England’s lengthy – and at occasions tough – summer season ended on a excessive as a maiden worldwide century for Tom Banton arrange a crushing 223-run win over Sri Lanka.
There have been runs too for Jordan Cox, who hit a glowing 76 off 52 balls as Jos Buttler’s harm alternative, plus a contender for the ball of the season from Sonny Baker, who discovered Pathum Nissanka’s exterior edge within the second over of the chase with an unplayable supply that swung and took off as if from a trampoline.
Above all, England have been capable of breathe extra freely after blowing their run-chase at Headingley on Thursday, a meltdown which raised the chance that the white-ball progress made below Harry Brook may be undermined on the final.
As a substitute, Brook – who contributed a usually effervescent 77 – might have fun a 3rd successive ODI collection win, England’s first such sequence since 2023, when their opponents included Bangladesh and Eire. Since changing Buttler as captain final yr, he has presided over 33 white-ball victories and solely 11 defeats, with England’s T20 type particularly sizzling.
However the subsequent World Cup, beginning in southern Africa in simply over a yr’s time, is a 50-over affair, and Brook should be quietly thrilled not solely that the discuss is as soon as extra concerning the precise cricket moderately than off-field misadventure, however that choices are beginning to emerge after some fallow years for the one-day staff.
Banton is chief amongst them, having taken his likelihood to face in for the injured Jacob Bethell with aplomb. After making 73 three days earlier, he appeared in no temper to overlook out on three figures, utilizing his top and energy to launch 5 sixes in a blistering 105-ball 126 that may guarantee Bethell’s return is not any gimme.
Tom Banton hit a collection of very good boundaries in his innings of 126 as England posted 355-7
Banton was capable of have fun his first century in model as he helped England to a collection win
His first six, an uppercut off Dilshan Madushanka, confirmed off his hand-eye coordination. Later, he pulled Madushanka for six extra, then deposited his subsequent ball over long-off with beautiful timing.
‘To recover from the road is a sense I can’t clarify,’ stated Banton. ‘There are occasions once you’re sat there in your room questioning if that likelihood with England will ever come once more. It’s been an incredible day.’
All of the whereas, Brook was shifting by the gears after a sticky begin towards the left-arm spin of Dunith Wellalage. After labouring to 10 off 24 balls, together with a foul drop at huge slip by Nissanka on seven, he smashed 67 off his subsequent 42, earlier than slapping seamer Asitha Fernando to mid-off.
It meant Brook completed the worldwide summer season with 10 scores of not less than 50 from 23 innings, however just one century. And but his cross-format common is 50, and his strike-rate 114 – outstanding when you think about 11 of these innings have been in Assessments. Ominously for opponents, it feels as if there may be room for enchancment.
The icing on England’s cake was supplied by Cox. As Bethell’s stand-in at No 3 within the Check aspect, he took three half-centuries off Pakistan. Right here, he made gentle of Buttler’s absence as 104 got here from the final 10 overs. Till now, Cox’s ODI profession had consisted of three underwhelming appearances within the Caribbean in late 2024. He had not made a one-day fifty of any form. On this proof, he seems to be exhausting to disregard.
‘I believed that was close to good,’ stated Brook. ‘Everybody chipped in superbly. We’re constructing in the direction of a squad the place, if somebody does go down, another person can are available and carry out. Coxy was distinctive, and I used to be actually pleased with the best way Bants performed.’
It was a much less fruitful day for 2 extra skilled gamers. Ben Duckett was bowled for a duck by a magnificence from Madushanka, whereas Joe Root made simply 18 earlier than he fell lbw to Janith Liyanage. Of his 13 dismissals within the three worldwide codecs this season, 9 have been leg-before.
Harry Brook capped off an eventful cricketing summer season on a excessive with a 2-1 collection victory
For less than the second time in his profession, he has gone by a house summer season with no hundred for both England or Yorkshire. Because the solely different occasion got here in 2020, when Covid restricted him to 11 knocks for England and none in any respect for his county, 2026 may be very a lot the outlier.
Sri Lanka had by no means knocked off greater than 322, so a goal of 357 appeared past them even earlier than the irrepressible Baker undid Nissanka and celebrated his first ODI wicket with a attribute leap and punch of the air.
Gus Atkinson bounced out each Mendises – Kamindu and Kushal – and Jofra Archer’s direct hit did for Pavan Rathnayake. Cox had dislodged the bails along with his gloves earlier than the ball arrived, however the truth that Archer’s deadeye throw uprooted the stump meant Cox’s blunder went unpunished.
The remainder was a procession, with Liam Dawson – most well-liked to Rehan Ahmed – hoovering up three wickets, and Sri Lanka have been all out for 132 with greater than 20 overs of their innings unused. An anti-climax, maybe, however England weren’t complaining.
