanka about a week ago? Shanaka restricts England to three singles off the first three balls, but the fourth is slapped to the rope by Duckett. They all take a DRINK on a hot afternoon.
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A hundred for Ben Duckett!
30th over: England 185-1 (Duckett 100, Brook 8) And there it is! With a gentle dab into the offside, back to back centuries, a sixth in ODIs, a third in Pakistan. He takes off his helmet, grins endearingly and wipes his perspiring forehead.
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29th over: England 180-1 (Duckett 98, Brook 5) Shanaka keeps him hanging…
28th over: England 175-1 (Duckett 95, Brook 3) If Duckett gets to three figures, it will be his third hundred at Lahore in five games. A pull off Madushanka takes him a hit away.
Australia, by the way, have had a little collapse at Cape Town, despite Inglis’ century.
Related: South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live
27th over: England 170-1 (Duckett 91, Brook 2) On TMS they’re banging the drum for triangular series. I agree, I do think they give context. I still remember the 86-87 tri series in Australia, when Allan Lamb conjured 18 from the last over off Bruce Reid to win England a game. Anyway, Sri Lanka review a caught behind decision off Brook, but lose the review as there was no bat involved. Another tight over from Shanaka until the last ball which allows Duckett to whip him off his pads for four.
26th over: England 165-1 (Duckett 87, Brook 1 ) Brook, double century fresh in his mind, gets off the mark with a dab down to third.
25th over: England 163-1 (Duckett 86, Brook 0 ) Shanaka replaces Wellalage and Banton, possibly frustrated by a couple of tighter overs by Sri Lanka, launches into an off cutter and plays on. Super innings and a perfect platform for Harry Brook, pushed up the order.
WICKET! Banton b Shanaka 74 (England 163-1)
Banton, moustache decorating his top lip, not quite Burt Reynolds but getting there, drags on and bends over his bat in despair.
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24th over: England 160-0 (Banton 72, Duckett 85) A fat pigeon lands on my neighbour’s crab apple tree and tucks into the red berries, rather like England, though they can only peck at Asitha this over.
23rd over: England 158-0 (Banton 71, Duckett 84) The strains of Despacito float over Lahore as some new gloves are brought out. And that is gorgeous, Banton gallops down and lofts Wellalage over long off for six, which is appreciated by the spectators who are scattered like confetti the day after a wedding.
22nd over: England 148-0 (Banton 63, Duckett 82) A kite flies across the pitch as Asitha bustles in. A super bit of fielding by Rathnayake at short mid wicket cuts off a brutal Duckett boundary.
21st over: England 144-0 (Banton 62, Duckett 79) A great save on the rope to prevent a Banton boundary is probably the highlight of Sri Lanka’s afternoon.
Hello there Tom vd Gucht. “Morning, Ive managed to watch some of this series (for the first time since the last Ashes...) and have been wondering where it leaves England as an ODI unit. Is Rashid injured at the moment? I read something about him hurting his hand. Anyhow, with Archer, Buttler, Bethell and Rashid back in the fold (not to mention what might have happened in the two equally nail-biting and exhilarating losses had they been there to finish off the job) what would McCullum”s A-team look like? Is Curran too much of a luxury if the batting doesn’t hold up coming in so down the order, or do his left arm variations bring too much to the table (even if he’s not had a series to remember). What would the bowling look like? Who would make the cut out of Buttler, Banton, Cox and Bethell or even Root or Duckett...”
Rashid is fit and raring to go, England just aren’t picking him which is peculiar. Feels a long time since he wasn’t first name on the team sheet. But yes, lots of joshing for position over the next 12 months…
20th over: England 140-0 (Banton 59, Duckett 78) Eshan Malinga, with a hop and a skip. Three dots in a row but two boundaries either side spoil things.
19th over: England 132-0 (Banton 51, Duckett 78) Liyanage gets belted twice for four by Duckett on this lovely batting pitch.
Fifty for Tom Banton!
18th over: England 122-0 (Banton 50, Duckett 69) A single to deep third brings Banton his fifty, he salutes the empty ground with a quick raise of the bat. Four more to Duckett off his belt.
17th over: England 111-0 (Banton 49, Duckett 64) Liyanage is thrown the ball and instructed to stop the steam train. And he does, kind of, no boundaries, though five from it. A straight drive from Duckett which is stopped by the non-striker’s stumps, deserves riches.
Hello Brian Withington! “I’ve really enjoyed this tri-series despite England’s losses - some exceptional performances and entertaining games, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan turning the tables magnificently against WinViz and all other expectations.
”Particularly interested to see whether Tom Banton can turn another good start into a major contribution. (I hesitate to say match winning given how Sri Lanka responded to Harry Brook’s stupendous double century previously …)“
Too true! And Banton certainly looks the part, so tall and elegant.
Fifty for Ben Duckett!
16th over: England 111-0 (Banton 47, Duckett 61) Duckett picks up a third fifty of the series with a pull, and four more follow through midwicket as Malinga “slingy action, skiddy pitch” delivers Duckett just what he fancies. A third four is whipped through mid-off. They take DRINKS with England well on top.
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15th over: England 99-0 (Banton 47, Duckett 49) Banton, for the second time in a few balls, only just clears mid off , inside out off Arachchinge for four. Now that’s the business, six pancaked over long on as England hit cruise control.
14th over: England 85-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 47) A handful of singles.
