Ben Duckett fired the highest score of his ODI career to help England end a disappointing tri-series campaign with a 55-run victory over Sri Lanka in Lahore.
England’s hopes of reaching Saturday’s final in Pakistan were already over after three consecutive group stage defeats, but Harry Brook’s side successfully defended a commanding target of 387 and claimed a consolation win.
Duckett fired 167 from just 132 deliveries and put on big partnerships with Tom Banton (74) and Brook (44), as England scored 386-5 after losing the toss and batting first.
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Take a look at the best bits from Ben Duckett’s impressive 167 haul against Sri Lanka during the ODI tri-series
Pavan Rathnayake led the reply with 118 from 77 deliveries and Kusal Mendis (89) also impressed, with Sri Lanka threatening to pull of another famous chase – like they managed against England last week – when they passed 300 with five wickets still in hand.
Liam Dawson (4-49) made the Rathnayake breakthrough and Sonny Baker (2-75) also took key wickets, while Henry Crocombe, Joe Root and Sam Curran claimed one each, as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 331 after 45.1 overs.
How England ended ODI tri-series with victory
England almost made a nightmare start when Banton edged Asitha Fernando’s opening ball of the innings just short of slip, although quickly pushed forward to post 62-0 from the powerplay.
Duckett made a 46-ball half-century and Banton reached his from 49 balls – a fifth in seven innings, with the pair’s 163-run stand ended when Banton chopped an inside edge off Dasun Shanaka (1-49) onto his own stumps.
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Sri Lanka finally found their breakthrough when Tom Banton was dismissed, following a brilliant innings
England surpassing the 429 they posted against Sri Lanka last week looked a possibility when they accelerated after the second drinks break, with Brook (44) adding a 107 partnership with Duckett before being caught and bowled attempting to scoop Asitha (2-63).
Duckett’s brilliant innings – including 24 fours – ended when he picked out Asitha at short leg as he attempted to scoop a Malinga full toss, with England electing to push Joe Root down the order to focus on power hitting over the closing overs.
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Following his marvellous innings against Sri Lanka, Mark Wood and Nasser Hussain heaped praise on England’s Ben Duckett
Will Jacks (30 off 21) was bowled by Asitha and Jordan Cox thrashed 43 off 27 balls, before being caught off Dilshan Madushanka’s final ball of the innings, while Sam Curran finished unbeaten on 21 off 12 deliveries as England set another commanding target.
Baker – replacing Jamie Overton in England’s only change – dropped Avishka on five when attempt a tough diving catch off Atkinson, although made a breakthrough in the following over when he bowled Kamindu Mendis (four).
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Sonny Baker went from zero to hero as ,moments after he fumbled a catch, he redeemed himself by securing England’s first wicket
Avishka (48) was caught on the boundary off Dawson to end an 84-run stand with Kusal, who recovered from his bat snapping early in his innings to fire 13 boundaries – including five sixes – to leave Sri Lanka on target at the halfway stage of their chase.
Kusal was left furious at himself after seeing his 71-ball innings ended by Root (1-35), with a faint touch on a sweep caught behind by Cox, before a successful review saw Dawson trap Shanaka lbw for four and swing momentum temporarily move back England’s way.
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Kusal Mendis was left fuming after being caught by Jordan Cox after a faint edge
Baker removed Janith Liyanage (27 off 17) after his quickfire stand with Rathnayake, who brought up his century – a second in as many matches against England – off 70 balls and lifted Sri Lanka past 300 with Sahan Arachchige.
Crocombe saw Arachchige (30) caught by Brook in the deep and Wellalage (one) was run out in calamitous fashion, where he sacrificed himself at the striker’s end to avoid Rathnayake being dismissed.
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Take a look at Sri Lanka’s massive batting mix-up against England, where Wellalage was run out
Rathnayake top-edged Dawson to short fine leg to all-but end Sri Lanka hopes, with Asitha (one) and Malinga (one) then out cheaply, as England took the last three wickets in six deliveries to complete their win with 29 balls to spare.
More to follow…
ODI tri-series results and schedule
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What’s next for England?
England will play a 50-over warm-up game against Western Australia XI on November 7, played at the WACA ground in Perth, before a three-match ODI series and five-match T20 series against Australia.
The ODI series starts in Perth on November 13 before further fixtures in Adelaide (November 15) and Hobart (November 18), before the T20 action gets under way at the MCG in Melbourne on November 21.
Watch Pakistan face Sri Lanka in the ODI tri-series final live on Saturday from 7.30am on Sky Sports Cricket (8am first ball). Get the latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract.