Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs in the second one-day international at Headingley on Thursday, levelling the three-match series 1-1 and forcing a decider at The Oval on Sunday.
Captain Kusal Mendis won the toss, elected to bat and then made 121 from 100 balls with 14 fours and three sixes, an innings that earned him the player-of-the-match award. Sri Lanka posted 321 for 6.
Kamindu Mendis contributed 54 and Pavan Rathnayake struck 48 from 39 balls before being run out. Janith Liyanage added a brisk 32.
England’s reply began emphatically. Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put on 143 for the first wicket, Duckett making 67 and Banton 73.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage then broke the match open. He bowled Duckett, had Banton stumped by Kusal Mendis — who was keeping wicket as well as captaining — and trapped England captain Harry Brook lbw for 1. Wellalage finished with 3 for 49 from his 10 overs, having taken all three wickets in a spell that reduced England from 143 without loss to 157 for 3.
Jos Buttler counter-attacked with 69 from 49 balls, including five sixes, but retired hurt with a hamstring problem. He later returned to the crease and was caught off Dilshan Madushanka.
Will Jacks made 52, but England finished on 305 for 9. Madushanka and Eshan Malinga took two wickets each.
What it means
Sri Lanka lost the series opener at Chester-le-Street, so the win squares the contest at 1-1. The third and deciding ODI is at The Oval in London on Sunday, 27 September.
