Duckett 167 and Dawson four-for secure England 55-run win over Sri Lanka in Lahore tri-series match
Ben Duckett and Liam Dawson led England to a 55-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tri-series farewell in Lahore on 29 October 2026, the hosts making 386 and then bowling Sri Lanka out as Pavan Rathnayake’s century went unrewarded.
England posted 386 in Lahore, Ben Duckett scoring a career-best 167 while Tom Banton contributed 74 as the pair added 163 for the first wicket from 25 overs; Joe Root was not required during the innings. Duckett’s knock was his third hundred at this ground, reached off 89 balls, and came after a week in which he had also made 105 against Pakistan, following a scratchy 29 in the 430-game. Brook was promoted to No 3 and made 44 before Asitha Fernando dismissed him; Will Jacks, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran also provided support as England reached the highest-ever ODI total at the Gaddafi Stadium.
Sri Lanka began their chase with early promise despite being without the pressure of qualification, Sonny Baker dropping Avishka Fernando at deep fine leg before bowling Kamindu Mendis with a nip-backer. Kusal Mendis’s bat split early while facing Gus Atkinson, and his replacement blade saw him continue before he under-edged on 89 into the gloves of Cox. Sri Lanka were 177 for two after 26 overs, with Dasun Shanaka striking four sixes off Baker and building substantial stands with Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake.
England turned to spin as the match progressed; Brook brought on Joe Root’s off-spin, which contributed to Kusal’s departure, and Liam Dawson trapped Shanaka leg-before after a successful review three overs later. Spin began to tighten from both ends while Janith Liyanage punished Root’s expensive over by thumping over the on-side. Curran’s fuller delivery was punished mid-innings and Will Jacks’s shorter ball allowed Rathnayake to accelerate after a patient start.
With 87 required from the last 10 overs and Rathnayake moving toward his third ODI hundred against England, the match still looked within Sri Lanka’s reach until the late collapse. Liam Dawson returned to claim key wickets at the death, finishing with figures of four for 49, and the final five Sri Lankan wickets fell in the space of three overs. Asitha Fernando finished with two for 63, and Dunith Wellalage was run out with Curran involved in the set-up.
Other late developments included Baker removing Janith Liyanage for 27, and Henry Crocombe, having bowled only two overs earlier, being brought back for the 43rd over when Sahan Arachchige miscued to long-on. Dawson’s final over saw Rathnayake top-edge to fine leg, bringing an end to the chase and allowing England to breathe after a tour that had featured two losses from commanding positions. England’s total and the bowling display produced a consolation victory in what the match report characterised as a 700-plus game.
Sri Lanka had already secured a place in Saturday’s final against Pakistan, so this result served as a dead-rubber consolation for England while Sri Lanka prepare to face Pakistan in the tri-series final.
