Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI: Kusal Mendis' 121 seals 16-run win

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs in the second ODI at Headingley in Leeds to level the three-match series 1-1, with Kusal Mendis’ century and Dunith Wellalage’s bowling proving decisive. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 321/6 in 50 overs. In reply, England could reach only 305/9 in their 50 overs. Kusal Mendis made a brilliant 121 and was named Player of the Match.

The biggest feature of Sri Lanka’s innings was the batting of captain and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis. He scored 121 runs off 100 balls, hitting 14 fours and 3 sixes. His innings gave Sri Lanka the control and momentum they needed after choosing to build a strong total in the 50-over match.

Mendis also stitched together the key partnership of the Sri Lankan innings with Kamindu Mendis. Kamindu scored 54 off 65 balls. The two added an important 137 runs together, a stand that pushed Sri Lanka towards a big score and gave the rest of the batting line-up a platform to attack later in the innings.

Opener Pathum Nissanka also contributed 25 runs. After the foundation had been set, Pavan Rathnayake made 48 and Janith Liyanage scored 32 to help Sri Lanka cross the 300-run mark. Their runs in the latter half of the innings proved important as Sri Lanka continued to build pressure on England through the total.

Sri Lanka added 84 runs in the last 10 overs. That late push took them to a strong 321/6 in 50 overs. In a match that was eventually decided by 16 runs, the runs scored in the closing stages became crucial.

England began their chase of 322 strongly and put Sri Lanka under pressure early. Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put on a superb 143-run partnership for the first wicket. Their stand gave England the start they needed and kept the required chase under control for a large part of the opening phase.

Banton scored 73 off 62 balls, while Ben Duckett made 67 from 63 balls. Both batters scored quickly and kept England in the contest. But after that opening partnership, Sri Lanka began finding ways back into the match.

Joe Root was dismissed early after the opening stand, and pressure started to build on England’s innings. Sri Lanka’s bowlers gradually pulled the game back, even though England still had batters who kept the chase alive.

Jos Buttler played a strong innings of 69 off 49 balls and kept England’s hopes alive. He hit 5 fours and 5 sixes. Will Jacks also contributed 52 off 61 balls, giving England another important score in the chase.

But Sri Lanka’s bowlers made a strong comeback in the final overs and restricted England to 305/9. England had been in a position to push for the target, but Sri Lanka held their nerve when the match moved into its final phase.

Dunith Wellalage’s bowling was extremely important in Sri Lanka’s win. He took 3 wickets for 49 runs in 10 overs. His spell changed the direction of the match at a time when England were scoring quickly.

Wellalage dismissed key England batters Ben Duckett, Harry Brook and Tom Banton. England’s innings had been moving at a good pace at one stage, but Wellalage’s spell brought Sri Lanka back into the contest and increased the pressure on the chase.

Apart from him, Eshan Malinga and Dilshan Madushanka also took two wickets each. Sachindu Colombage dismissed Joe Root, giving England another major setback. That wicket added to the pressure after the opening partnership had been broken.

In the last 14 overs, England needed to score at a good rate to win, but the Sri Lankan bowlers kept the pressure on. In particular, during the final part of the innings, it became difficult for England to find boundaries regularly.

According to Cricbuzz’s match coverage, Sri Lanka’s bowlers also made use of reverse swing in the final phase and put a brake on England’s scoring rate. That late control helped Sri Lanka defend a total that had looked under pressure during England’s strong opening stand.

In the end, England could only reach 305/9 in 50 overs, and Sri Lanka won the match by 16 runs. The result brought Sri Lanka back into the three-match ODI series.

England had won the first ODI by 89 runs, but Sri Lanka responded strongly in the second match to level the series. The third and deciding ODI will now determine the result of the series.

The match score was: Sri Lanka 321/6 in 50 overs; England 305/9 in 50 overs. The result was Sri Lanka winning by 16 runs. The Player of the Match was Kusal Mendis for his 121.

The key players in the match included Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dunith Wellalage, Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Sachindu Colombage and Jamie Overton.