Archive · 25 Sep 2026
Kusal Mendis century takes Sri Lanka’s ODI series to decider
Sri Lanka played England in the second match of a three-game cricket series.
Sri Lanka batted first and scored 321 runs.
Captain Kusal Mendis made 121 runs, helping his team set a challenging target.
England started well because Tom Banton and Ben Duckett made 143 runs together.
Sri Lankan bowler Dunith Wellalage then took three important wickets.
Jos Buttler scored 69 for England but hurt his hamstring while batting.
He returned to the field but was dismissed soon afterward.
England ended on 305 runs, 16 short of Sri Lanka’s total.
The teams are now tied, and the winner will be decided at The Oval on Sunday.
Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs at Headingley to level the three-match ODI series 1-1.
Captain Kusal Mendis scored 121 as Sri Lanka posted 321-6 after winning the toss.
Tom Banton and Ben Duckett shared a 143-run opening partnership for England.
Dunith Wellalage took 3-49, dismissing Duckett, Banton and Harry Brook.
Jos Buttler scored 69 before and after a hamstring injury as England finished on 305-9; the decider is Sunday at The Oval.
- Who
- Sri Lanka and England, with key contributions from Kusal Mendis, Dunith Wellalage and Jos Buttler.
- What
- Sri Lanka defeated England by 16 runs in the second ODI, leveling the three-match series 1-1.
- When
- Thursday; the series decider is scheduled for Sunday.
- Where
- Headingley in Leeds; the decider will be played at The Oval in London.
- Why
- Sri Lanka defended 321-6 after Wellalage’s three wickets disrupted England’s chase, while Buttler’s hamstring injury also affected the pursuit.
Sri Lanka’s winning performance
England’s unsuccessful chase
Batting platform
Sri Lanka’s winning performance
Kusal Mendis scored 121 and shared a 137-run second-wicket partnership with Kamindu Mendis, helping Sri Lanka reach 321-6.
England’s unsuccessful chase
Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put England in a strong position with a 143-run opening partnership.
Turning point
Sri Lanka’s winning performance
Dunith Wellalage removed Duckett, Banton and Harry Brook in consecutive overs, helping Sri Lanka regain control.
England’s unsuccessful chase
England needed 63 runs from the final 10 overs and had Buttler batting strongly, but his hamstring injury and later dismissal weakened the chase.
- Result
- Sri Lanka won by 16 runs.
- Series score
- The three-match ODI series is level at 1-1.
- Sri Lanka score
- 321-6.
- England score
- 305-9.
- Top scorer
- Kusal Mendis scored 121, including 14 fours and three sixes.
- Key bowler
- Dunith Wellalage took 3-49 in 10 overs.
- Buttler’s score
- Jos Buttler made 69 off 49 balls despite a left-hamstring injury.
