Leeds, Sep 26:
Kusal Mendis struck a superb century and Dunith Wellalage produced a decisive spell as Sri Lanka defeated England by 16 runs in the second ODI at Headingley on Thursday, levelling the three-match series.
Mendis led from the front with a fluent 121 off 113 balls, hitting 14 fours and three sixes. His seventh ODI century helped Sri Lanka post a formidable 321 for six after winning the toss and opting to bat on a good surface.
Mendis dominated the Sri Lankan innings during a crucial 137-run second-wicket partnership with Kamindu Mendis, who contributed 54. Pavan Rathnayake then provided late acceleration with a brisk 48 off 39 balls, helping Sri Lanka cross the 320-run mark.
England began their chase strongly through openers Ben Duckett and Tom Banton. The pair put on 143 for the opening wicket, with Duckett making 67 and Banton scoring 73. However, Wellalage changed the course of the innings by removing Duckett, Banton and Harry Brook in successive overs, leaving England at 157 for three.
England continued to fight through the middle order and appeared to be in control when they reached 254 for four in the 38th over. However, a major setback came when captain Jos Buttler suffered a left hamstring injury and was forced to leave the field with England still needing 68 runs from 73 deliveries.
Buttler had made 67 at the time and his departure from the field disrupted England’s momentum. He later returned to bat despite the injury, eventually scoring 69 before being dismissed as England’s chase lost steam.
England required 63 runs from the final 10 overs but Sri Lanka’s bowlers maintained their discipline and restricted the hosts to 305 for nine in their allotted 50 overs. Wellalage finished with three wickets for 49 runs and emerged as the key bowler during England’s collapse.
The result gives Sri Lanka a much-needed victory on their white-ball tour of England after a difficult start. England had won the opening ODI in Chester-le-Street by 89 runs on Tuesday, while Sri Lanka had earlier suffered a 3-0 defeat in the T20I series.
The ODI series will now be decided at The Oval on Sunday. England’s preparations have been clouded by uncertainty over Buttler’s fitness, with the England captain’s hamstring injury potentially ruling him out of the series decider.
For Sri Lanka, the victory provides considerable momentum going into the final match, with Mendis’ century and Wellalage’s three-wicket spell forming the foundation of a memorable comeback.