NewKerala.com

Joe Root's All-Round Heroics Lead England to Series-Leveling ODI Win Over Sri Lanka

England defeated Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second ODI in Colombo, leveling the three-match series at 1-1. Joe Root was the standout performer, scoring a match-winning 75 runs and taking two crucial wickets with the ball. Sri Lanka was bowled out for 219 runs, with Charith Asalanka top-scoring with 45. The series decider will be played at the same venue on January 27.

Key Points: Joe Root Stars as England Beat Sri Lanka to Level ODI Series

  • England levels series 1-1
  • Root scores 75 and takes 2 wickets
  • Sri Lanka bowled out for 219
  • Crucial final ODI on Jan 27
2 min read

2nd ODI: Joe Root's all-round performance helps England level three-match ODI series 1-1 against Sri Lanka

Joe Root's 75 runs and 2 wickets help England secure a 5-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, leveling the ODI series 1-1 ahead of the final match.

"Always love coming to Sri Lanka. Nice to get the win on a difficult surface. - Joe Root"

Colombo, January 24

Veteran batter Joe Root's all-round performance has helped England defeat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the second ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

With this win, the Three Lions levelled the three-match ODI series 1-1. The third and final ODI will be played at the very same stadium in Colombo on January 27.

Coming to the match, Sri Lanka were bundled out for just 219 runs in 49.3 overs. Middle-order batter Dhananjaya de Silva scored 40 runs off 59 deliveries, including four boundaries.

Captain Charith Asalanka top-scored with 45 off 64 deliveries, including one four. Pathum Nissanka (26), wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis (26), Pavan Rathnayake (29), and Dunith Wellalage (20) couldn't convert their starts.

For England, speedster Jamie Overton (2/21), spinners Adil Rashid (2/34), and Joe Root (2/13) scalped two wickets apiece. Liam Dawson (1/40), Will Jacks (1/47), and Rehan Ahmed (1/26) were also among the wicket-takers for the visitors.

In response, England chased down the 220-run target in 46.2 overs. Ben Duckett (39), Rehan Ahmed (13), captain Harry Brook (42), and wicketkeeper-batter (33) played crucial knocks.

However, Joe Root was the standout performer in the run-chase, scoring 75 off 90 deliveries, including five fours, that helped England to secure a five-wicket win. For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya de Silva (2/37) and Jeffrey Vandersay (2/45) were among the wicket-takers.

After winning the Player of the Match award, Joe Root said that he tried to play late as much as possible. "Always love coming to Sri Lanka. Nice to get the win on a difficult surface. Tried to play the ball as late as possible. We learned from the first game and crossed the line. I have played a lot of cricket in the subcontinent, tried to work out the delivery from the hand as soon as possible. You've got to be precise with your footwork."

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Shreya B
Good fightback by England. But honestly, Sri Lanka's batting was disappointing. 219 is just not enough on most grounds these days. They need their top order to fire in the final match.
A
Andrew M
Root's bowling figures of 2/13 were crucial! He's such an underrated bowler. Tightened the screws in the middle overs perfectly. All-round performance in the truest sense.
P
Priyanka N
Watching Root bat is a lesson in patience and technique. Our young Indian batters should take note, especially on turning tracks. The decider on the 27th should be a cracker! 🏏
K
Karthik V
Respectful criticism: The article mentions "wicketkeeper-batter (33)" but doesn't name him? Seems like an editing oversight. Otherwise, good summary of the match. England's spinners did the job.
M
Michael C
Great to see a competitive series. Sri Lanka missing a few key players but still putting up a fight. The Premadasa pitch always has something for the bowlers. Looking forward to the finale!

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50