Sri Lanka Create History Against England! Harry Brook’s Record Double Century Goes in Vain as 430-Run Chase Stuns Rawalpindi Sri Lanka vs England, ODI Tri-Series 2026 | Match Highlights, Top Performers, Turning Points and Final Qualification Race Sri Lanka produced one of the most extraordinary performances in ODI cricket, defeating England by two wickets after successfully chasing a massive target of 430 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on 22 October 2026. England captain Harry Brook delivered a historic batting performance, smashing 202 runs, but Sri Lanka responded with fearless batting, crucial partnerships and a dramatic finish to complete a remarkable victory. England posted 429/4 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka reached 430/8 in 49.5 overs, completing the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, according to match reports. The result has given Sri Lanka a major boost in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series, while England now face increasing pressure to secure a place in the final. Match Scorecard England: 429/4 in 50 overs - Harry Brook: 202 runs off 116 balls - Joe Root: 69 runs off 66 balls - Will Jacks: 66 not out off 30 balls - Dunith Wellalage: 2 wickets for 56 runs Sri Lanka: 430/8 in 49.5 overs - Pavan Rathnayake: 130 runs off 106 balls - Dasun Shanaka: 97 runs off 50 balls - Avishka Fernando: 97 runs - Josh Tongue: 3 wickets for 79 runs Result: Sri Lanka won by two wickets. Player of the Match: Pavan Rathnayake for his outstanding 130-run innings. Harry Brook’s Historic Double Century Harry Brook produced a remarkable innings that will remain a major talking point despite England's defeat. The England captain smashed 202 runs off 116 balls, including 21 fours and 10 sixes. His innings combined controlled stroke play with extraordinary attacking intent. Brook became the first England men's player to score a double century in ODI cricket. His innings also surpassed Ben Stokes' previous England men's ODI individual record of 182. Will Jacks added further momentum with an unbeaten 66 off just 30 deliveries, helping England finish with 429/4. England's total was enormous, but Sri Lanka proved that even a record-breaking batting performance does not guarantee victory when the opposition responds with equal aggression. How Sri Lanka Pulled Off the Incredible Chase Sri Lanka's innings began under pressure after losing two early wickets for just 24 runs. England appeared to have an opportunity to take control, but the game changed dramatically when Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake built a 166-run partnership for the third wicket. Fernando scored 97, narrowly missing a century, while Rathnayake continued to attack and eventually reached 130 off 106 balls. After Fernando's dismissal, Rathnayake maintained Sri Lanka's momentum. His innings provided the foundation for the middle-order assault that followed. Dasun Shanaka then produced a spectacular display of power hitting, scoring 97 off only 50 deliveries, including eight sixes. He brought Sri Lanka within reach of the target before his dismissal left the contest delicately balanced. Janith Liyanage took responsibility in the closing overs, scoring an unbeaten 61 off 26 balls. His boundary-hitting kept Sri Lanka in the contest even as England briefly threatened a late comeback. Sri Lanka eventually needed eight runs from the final over. Josh Tongue dismissed Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga on consecutive deliveries, raising England's hopes. But Liyanage responded with a six off the penultimate ball to seal the victory. Five Major Turning Points 1. England's massive total set an extraordinary challenge Brook's double century and Jacks' explosive finish put England in a commanding batting position. However, the enormous total also meant Sri Lanka had to maintain an aggressive approach rather than settle for a conventional chase. 2. Sri Lanka recovered from 24/2 The early wickets gave England a chance to dominate. Fernando and Rathnayake changed the momentum through a 166-run partnership, preventing England from building sustained pressure. 3. Rathnayake and Shanaka kept the required rate manageable Rathnayake's 130 and Shanaka's 97 ensured Sri Lanka remained within striking distance. Shanaka's six-hitting was particularly important because it prevented the required run rate from becoming an insurmountable problem. 4. England failed to close out the game Despite taking wickets at crucial moments, England could not consistently restrict Sri Lanka's scoring. The bowling attack struggled to defend 429, and Sam Curran conceded 103 runs in nine overs. 