Saturday’s second ODI at R. Premadasa Stadium saw England pull off a 5-wicket win against Sri Lanka, evening the series at 1-1. Joe Root’s 75-run masterclass lit the path to victory, with the finale set for January 27.
Sri Lanka, batting first post-toss, crumbled under pressure. Mishara’s 5 at 16 set a shaky tone. Nissanka (26) and Mendis (26) rebuilt via 42 runs, but wickets tumbled.
De Silva (40, 59b, 4×4) and Asalanka (45) revived hopes with 66 for the fourth wicket to 134. Rathnayake (29) and Wellalage (20) followed, but 219 all out in 49.3 was modest.
England’s attack fired on all cylinders: Overton (2), Rashid (2), Root (2), plus Dawson, Jacks, and Ahmed (1 each). Varied skills choked Sri Lanka.
Chasing, early loss of Ahmed at 20 tested nerves. Duckett (39) and Root’s 68 steadied; Bethell (6) made it 97/3.
The pivotal Root-Brook 81-run stand sealed near-certainty. Root’s fluent 75 (90b, 5×4), Brook’s 42—then Buttler’s 33* (21b, 4×4) in 46.2 overs triumphed.
Sri Lanka’s De Silva, Vandersay (2 each), and Fernando (1) resisted, but England’s batting depth prevailed. Expect fireworks in the decider.