Sri Lanka secured a stunning two-wicket victory over England in the third game of the Pakistan-hosted ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, reaching a 430-run target with just one ball remaining.
The win was anchored by a superb 130 off 106 balls from Pavan Rathnayake, supported by vital knocks from Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage.
Rathnayake struck 15 fours and three sixes, while Fernando and Shanaka fell just short of centuries, scoring 97 each.
Fernando made his runs from 83 deliveries and Shanaka added a rapid 50-ball effort to keep Sri Lanka in contention.
Liyanage finished the chase unbeaten on 61 from 27 balls, hitting seven fours and three sixes.
England had earlier posted 429/4 in their 50 overs, thanks to captain Harry Brook's double century.
Brook smashed 202 off 116 balls, the highest ODI score by an England player, with Joe Root adding 69, Will Jacks 66 and Tom Banton 50.
Sri Lanka's triumph became the second-largest successful run chase in ODI history, after South Africa's 438 against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.
The island side also joined South Africa and India as the only teams to chase more than 400 runs, India having done so last month against West Indies in Guwahati.
Highest Successful Run Chases in ODI History
| Target | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 435 | South Africa | Australia | Johannesburg | 2006 |
| 430 | Sri Lanka | England | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 406 | India | West Indies | Guwahati | 2026 |
| 375 | Netherlands | West Indies | Harare (Super Over win) | 2023 |
| 372 | South Africa | Australia | Durban | 2016 |
The Rawalpindi match also produced the second-highest aggregate in ODI history, with both sides combining for 859 runs.
The all-time record of 872 runs was set during the Australia-South Africa clash in Johannesburg in 2006.
Highest Match Aggregates in ODI History
| Total Runs | Match | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 872 | Australia (434) vs South Africa (438) | Johannesburg | 2006 |
| 859 | England (429) vs Sri Lanka (430) | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 825 | India (414) vs Sri Lanka (411) | Rajkot | 2009 |
| 811 | West Indies (405) vs India (406) | Guwahati | 2026 |
| 808 | England (419) vs West Indies (389) | St. George's | 2019 |
Brook's innings also gave him the record for the highest individual score in a losing cause, 202 runs, surpassing Zimbabwe's Charles Coventry's 194 against Bangladesh in 2009.
Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman sits third with 193 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2021.
Highest Individual Scores in a Losing Cause in ODIs
| Runs | Player | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | Harry Brook (England) | Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 194 | Charles Coventry (Zimbabwe) | Bangladesh | Bulawayo | 2009 |
| 193 | Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2021 |
| 191 | George Munsey (Scotland) | Netherlands | Dundee | 2025 |
| 181 | Matthew Hayden (Australia) | New Zealand | Hamilton | 2007 |
Sri Lanka's batting display ultimately eclipsed Brook's record-breaking double century, delivering a dramatic conclusion to the Rawalpindi ODI contest.
