Sri Lanka secured a remarkable two-wicket victory over England in Rawalpindi on Thursday, successfully chasing down a massive target of 430 to register one of the most significant wins in one-day international history. The result marked only the third time a team has successfully chased down a total exceeding 400 runs in the format, placing the performance alongside the game's most iconic run chases.
The match was defined by an unprecedented display of aggressive batting from both sides, resulting in a total aggregate of 859 runs. This tally stands as the second-highest in the history of ODI cricket, trailing only the 872 runs scored during the famous 2006 encounter between Australia and South Africa in Johannesburg.
A Record-Breaking Display of Boundary Hitting
The contest set new benchmarks for boundary scoring, with the two teams combining for a staggering 93 fours and 30 sixes. This total of 93 fours surpassed the previous record of 87, which had also been set during the 2006 Australia-South Africa match. In total, 552 runs were scored through boundaries alone, eclipsing the previous record of 532 set during a 2019 match between the West Indies and England.
England’s innings was anchored by captain Harry Brook, who became the first English batter to score an ODI double century. Brook reached the milestone in just 114 balls, eventually finishing with 202 off 116 deliveries. Despite his historic performance, which included setting the record for the highest individual score in an ODI defeat, England finished on 429/4. Supporting contributions came from Joe Root with 69, Will Jacks with an unbeaten 66, and Tom Banton with 50. Reflecting on the result, Brook noted that the personal milestone held little value given the final outcome.
Sri Lanka’s Late-Order Heroics
Facing a daunting target, Sri Lanka’s response was spearheaded by Pavan Rathnayake, who struck 130 off 106 balls, and Avishka Fernando, who contributed 97. The pair combined for a vital 166-run partnership for the third wicket to stabilize the innings. Dasun Shanaka maintained the momentum with a blistering 97 off 50 balls, adding 133 runs alongside Rathnayake.
The chase reached a crescendo in the final stages, with Sri Lanka scoring 170 runs in the last 15 overs—the highest total recorded in that phase of an ODI with available ball-by-ball data. Dunith Liyanage played a crucial role, remaining unbeaten on 61 off 27 deliveries. With six runs required from the final two balls, Janith Liyanage sealed the victory by hitting a six off England’s Josh Tongue. This win leaves England with two consecutive defeats in the Pakistan tri-series.
