The third ODI match between England and Sri Lanka was a game full of big records. England played very well and scored a huge total of 357 for 3. This score of 357 runs is England’s highest total against Sri Lanka in men’s ODIs ever.Before this match, their best score against Sri Lanka was 333 for 9. That old record happened a long time ago in a 60-over game at Taunton during the 1983 World Cup.
This match was also special because it was the first time England scored more than 300 runs while playing in Sri Lanka.Usually, it is hard for England to score so many runs on Sri Lankan grounds. But in this England vs Sri Lanka match,the batters were in great form. They hit the ball to all parts of the ground. This big score helped England win the series 2-1. This win stopped a very long winning streak for Sri Lanka at home.
Sri Lanka’s Long Winning Streak Ends
Before this series against England, the Sri Lanka team was very strong at home. They had played 12 bilateral ODI series in a row without losing a single one. For a long time, no team could come to Sri Lanka and beat them in a series. The last time Sri Lanka lost a home series was against India way back in 2021.
This streak of 12 series without defeat was amazing. In the history of men’s ODIs, only two teams have had longer unbeaten streaks at home. South Africa went 17 series without losing between 2002 and 2009. India went 13 series without losing between 1988 and 2000. So, Sri Lanka was very close to some big records. But England came and played better cricket. By winning this series 2-1, England broke Sri Lanka’s strong run at home.
Harry Brook Plays an Amazing Innings
The biggest star of the match was undoubtedly Harry Brook. He played a fantastic innings and scored 136 runs not out.Harry Brook hit the ball very hard and very clean. His score of 136 not out is now the second highest score for England against Sri Lanka in men’s ODIs. The only player who has scored more is Jason Roy. Jason Roy scored 162 runs at The Oval in 2016. But Harry Brook is now second on this list.
Also, Harry Brook made another record. His 136 is the highest score for England in Sri Lanka. Before this, the best score by an English player in Sri Lanka was 119. Marcus Trescothick scored 119 against Zimbabwe in 2002. Moeen Ali also scored 119 against Sri Lanka in 2014. Harry Brook went past both of them. He is now the top run-scorer for England in a single innings on Sri Lankan soil.
Harry Brook’s Record-Breaking Century Speed
Harry Brook did not just score big; he scored fast. He needed only 57 balls to complete his hundred. This 57-ball century is the second fastest in a men’s ODI in Sri Lanka. The fastest one was by Shahid Afridi. Shahid Afridi scored a century in 53 balls against Bangladesh in Dambulla during the 2010 Asia Cup. Harry Brook was just 4 balls slower than Afridi.
However, for England, this was the fastest ever against Sri Lanka. Before this, the fastest century for England against Sri Lanka was by Jos Buttler. Jos Buttler scored a ton in 61 balls at Lord’s in 2014. Harry Brook beat that record by 4 balls. This shows how aggressive Harry Brook was during the match.
He hit a lot of big shots. In total, Harry Brook hit 9 sixes during his unbeaten 136. This is the most sixes hit by any batter in a men’s ODI in Sri Lanka. No one has ever hit more sixes in one innings in that country. This proves how powerful Harry Brook is.
A Huge Partnership with Joe Root
Harry Brook did not do it alone. He had great help from Joe Root. Together, they built a massive partnership. They added 191 runs for the fourth wicket. This 191-run stand is unbeaten. It is the highest partnership for England in Asiafor any wicket in men’s ODIs. England has played many games in Asia, but they have never had a partnership this big before.
This partnership of 191 runs is also the second highest for England against Sri Lanka in men’s ODIs. Joe Root played a solid game while Harry Brook attacked from the other end. They worked very well together. This partnership took the game away from Sri Lanka.
England’s Spin Bowling Strategy
Another interesting thing about this series was how England used their bowlers. Usually, England relies on fast bowlers.But in Sri Lanka, the pitches help spin bowlers. So, England changed their plan. In the past, England had bowled 30 or more overs of spin in a men’s ODI only once. That was way back in 1985 against Pakistan in Sharjah, where they bowled 36 overs of spin.
But in this series against Sri Lanka, England used spin a lot. In the second ODI, they bowled 40.3 overs of spin. In the third ODI, they bowled 37 overs of spin. They also bowled 33 overs of spin in the first match. So, they broke their old record three times in one series. They exceeded the old mark twice in Colombo in the space of just three days. This shows that England adapted very well to the conditions in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s Strong Start with the Bat
Even though Sri Lanka lost the match, they started very well with the bat. They had to chase a big score, so they attacked early. In the first ten overs, Sri Lanka scored 104 for 3. This score of 104 is their second highest total in the first ten overs in men’s ODIs since 2002. They really tried hard to keep up with the run rate. Their highest score in the first ten overs is 133 for 0. That also happened against England at Leeds in 2006. So, Sri Lanka showed they can hit hard at the start of the innings.
A High-Scoring Match
The match saw a lot of runs from both sides. England scored 357 and Sri Lanka also scored many runs in reply. In total,both teams scored 661 runs on Tuesday. This aggregate of 661 runs is the second highest in a men’s ODI in Sri Lanka.The highest aggregate is 720 runs. That happened in a match between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Pallekele in 2024.
Summary of Records Broken
This match between England and Sri Lanka will be remembered for the records. Let’s look at the main ones again:
- England’s highest total against Sri Lanka: 357 for 3.
- First time England scored 300+ in Sri Lanka.
- End of Sri Lanka’s 12-series unbeaten home streak.
- Harry Brook’s score: 136 not out (highest for England in Sri Lanka).
- Harry Brook’s late hitting: 98 runs in the last 8 overs.
- Harry Brook’s speed: 57-ball century (fastest for England vs Sri Lanka).
- Most sixes in an innings in Sri Lanka: 9 sixes by Harry Brook.
- Highest England partnership in Asia: 191* by Brook and Root.
- Most spin bowled by England: Over 30 overs in three consecutive games.
Harry Brook was the main man. His hitting was unbelievable. Coming in the 32nd over and scoring 136 is very rare.Usually, a batter needs more time. But Harry Brook started hitting from the first ball. He did not waste any time. His partnership with Joe Root was perfect. Root rotated the strike, and Brook hit the boundaries.
For Sri Lanka, losing the series is sad. They were very proud of their home record. Not losing for 12 series is a big achievement. But all streaks must end. England was just too good this time. The 357 runs were too many to chase. Even though Sri Lanka scored 104 in the first ten overs, they could not keep going. The pressure of the big score was too much.
So, England leaves Sri Lanka with a 2-1 series win and many new records. Harry Brook leaves as a hero. He proved he can bat anywhere and score fast. Sri Lanka will now look to start a new winning streak at home. But for now, the record books belong to England and Harry Brook.
The post Harry Brook Century Ends Sri Lanka’s Winning Streak appeared first on Sportzcraazy.
from Cricket News & Updates | Today Cricket Rankings | Latest Match Schedule https://ift.tt/r8yOPHJ
via IFTTT
0 Comments