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Sri Lanka Outspin England to Win First ODI in Colombo
Sri Lanka claimed a 19-run victory over England in the opening One-Day International at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Batting first, the hosts posted a competitive 271 for six from their 50 overs, anchored by an impressive knock from Kusal Mendis. The top-order batter played with composure and control, finishing on 93 while guiding Sri Lanka through the middle overs. Contributions from the lower order helped push the total to a challenging score, despite Adil Rashid returning figures of 3 for 44.
England’s chase began with promise as Ben Duckett and Joe Root steadied the innings. Duckett struck a fluent 62, while Root added a well-paced 61, keeping the visitors in contention. However, the slow nature of the pitch increasingly favoured Sri Lanka’s spinners, who tightened the screws as the innings progressed.
Once Duckett and Root fell attempting aggressive sweep shots, England’s momentum stalled. The visitors suffered a dramatic collapse, losing eight wickets for just 84 runs. The pressure told, with batters struggling to rotate strike and misjudging the turn and bounce.
Late hitting from Jamie Overton briefly raised hopes, leaving England needing 20 runs from the final over. However, his dismissal ended the resistance, and England were bowled out for 252 with four balls remaining.
The defeat continues England’s struggles in overseas one-day cricket, marking their 11th consecutive ODI loss away from home. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will take confidence from a disciplined bowling display as they look to build on their series advantage.
