Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning two-wicket victory over England in the third match of the Pakistan-hosted ODI tri-series at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, successfully chasing a massive 430-run target with just one ball to spare.
The historic win was powered by a brilliant century from Pavan Rathnayake, alongside crucial contributions from Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage.
Rathnayake led the charge with 130 off 106 deliveries, smashing 15 fours and three sixes, while Fernando and Shanaka narrowly missed their centuries with 97 runs each.
Fernando scored his runs off 83 balls, while Shanaka played an explosive 50-ball knock to keep Sri Lanka in the contest.
Liyanage then sealed the thrilling victory with an unbeaten 61 off just 27 deliveries, hitting seven fours and three sixes.
Earlier, England had posted a mammoth 429/4 in their allotted 50 overs after being put into bat, courtesy of a sensational double century from captain Harry Brook.
Brook smashed 202 off just 116 balls, registering the highest individual ODI score by an England batter. Joe Root contributed 69 runs, while Will Jacks and Tom Banton added 66 and 50, respectively.
Sri Lanka’s remarkable victory marked the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, behind South Africa’s famous 438-run chase against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006.
The Islanders also became only the third team to successfully chase a target of more than 400 runs in the format, joining South Africa and India. The latter achieved the feat last month against West Indies in Guwahati.
Highest Successful Run Chases in ODI History
| Target | Team | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 435 | South Africa | Australia | Johannesburg | 2006 |
| 430 | Sri Lanka | England | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 406 | India | West Indies | Guwahati | 2026 |
| 375 | Netherlands | West Indies | Harare (Super Over win) | 2023 |
| 372 | South Africa | Australia | Durban | 2016 |
The Rawalpindi thriller also produced the second-highest match aggregate in ODI history, with both teams combining for 859 runs.
The all-time record remains 872 runs, set during the memorable Australia-South Africa encounter in Johannesburg in 2006.
Highest Match Aggregates in ODI History
| Total Runs | Match | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 872 | Australia (434) vs South Africa (438) | Johannesburg | 2006 |
| 859 | England (429) vs Sri Lanka (430) | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 825 | India (414) vs Sri Lanka (411) | Rajkot | 2009 |
| 811 | West Indies (405) vs India (406) | Guwahati | 2026 |
| 808 | England (419) vs West Indies (389) | St. George’s | 2019 |
Meanwhile, Brook’s extraordinary innings also earned him an unwanted record, as his 202 became the highest individual score in a losing cause in ODI history.
The England captain, who also registered the fastest double century in the format, surpassed Zimbabwe’s Charles Coventry, who previously held the record with an unbeaten 194 against Bangladesh in 2009.
Pakistan’s Fakhar Zaman occupies third place with his memorable 193 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2021.
Highest Individual Scores in a Losing Cause in ODIs
| Runs | Player | Opponent | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 202 | Harry Brook (England) | Sri Lanka | Rawalpindi | 2026 |
| 194 | Charles Coventry (Zimbabwe) | Bangladesh | Bulawayo | 2009 |
| 193 | Fakhar Zaman (Pakistan) | South Africa | Johannesburg | 2021 |
| 191 | George Munsey (Scotland) | Netherlands | Dundee | 2025 |
| 181 | Matthew Hayden (Australia) | New Zealand | Hamilton | 2007 |
Sri Lanka’s remarkable batting display ultimately overshadowed Brook’s record-breaking double century, bringing an extraordinary ODI contest in Rawalpindi to a dramatic conclusion.
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