5. Liyanage delivered under pressure The final over briefly swung England's way when Tongue took two wickets in succession. Liyanage's decisive six, however, ended the contest and completed Sri Lanka's historic chase. Top Performers of the Match Pavan Rathnayake — Player of the Match His 130 off 106 balls was the defining innings of Sri Lanka's chase. Rathnayake combined patience with timely attacking strokes and provided the platform for the lower middle order to finish the job. Harry Brook — England's batting superstar Brook's 202 off 116 balls was a historic individual achievement. He became the first Englishman to score an ODI double century, but the innings ultimately came in a losing cause. Dasun Shanaka — The power-hitting catalyst Shanaka's 97 off 50 balls transformed the chase into a realistic possibility. His eight sixes applied enormous pressure on England's bowlers. Avishka Fernando — The recovery specialist Fernando's 97 helped Sri Lanka recover from 24/2. His partnership with Rathnayake was crucial to the entire chase. Janith Liyanage — The match finisher Liyanage's unbeaten 61 off 26 balls and winning six under pressure made him one of the most important contributors to Sri Lanka's victory. Josh Tongue — England's leading wicket-taker Tongue took three wickets, including two in consecutive deliveries during the final over. However, his late breakthrough was not enough to prevent defeat. Where England Went Wrong England's batting was exceptional, but their bowling and match management failed to match that standard. First, they could not turn the early breakthroughs into sustained pressure. After reducing Sri Lanka to 24/2, England allowed the opposition to rebuild through a major partnership. Second, England struggled to contain Shanaka's attacking stroke play. His rapid 97 dramatically shifted the balance of the chase. Third, England's bowlers conceded too many runs during the middle and death overs. Sam Curran's 103 runs conceded in nine overs highlighted the difficulty England experienced in controlling the scoring. Finally, England came close to defending the target in the last over but could not finish the job. Two consecutive wickets were not enough because Sri Lanka still had Liyanage at the crease. The key lesson is that even 429 runs can be insufficient if a bowling attack cannot control partnerships and execute its plans under pressure. What This Victory Means for Sri Lanka Sri Lanka have demonstrated that they possess the batting firepower to compete with high-scoring opponents. Recovering from 24/2 and chasing 430 required more than individual brilliance; it demanded partnerships, composure and sustained attacking intent. Rathnayake's century, Shanaka's explosive innings and Liyanage's finishing ability showed that Sri Lanka can find contributions from different positions in the batting order. The challenge now is consistency. Sri Lanka must carry this confidence into their remaining league matches if they want to secure a place in the final. Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026: Updated Points Table The table below reflects the results of the first three matches, including Sri Lanka's victory over England. Position| Team| Played| Won| Lost| Points| Net Run Rate 1| Pakistan| 2| 2| 0| 4| +1.240 2| Sri Lanka| 2| 1| 1| 2| To be confirmed 3| England| 2| 0| 2| 0| To be confirmed Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 37 runs and England by 87 runs in their opening matches. Sri Lanka's victory over England has now put them ahead of England in the standings. Note: The points are based on two points per win. The net run-rate figures for Sri Lanka and England should be checked against the latest official or live tournament table before publication. Who Is the Favourite to Reach the Final? Pakistan are the strongest favourites at this stage. They have won both opening matches and already collected four points, putting them in a strong position to qualify for the final on 31 October in Lahore. Sri Lanka have improved their chances considerably with their win over England. Their batting performance demonstrates that they can compete with both opponents, but they still need more positive results. England face the most pressure after losing their first two matches. They need to win their remaining league fixtures and improve their position in the standings. My Prediction 1. Pakistan — strongest favourite: Two wins from two matches and a positive net run rate give Pakistan the clearest route to the final. 2. Sri Lanka — gaining momentum: This historic chase could be the turning point of their campaign. If they maintain this batting form, they have a strong chance of challenging for the second qualifying place. 3. England — under pressure: England's batting remains dangerous, but consecutive defeats leave them with little room for error. This is a prediction based on the results available after the 22 October match, not a confirmed qualification outcome. The remaining league matches can still change the final standings. Upcoming Matches - 25 October: Pakistan vs England — Lahore - 27 October: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka — Lahore - 29 October: Sri Lanka vs England — Lahore - 31 October: Tri-Series Final — Lahore The top two teams in the standings will qualify for the final. Final Verdict Harry Brook delivered one of the greatest individual ODI innings by an England player, but Sri Lanka produced the more complete team performance when it mattered most. Rathnayake built the foundation, Shanaka attacked relentlessly and Liyanage finished the job with extraordinary composure. England have the batting power to recover, but they must address their bowling weaknesses quickly. Pakistan remain the team to beat, while Sri Lanka have made the race for the second final spot considerably more interesting. What do you think? Can Sri Lanka carry this momentum into the final, or will Pakistan dominate the tri-series? Share your prediction in the comments. Match facts and scorecard figures are based on published match reports and scorecards. Final qualification remains undecided until the league stage is completed.