Duckett and Dawson steer England to victory over Sri Lanka in tri-series farewell

Duckett hits superb 167 as England make 386 in Lahore

Dawson takes four wickets to deny Sri Lankan chase

Not this time. Sri Lanka threatened a repeat of Rawalpindi last week, and a target of 387 in Lahore was within reach. Pavan Rathnayake was the thorn again with another century, but Ben Duckett’s epic was not in vain. The left-hander struck 167 before Liam Dawson took four wickets, setting up a consolation victory for England in this tri-series.

Sri Lanka had already booked their place in Saturday’s final against Pakistan but looked on course to take this dead rubber, too. With 87 runs required from the last 10 overs, and Rathnayake on track for his third ODI hundred against England, the game looked theirs. But England’s attack kept calm and Dawson nabbed Rathnayake for 118, the last five wickets falling in the space of three overs.

It has been a bizarre tour for England, losing two games from commanding positions, but they were grateful for Dawson’s accuracy in another run-fest. Figures of four for 49 in a 700-plus game is a special effort.

Duckett was the leading man in the first half. He had struggled in the 430 game, way off his best with a scratchy 29 while everyone else teed off. Move forward a week and he has two more ODI hundreds, 105 in the low-scorer against Pakistan followed by a career-best. With Tom Banton punching his way to his fifth 50-plus score in six innings, England’s first-wicket stand was worth 163 from 25 overs. The numbers have given England a healthy problem: where does Jacob Bethell, back next month in Australia, fit into the picture? Banton taking the gloves could be an option if England want to keep this opening partnership intact, with Bethell slotting into the middle order.

Banton will undoubtedly be peeved that he failed to turn three half-centuries in the series into at least one helmet-raising moment. He fell for 74 when his footwork went missing, dragging a Dasun Shanaka delivery on to his stumps. But Duckett, in love with Lahore, was on for the big one. He reached his third hundred on this ground off 89 deliveries, and the southpaw swung freely from there, the next 50 taking only 29 balls. Middling his pull shots, Duckett eventually tired and failed to scoop over short fine leg, but only after he’d gone past his 165 against Australia at this venue last year.

Brook promoted himself to No 3 as England pushed towards another gargantuan total, but an errant scoop limited him to 44, Asitha Fernando getting in the way. Will Jacks, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran kept England moving at pace but Brook’s dismissal still felt significant, the moment that eliminated the chance of another 400. Fernando, armed with his tailing yorker, helped limit the damage with figures of two for 63, but England still pushed their way to the highest-ever ODI total at the Gaddafi Stadium. Joe Root, continuously demoted, was not required.

Sri Lanka had no reason to be daunted, even with an early dismissal: Sonny Baker dropped Avishka Fernando at deep fine leg but went through Kamindu Mendis not long after with a nip-backer. Kusal Mendis’s bat split in half early on when facing Gus Atkinson, but the replacement blade worked just fine.

Sri Lanka’s captain was brutal against Baker, swivelling away to hit four sixes off the quick, and building substantial stands with Avishka and Pavan Rathnayake. England looked short on magic with the ball having left Adil Rashid out again and their opponents, on 177 for two after 26 overs, looked more than well placed on a dewy pitch.

Brook called for Root’s off-spin, a move that felt desperate but immediately worked. Kusal under-edged down the leg-side on 89, into the gloves of Cox, and Dawson had Shanaka leg-before three overs later after a successful review.

Spin was tightening things from both ends, but Root’s third over was expensive as Janith Liyanage thumped over the on-side. Curran was handled comfortably, his moon ball punished, and Will Jacks was too short as Rathnayake made up for a patient start.

But England discovered some composure as the game closed in. Baker had been expensive against Kusal but his pace was welcome at the close, prompting the removal of Liyanage on 27. Henry Crocombe, had bowled only two overs when Brook called him in for the 43rd, and Sahan Arachchige launched the newbie into the hands of long-on.

Curran, too, impressed at the death with his variety, setting up the run-out of Dunith Wellalage, and Dawson returned for one final over, Rathnayake top-edging to fine leg. England could finally breathe, victors by 55 runs.