🔥🏏 Ton-Up Brook, Timeless Root: England Crush Sri Lanka to Seal ODI Series in Colombo
🏟️ England vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI: A Statement Game, Not Just a Series Decider
This was not just another ODI.
This was a message.
A message from England to the cricketing world that their white-ball revolution is alive, ruthless, and evolving.
A reminder that class (Joe Root) and fearless power (Harry Brook) can coexist — and when they do, bowling attacks crumble.
On January 27, 2026, under the lights at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, England delivered a performance that blended old-school control with modern-day violence, overpowering Sri Lanka by 53 runs to clinch the ODI series 2-1.
📊 Match Snapshot: The Numbers That Tell the Story
- Match: 3rd ODI (D/N), Colombo
- Series: England tour of Sri Lanka
- Result: England won by 53 runs
- England: 357/3 (50 overs)
- Sri Lanka: 304 all out (46.4 overs)
- Player of the Match: Harry Brook
- Player of the Series: Joe Root
But statistics alone don’t explain the psychological domination England exerted.
Let’s break it down properly — like cricket deserves.
🧠 England’s Innings (357/3): From Trouble to Terror
⚠️ Early Stumble: Sri Lanka Strike First
England’s innings didn’t start with fireworks.
In fact, it began with uncertainty.
- Ben Duckett gone for 7
- Rehan Ahmed followed for 24
- England 40/2 in 10.3 overs
For a brief moment, Colombo sensed opportunity.
And then… Joe Root happened.
🧱 Root & Bethell: The Forgotten Foundation
Before the carnage, there was craft.
🧠 Joe Root – The Architect
Root didn’t panic.
He never does.
He absorbed pressure, rotated strike, manipulated gaps, and slowly drained Sri Lanka’s confidence.
🧩 Jacob Bethell – The Glue
Bethell’s 65 off 72 balls will not trend on social media — but it was priceless.
Together, they added 126 runs for the third wicket.
This partnership:
- Killed Sri Lanka’s momentum
- Forced defensive fields
- Set the platform for absolute destruction
Make no mistake: no Bethell, no Brook explosion.
🚀 Harry Brook Enters: The Game Breaker Arrives
Score: 166/3 in 31.1 overs
Enter Harry Brook, England captain, tone-setter, executioner.
What followed was not batting — it was controlled demolition.
💥 Brook’s Century: Brutal, Fearless, Unstoppable
- Runs: 136*
- Balls: 66
- Strike Rate: 206.06
- Fours: 11
- Sixes: 9
Brook’s hundred came off 57 balls, and Sri Lanka simply had no answers.
This wasn’t slogging.
This was precision violence.
What Made It Special?
- Clean hitting against spin
- Fearless back-foot play against pace
- Perfect powerplay exploitation
Brook didn’t respect reputations.
He respected only the ball’s trajectory.
🧠 Root’s Century: Class Is Permanent
While Brook burned the house down, Root:
- Held the blueprint
- Chose moments carefully
- Finished unbeaten on 111 off 108
This was Root reminding the world:
👉 You don’t age out of greatness.
🔥 Death Overs Carnage: England’s 130-Run Powerplay
From overs 40–50, England scored:
- 130 runs
- Lost zero wickets
That’s not normal ODI cricket.
That’s elite white-ball domination.
Final score: 357/3
A total that didn’t just challenge Sri Lanka — it crushed belief.
🎯 Sri Lanka’s Bowling: Where It Went Wrong
Let’s be honest and direct.
Sri Lanka’s bowling was:
- Predictable
- Toothless at the death
- Poorly executed
Hasaranga, Vandersay, de Silva — all quality bowlers — but:
- No yorker consistency
- No plan against Brook
- No pressure at the other end
Against teams like England, half-plans get punished brutally.
🏃 Sri Lanka’s Chase (304): Bright Start, Familiar Collapse
Sri Lanka didn’t roll over.
In fact, they came out swinging.
⚡ Powerplay Blitz: Nissanka Ignites Hope
- 94/2 in 9 overs
- Pathum Nissanka: 50 off 25 balls
This was fearless batting.
This was intent.
This was belief.
And then… one wicket changed everything.
🧨 Turning Point: Nissanka Falls
Nissanka’s dismissal on 9.1 overs was the match’s pivot.
From there:
- Run rate dipped
- Pressure returned
- England smelled blood
This is where elite teams differ — they strike at moments, not randomly.
🧱 Pavan Rathnayake: A Lone Warrior
Let’s give credit where it’s due.
🏏 Rathnayake’s Knock:
- 121 off 115 balls
- 12 fours, 1 six
- Carried Sri Lanka alone
This was:
- Brave
- Technically sound
- Mentally strong
But cricket isn’t boxing.
You can’t win alone.
❌ Lack of Support: Sri Lanka’s Achilles Heel
After Nissanka:
- No one crossed 25 meaningfully
- Partnerships collapsed
- England rotated bowlers perfectly
Rathnayake fought.
The rest followed the script Sri Lanka fans know too well.
🎯 England’s Bowling: Smart, Not Spectacular
England didn’t bowl with fear.
They bowled with plans.
Key Contributors:
- Overton: Early breakthroughs
- Will Jacks: Crucial middle-over wickets
- Adil Rashid: Control without panic
- Liam Dawson: Quietly excellent
England didn’t chase wickets.
They invited mistakes.
That’s elite ODI bowling.
🏆 Player of the Match: Harry Brook
This wasn’t close.
Brook:
- Changed the match’s direction
- Destroyed Sri Lanka’s bowling plans
- Led by example as captain
This was a leader’s innings, not just a big score.
🏅 Player of the Series: Joe Root
Root’s series stats:
- 247 runs
- 2 wickets
- Consistency unmatched
Root didn’t chase headlines.
He owned the series quietly — like legends do.
🧠 Tactical Analysis: Why England Won the Series
🔑 1. Middle-Overs Control
England dominate overs 15–40 better than anyone right now.
🔑 2. Dual Batting Identity
They can rebuild and explode.
🔑 3. Bowling Flexibility
Six genuine options = constant pressure.
🔑 4. Mental Toughness
England never looked rattled — even at 40/2.
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka: What Needs Fixing (Brutal Truth)
Let’s not sugarcoat it.
Problems:
- Over-reliance on top order
- Inconsistent bowling plans
- Poor death-over execution
Positives:
- Rathnayake’s emergence
- Nissanka’s intent
- Fielding energy
Sri Lanka have talent.
What they lack is structure and ruthlessness.
🔮 What This Means Going Forward
🏴 England
- ODI World Cup contenders
- Brook growing into leadership
- Root still irreplaceable
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
- Need middle-order stability
- Must develop death bowling
- Cannot rely on moments — need systems
❓ FAQs: England vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI
❓ Who won the 3rd ODI between England and Sri Lanka?
A: England won by 53 runs.
❓ Who was Player of the Match?
A: Harry Brook for his explosive 136*.
❓ Who was Player of the Series?
A: Joe Root.
❓ Where was the match played?
A: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
❓ What was England’s total?
A: 357/3 in 50 overs.
❓ Why did Sri Lanka lose despite a century?
A: Lack of partnerships and poor bowling at the death.
🏁 Final Verdict: England’s Blueprint Is Clear
This match wasn’t about one century.
It was about identity.
England:
- Build innings smartly
- Attack without fear
- Adapt to conditions
- Trust their process
Sri Lanka showed heart.
England showed authority.
And in modern ODI cricket, authority wins series.
🔥🏏 Brook is the future. Root is forever. And England? They’re very much in business.