Sri Lanka Beat England By 16 Runs To Level ODI Series At Headingley

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs at Headingley on Thursday to level their one-day series at 1-1. Kusal Mendis made 121 from 100 balls. Sri Lanka posted 321 for 6. England, chasing 322, closed on 305 for 9. The series now goes to a decider at The Oval on Sunday.

England were ahead for most of the chase. Ben Duckett and Tom Banton opened with 143. Jos Buttler and Will Jacks kept the chase moving after that. England needed 68 from 75 balls with six wickets standing. They did not get there.

Kusal Mendis sets up 321

Mendis batted through the middle overs and struck 121 from 100 deliveries. Kamindu Mendis made 54 at the top. Pavan Rathnayake added 48 from 39 balls late on. Sri Lanka finished on 321 for 6 from their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka lost the preceding T20 series 3-0. They then lost the first ODI at Chester-le-Street by 89 runs. Eshan Malinga came in for Dushmantha Chameera at Headingley. England named an unchanged side.

Duckett and Banton put England ahead

The reply began quickly. Duckett made 67 and Banton 73, and their stand of 143 left England comfortably ahead of the required rate. Dunith Wellalage broke it. The left-arm spinner removed Duckett, Banton and Harry Brook in consecutive overs to leave England 157 for 3, and finished with 3 for 49.

Jacks made 52. Brook fell for 1. The chase held together through the thirties because Buttler was still at the crease.

Wellalage's three wickets came inside three overs. England went from 143 without loss to 157 for 3. That burst is what separated the sides at the finish.

• First ODI, Chester-le-Street: England won by 89 runs
• Second ODI, Headingley: Sri Lanka won by 16 runs
• Third ODI, The Oval, Sunday: 10.30am BST start

The Buttler injury at 254 for 4

Buttler retired hurt on 67 with a hamstring problem, with England 254 for 4 and 68 needed from 75 balls. He came back when 27 were wanted from 14. By then he could barely run, and he holed out at deep midwicket for 69. England managed 16 fewer than they needed.

The Associated Press reported England needing 63 from the final 10 overs at one stage. They managed 47. Sri Lanka gave away almost nothing at the death.

Brook on the Oval decider

"It is always disappointing when you lose. Sri Lanka played exceptionally well there, especially the last 10-15 overs," England captain Harry Brook said, as quoted by the Press Association. He added: "Tight games are always good games to watch and good games to be a part of. Having the opportunity to play in a decider will only benefit us."

Sunday at The Oval decides the series. Play starts at 10.30am BST. Sri Lanka arrived in England without a win on tour and now have one, and their captain has scored the runs to prove the point.

Buttler's fitness is the immediate question for England. A hamstring that could not complete a single on Thursday evening leaves little margin before a Sunday start. Wellalage, meanwhile, has given Sri Lanka a middle-overs plan that worked at Headingley.