Ben Duckett hits 167 as England beats Sri Lanka in tri series finale

Ben Duckett struck 167 runs and Liam Dawson claimed four wickets as England defeated Sri Lanka by 55 runs in their final tri-series match in Lahore. The victory provided a strong consolation finish for Harry Brook's side after earlier group stage defeats knocked them out of contention for the final.

Batting first on a favorable surface at the Gaddafi Stadium, England put up a commanding total of 386-5 in their 50 overs, Sky Sports reported. Ben Duckett led the charge with a magnificent 167 from 132 deliveries, featuring 24 fours. He shared a crucial 163-run opening partnership with Tom Banton, who contributed 74 runs before dragging a delivery from Dasun Shanaka onto his own stumps. Captain Harry Brook promoted himself to number three and added 44 runs, while Jordan Cox chipped in with a quickfire 43 off 27 balls and Will Jacks made 30 runs, allowing England to set a massive target despite Joe Root not needing to bat.

Sri Lanka mounted a spirited chase reminiscent of their previous encounter, reaching 331 before being bowled out in 45.1 overs, according to the BBC. Pavan Rathnayake proved to be a major threat once again, scoring 118 off 77 balls alongside Kusal Mendis, who added 89 runs. At one stage, Sri Lanka looked well-placed to threaten the target as they needed 87 runs from the final 10 overs with five wickets in hand. However, the batting lineup collapsed dramatically towards the end, losing their last five wickets for just 16 runs as the pressure mounted in the closing stages.

Bowling Brilliance and Selection Dilemmas

Liam Dawson played the decisive role with the ball for England, finishing with impressive figures of 4-49. Dawson removed key batters including Avishka Fernando and trapped Dasun Shanaka lbw before returning late in the innings to dismiss Rathnayake. Sonny Baker also chipped in with two wickets, while Henry Crocombe, Joe Root, and Sam Curran picked up a wicket each to help close out the match.

The successful partnership between Duckett and Banton has created an intriguing selection dilemma for England's coaching staff. With Jacob Bethell set to return from injury ahead of the upcoming tour of Australia, coach Brendon McCullum acknowledged that having players push for their places represents a positive problem for the squad. Banton's consistent form at the top of the order leaves selectors with tough choices regarding the batting order and keeping duties for future matches.

Background

England entered the final match of the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan already eliminated from contention for the trophy after suffering three consecutive group stage defeats. Their previous encounters in the tournament highlighted both the immense power of their batting lineup and vulnerabilities in their bowling attack, notably when Sri Lanka successfully chased down a target of 430 earlier in the series. Despite missing out on a spot in the final against Pakistan, the touring squad sought to use the fixture to build confidence and refine tactics ahead of their upcoming series against Australia.

Why It Matters

This high-scoring victory could provide England with valuable momentum and tactical insights as preparations ramp up for major international fixtures and future global tournaments. Solving late-innings bowling challenges and establishing reliable top-order partnerships may shape the team selection strategy for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Illustration: AI-generated image, not a photograph of the event.