Lahore:England emerged victorious against Sri Lanka, winning by 55 runs in their recent One Day International match, despite a valiant century from Sri Lankan batsman Pavan Rathnayake. The match, held in Lahore, saw England set a formidable target of 387, which proved insurmountable for Sri Lanka.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Pavan Rathnayake's impressive innings of 118 runs off 77 balls was not enough to secure a win for Sri Lanka, as they were bowled out for 331 in 45.1 overs. Rathnayake's efforts followed a notable century he achieved last week during a 430-run chase in Rawalpindi.
England's innings was bolstered by opener Ben Duckett, who scored his highest ODI total of 167 runs, helping his team reach 386-5. Sri Lanka's pursuit seemed promising until Liam Dawson's crucial dismissal of Rathnayake in the 45th over, with Dawson finishing with his best bowling figures of 4-49.
Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis contributed significantly with an 89-run score, supported by Avishka Fernando's 48 runs. Despite Rathnayake's partnerships with Mendis and Janith Liyanage, the efforts were insufficient to surpass England's total.
The match highlighted Duckett's partnership with Tom Banton, who scored 74, and further contributions from Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, and Sam Curran, which solidified England's innings. Eshan Malinga's bowling yielded Duckett's wicket, but at the cost of 101 runs, showcasing the challenges faced by Sri Lanka's bowlers.
Asitha Fernando's 2-63 provided some respite for Sri Lanka, but England's performance secured them a win, leaving Sri Lanka to prepare for their upcoming final against Pakistan.