Buttler’s injury turns the chase on its head
Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs at Headingley on Thursday, leveling the three-match ODI series at 1-1 after a chase that swung entirely on one moment. Jos Buttler was closing in on the win, having brought up his 46th ODI half-century off just 36 balls, when a hamstring injury forced him to retire hurt with England on 254-4 in the 38th over.
He limped back out in the 48th over to try to finish the job but added only two more runs before Kamindu Mendis caught him at the start of the 50th. Will Jacks reached fifty before falling, and Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton all went cheaply as Sri Lanka’s death bowling shut the door. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue needed 19 off the final over and managed three.
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Kusal Mendis delivers a captain’s innings
England’s chase of 322 had looked well within range. Ben Duckett made 67 and Tom Banton 73 in a stand that produced England’s highest-ever ODI powerplay total against Sri Lanka, 82 without loss after 10 overs. Dunith Wellalage broke the partnership and finished with 3-49, the spell that opened the door for Sri Lanka’s bowlers to close it out late.
Sri Lanka’s total rested on captain Kusal Mendis, who made 121 off 82 balls, his seventh ODI century, built with 12 fours and three sixes. He survived a missed chance on 17 when Atkinson dropped him, and a successful review kept him at the crease again after he was given out caught behind. Kamindu Mendis added 54 in an opening stand that took Sri Lanka past 100 by the 20th over, and Pavan Rathnayake’s 47 down the order pushed the total to 321-5.
The series moves to The Oval
“I’m so happy winning and getting the hundred,” Kusal Mendis said afterward. “We started really well and the middle order batted really well. Wellalage bowled really well, the whole team, after the powerplay.” England captain Harry Brook called it “an outstanding game” despite the result, adding: “We’ve got a great opportunity now to try and win this series.”
The decider goes ahead on Sunday, September 27 at The Kia Oval, with the extent of Buttler’s hamstring injury still to be confirmed before England name their squad.
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