13th over: England 81-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 45) Arachchige replaces Madushanka, four singles from it.
Over in Cape Town, for the crucial third Test between South Africa and Australia, Josh Inglis is on the brink of a century. Australia have a lead of 20 with six wickets still in hand. Let Martin Pegan be your guide.
Related: South Africa v Australia: third men’s cricket Test, day three – live
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12th over: England 77-0 (Banton 31, Duckett 43) Duckett’s eyes light up, he tangoes and reverse sweeps Wellalage for four with style. Beautiful shot.
11th over: England 68-0 (Banton 27, Duckett 38) The cameras have found a few faces in the crowd, grains of sand in an empty sandpit. But they look happy enough. Madushanka starts with a wide again, stops England from scoring a boundary, but there is still six from the over.
10th over: England 62-0 (Banton 26, Duckett 34) Wellalage whisks through his over, England massage him for four runs.
9th over: England 58-0 (Banton 25, Duckett 31) Madushanka starts with a wide, but is neat and tidy until Banton, balanced like a gymnast, threads him through extra cover for four from the last ball.
8th over: England 52-0 (Banton 21, Duckett 30) Slow left arm from Wellalage, England are watchful for the first five balls but Banton reverse sweeps four over point to finish the over.
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7th over: England 46-0 (Banton 16, Duckett 29) Asitha’s fourth starts with three dots, then Duckett licks his lips as a pie lands in his sweet spot wide of off stump and is forked through backward point for four. Worse, it is a no ball. Duckett can’t get a bat on the free hit but he drives the next, a half volley, through mid off for four more. Nine from the over, England are in fine fettle.
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6th over: England 37-0 (Banton 16, Duckett 21) Malinga into the attack. Banton turns on the charm, legs together, perfect timing to another backfoot punch through mid off, then wristy gloriousness through midwicket for another four.
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5th over: England 27-0 (Banton 7, Duckett 20) Duckett looking in fine touch after his hundred against Pakistan.
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4th over: England 21-0 (Banton 6, Duckett 15) Oooh la la, stylish from Duckett, shimmied through point for four. Beautiful blue sky, hazy like an early morning dream.
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3rd over: England 14-0 (Banton 6, Duckett 8) Banton bends his knees and glances around the ground like a wise old owl. He picks up two from a back foot punch off Asitha but is greedy for more, and there it comes from the last ball of the over, a boundary with another smart back-foot jab.
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2nd over: England 8-0 (Banton 0, Duckett 8) Madushanka from the other end, a five-fer against Pakistan in his back pocket, long legs. Runs at last as Duckett tonks him off his pads for four. Then top edges a hook for four more.
1st over: England 0-0 (Banton 0, Duckett 0) Banton almost edges Asitha’s very first ball to slip, but it falls short. The ground is full only with empty green seats, as the call to prayer rings out. A maiden to start.
The sun is out, Asitha Fernando has the ball, the drums are rolling.
England’s record in this tri-series is played three, won none. A consolation win would pad the flight home.
Sri Lanka XI
Sri Lanka XI: Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
England XI
England XI: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Henry Crocombe.
Henry Crocombe is chatting to Mark Butcher in a carpet shop: “It has been a very exciting year, my life has changed quite a bit. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me the last few months, couldn’t be happier to make my debut and my family have loved it as well so it has been very exciting.
“A lot of my success this year has been through red-ball cricket so when I got my initial call up for the home series I was a bit surprised but at the end of the day it is cricket. I’m very happy to be here in the white-ball squads.
“I was pretty nervous on Sunday, but it is a good group of lads and they made it easy for me. Once you step on the pitch, the big crowd was very loud, I was bowling on autopilot a little, and I was very happy. I’m usually quite a quiet celebrator but I couldn’t help it with my first wicket.
“We seemed fairly confident of a win, it seemed pretty comfortable but sometimes someone has a day out - that was some knock and you have to applaud him for it.
“It is my first time properly being away and I’m enjoying the experience, I like to think I’ve got a decent chance of getting some red ball stuff hopefully, if I don’t get it now, there are plenty of opportunities.”
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There are 17 ODIs till the next World Cup but some of those clash with the IPL so for some players that will come down for 12, or less. Enough time? We shall see…
Nasser and Mark Wood are in the Sky studio in their autumnal quarter zips. “If you look at conditions in Pakistan they are very different to home series,” says Wood, “when people are in and out it is hard to get that consistency.”
“Adil Rashid would be very useful in the middle overs and at the end, he would probably have got through Haris Rauf last week,” says Nasser. “They obviously think these are one spinner pitches. I think the main issue is the allrounder, they have a spin bowling allrounder in Will Jacks, but not a seam bowling allrounder in these conditions. There is no pace – no Archer, no Wood – and Sam Curran is being smashed about – in those middle over they’re not getting wickets.”
Sri Lanka win the toss and will bowl first
Kusal Mendis calls correctly. “We hope to play a genuine match and will play 100 per cent to prepare for the final.” No changes for Sri Lanka.
Harry Brook in shades, “We hope to adapt to conditions as quickly as we can, we’ve had a lot of learnings, hoping to finish on a high.” Sonny Baker comes in for Jamie Overton, who has a quad strain.
Preamble
Good morning! The rubber is dead, but plenty of things to chew over here in Lahore. They’re about to toss the coin, so let’s whizz to the middle….
