Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI Highlight was defined by how Joe Root and Harry Brook turned control into domination. Root arrived at 40 for 2 and steadied England with 111 off 108 balls, built on sharp rotation. When Brook entered in the 32nd over, the innings exploded. His 57-ball hundred and unbeaten 136, including nine sixes, powered a 191-run stand that put the match completely out of Sri Lanka’s reach.
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England Got the Flip, Batting Ahead
In a significant move, England opted to bat first for the first time in the series, signaling their determination. During the initial two ODIs, they had bowled first and responded to various conditions. This time, their aim was to take charge. The Premadasa pitch appeared more favorable for batting compared to earlier in the week, and England had confidence in their depth to surpass Sri Lanka’s previous efforts. Although their early momentum was consistent rather than dramatic, England maintained a calm approach, relying on their middle order to construct and complete their innings.
England have won the toss and elected to bat first at the RPICS. It’s all down to this—the series is level at 1-1, and the winner takes it all!#SLvENG #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/JfvhHf31wv
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 27, 2026
Double Century! Lion’s Roar!
Joe Root and Harry Brook built on a solid start to produce an innings that changed the match. Root entered the game with the score at 40 for 2 and skillfully steadied the innings, consistently rotating the strike as he scored 111 runs off 108 deliveries, marking his 20th ODI century. Upon Brook’s arrival in the 32nd over, the game’s pace changed significantly. He raced to a century in just 57 balls, finishing with an impressive 136 not out, including nine sixes. Their partnership of 191 runs for the fourth wicket was England’s highest in Asia, decisively tipping the match in their favor against Sri Lanka.
What a finish to our innings! 🎆
🏴 Joe Root – 111* (108)
🏴 Harry Brook – 136* (66)Sri Lanka require a lofty 358 runs to win. pic.twitter.com/7YlgQZyZ3U
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2026
Sri’s Trouble Now, No Way Back
Pursuing a target of 358 was bound to demand something special. Sri Lanka began well, scoring 104 for 3 within the first ten overs, marking their second-best powerplay score since 2002. However, the flow of their innings was repeatedly disrupted by losing wickets. England’s bowlers managed to take wickets at crucial times, which hindered any chances for a quick scoring burst, causing the required run rate to rise. Although Sri Lanka occasionally appeared close to the target, England’s command during the middle overs meant the chase never gained real momentum.
Sri Lanka eight down!
Wanindu Hasaranga chips straight to Ben Duckett in the covers.
🇱🇰 2️⃣6️⃣4️⃣-8️⃣ pic.twitter.com/ig6YgrZtil
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2026
Congrats On First 100, PAVAN RATHNAYAKE!
Sri Lanka’s shining star was Pavan Rathnayake. Coming in at No. 4, he achieved his first ODI century with a score of 121 from 115 deliveries. He effectively used his foot movement against spin and capitalized on England’s misplaced lengths to hit boundaries. However, he struggled due to the absence of support. As his teammates got out one by one, Rathnayake had to sustain the chase alone, and although he kept striving, the required run rate escalated out of his grasp. While his century marked a significant personal achievement, it was insufficient to make up for the lack of meaningful contributions from others.
TAKE A BOW, PAVAN RATHNAYAKE! 💯🔥
A maiden ODI Century in the heat of a series decider. Absolute class! 🦁🇱🇰#PavanRathnayake #Century #SLvENG #SriLankaCricket pic.twitter.com/sPKGmPNTAf
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) January 27, 2026
Down 1 and Come Back, You got it Mates
The last two matches showcased England’s performance in the series. Following their defeat in the first match, they made swift adjustments. In the second ODI, their batting lineup displayed both patience and strength in the third match, demonstrating their ability to secure victories through various methods. This game marked a successful comeback and granted England their first ODI series win on foreign soil since 2023, ending Sri Lanka’s extended unbeaten streak at home.
A series win to remember ❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/jAmj5C0YMB
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2026
Joe and Harry are Just Amazing
Root and Brook fulfilled different yet harmoniously aligned roles during the match. While Root focused on maintaining control, ensuring that England entered the final ten overs with several wickets remaining, Brook took a more aggressive approach once he established his rhythm. In the last eight overs, Brook was particularly explosive, contributing 98 runs on his own and helping England surpass the 350 mark. After reaching his century, Root recognized the team’s needs and allowed Brook to take the lead. Their combined efforts transformed a decent pitch into an excellent platform for scoring.
POTM 🤝 POTS
ODI batting doesn’t get any better 👏 pic.twitter.com/bljz8b9MLt
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 27, 2026
Better Pitch?
Harry Brook is back: “Working on a few things in the nets and it paid off. Glad me, Rooty and Beth could get us to that total. Awesome effort from everyone. Root is exceptional, to have him in the side helps every day. [Toss?] Not that important, a lot better pitch than we were expecting. Got a good score and managed to defend it. Very happy with how the spinners bowled, they were working in tandem. The batters tried to put the pressure back on in tough conditions. [Pitch] It was a decent wicket! Ended up being better than we thought.”
After the match, Harry Brook acknowledged that conditions were far better than expected. He credited the work done in the nets and praised Root’s influence, noting how important it was to bat deep before attacking. Brook highlighted how England’s spinners later worked in tandem to defend the total, while Root described his role as guiding the younger batters through key phases. Both agreed that adaptability, not the toss alone, made the difference.
Sri Lanka vs England Match Result：Scorecard
| Sri Lanka | England |
| 304 | 353/3(46.4) |
Can Sri Lanka Rise up in Time
Sri Lanka entered the ODI series strongly but faded when it mattered most. Losing a home series for the first time since 2021 will sting, especially after Rathnayake’s breakthrough hundred showed promise. With T20Is next, the challenge will be regrouping quickly and finding consistency across the batting order. England, meanwhile, leave Colombo with momentum, confidence, and proof that their ODI batting still carries serious firepower. Just as we end up our Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI Highlight. Are you ready to take the T20Is next?
