England secured their first away ODI series win in nearly three years after a comprehensive performance in the series decider against Sri Lanka today, Tuesday, January 27, 2026. At the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the visitors put on a clinical display of power-hitting and disciplined bowling to defeat the hosts and claim the series 2-1.
1. The Brook-Root Masterclass
After winning the toss and electing to bat, England posted a monumental 357/3 in their 50 overs—their highest-ever ODI total on Sri Lankan soil.
- Harry Brook’s Brutal 136: The England captain led from the front with a career-best, unbeaten 136 off just 66 balls. His innings was an exhibition of clean hitting, featuring 11 boundaries and 9 towering sixes. Brook reached his century in just 57 balls, the seventh-fastest for England in ODIs.
- Joe Root’s 20th Ton: Complementing Brook’s aggression was the seasoned Joe Root, who anchored the innings with a composed 111 off 108 balls*.
- Record Partnership: The Yorkshire pair shared an unbeaten 191-run stand for the fourth wicket, punishing a Sri Lankan attack that struggled to find answers on a surface Brook had previously described as “the worst pitch” he’d played on.
- The Foundation: Earlier, Jacob Bethell contributed a solid 65, providing the necessary platform for the late-innings carnage where England plundered 130 runs in the final 10 overs.
2. Sri Lanka’s Response: Early Spark, Rapid Collapse
Chasing a daunting 358, Sri Lanka began with intent but quickly folded under the pressure of the scoreboard.
- Nissanka’s Blitz: Pathum Nissanka gave the home fans hope with a rapid 50, but his dismissal by Jamie Overton triggered a collapse.
- Overton’s Double Strike: Jamie Overton proved to be the game-changer with the ball, removing both Nissanka and Kusal Mendis in quick succession to leave the Sri Lankan top order in tatters.
- Spin Dominance: Once the pacers made the early breakthroughs, England’s spinners—Will Jacks and Adil Rashid—strangled the run flow. Sri Lanka struggled to build any significant partnerships in the middle overs as the required run rate climbed out of reach.
3. Match Statistics
| Category | England | Sri Lanka |
| Final Score | 357/3 (50 ov) | Under 200 (All Out) |
| Top Scorer | Harry Brook (136*) | Pathum Nissanka (50) |
| Best Bowler | Jamie Overton | Dhananjaya de Silva (1/45) |
| Result | England won by a massive margin | — |
4. Series Takeaways
This series win marks a significant milestone for Harry Brook’s captaincy, especially as England looks to build momentum ahead of the T20 World Cup starting next month.
- Away Form: This victory snaps an 11-match losing streak in away ODIs for England, providing a much-needed morale boost.
- Spin Strategy: England’s decision to stick with a spin-heavy lineup, even in the pace-friendly early overs, paid off as they successfully exploited the deteriorating Colombo pitch.
What’s Next?
The two teams will now transition to the shortest format for a three-match T20I series, beginning this Friday.
- 1st T20I: January 30, Pallekele
- 2nd T20I: February 1, Pallekele
- 3rd T20I: February 3, Pallekele
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