Sri Lanka defeated England by 19 runs in the 1st ODI of a three-match series in Colombo on 22 January. Batting first in Colombo on Thursday, the Sri Lanka scored 271/6. Kusal Mendis starred with a 93-run knock that came off 117 balls with 11 fours. In response, the English team was all out for 252 runs in 49.2 overs. Dunith Wellalage was named Player of the Match after scored 25 runs off 12 balls and also took two wickets. Also read: Babar Azam, Rizwan trapped in about ₹100 crore Ponzi scheme: PCB kicks in after several Pakistani cricketers face risk of losing millions Sri Lanka’s scored 271/6 after choosing to bat first Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat in the series opener. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara put together a 50-run opening partnership. Nissanka was out for 21 and Mishara for 27 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva could only score 10 runs. Kusal Mendis then held one end. Captain Charith Asalanka also returned to the pavilion after scoring 17 runs. Janith Liyanage then scored 46 runs to take the team past 200. In the end, Dunith Wellalage hit 3 fours and 1 six to take the team to 271. Mendis remained unbeaten on 93 runs. For England, Adil Rashid took three wickets for 44 runs. Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, and Rehan Ahmed got one wicket each while Jamie Overton and Jacob Bethell returned wicketless. Also read: WATCH-Shamar Springer becomes third WI bowler to take T20I hat-trick: West Indies defeat Afghanistan for consolation win in 1-2 series loss Ben Duckett, Joe Root’s fifties in vain Chasing 272 to win, England lost Zak Crawley (6) in the third over. Ben Duckett then stitched a 117-run partnership with Joe Root. But England witnessed a slide of sorts after Duckett was out for 62 and Root was dismissed for 61 runs. Jacob Bethell (15), captain Harry Brook (6), wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (19), and Sam Curran (5) were dismissed cheaply. Rehan Ahmed and Jamie Overton tried to bring the team closer to victory with a 39-run partnership in the end. But Rehan was dismissed for scoring 27, and Liam Dawson followed him to the pavilion after scoring just two. Overton was dismissed in the last over after scoring 34 runs, and England were bowled out for 252 runs with four deliveries remaining. Pramod Madushan took 3 wickets For Sri Lanka, fast bowler Pramod Madushan took three wickets for 39 runs. Left-arm spinner Wellalage took two wickets for 41 runs in 10 overs. Jeffrey Vandersay also got two wickets after conceding 39 runs. Asitha Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, and captain Charith Asalanka got one wicket each. Kamil Mishara could not take any wickets. Second ODI on January 24 The England team has come to Sri Lanka to play a series of three ODIs and three T20s before the T20 World Cup 2026. The second match will be played on 24 January and the third on 27 January. Both matches will be held in Colombo. All three T20Is will be played in Pallekele between 30 January 30 and 3 February. Post navigation WATCH-Shamar Springer becomes third WI bowler to take T20I hat-trick:West Indies defeat Afghanistan for consolation win in 1-2 series loss ICC to replace Bangladesh with Scotland for T20 World Cup:How the Scottish team earned their place despite being ranked 14th?
