Banton 126 Powers England to 223 Run Win at the Kia Oval to Seal ODI Series 2-1

ENGLAND thrashed Sri Lanka to win the three match Metro Bank Men's ODI Series 2-1 at the Kia Oval thanks to a 223 run victory. The pick of the England batters were Tom Banton 126, Harry Brook 77 and Jordan Cox 76, whilst Liam Dawson 3 for 26 and Gus Atkinson 2 for 26 led England to dismissing poor Sri Lanka for just 132 all out from 29.1 overs to seal an impressive victory and a good end to the 2026 home international season.

England won the toss and elected to bat first in the third and deciding Metro Bank Men's ODI Series Match 3. England made three changes with Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson and Sonny Baker coming in for Jordan Cox, Rehan Ahmed and Josh Tongue. Sri Lanka were unchanged from the last match, which Sri Lanka won at Chester-le-Street.

England lost Ben Duckett for 0 after just five balls when he was bowled by Dilshan Madushanka with the total 6 for 1 after 1.2 overs. Tom Banton, who was Ben Duckett's sixth opening batting partner in ODIs since 2025, was then joined by Joe Root.

Joe Root was dropped on 15 at slip by Pathum Nissanka off the bowling of Asitha Fernando when the total had reached 49 for 1. The England 50 was reached from 9.5 overs in Powerplay 1.

Banton and Root added 50 runs for the second wicket partnership when the total reached 58 for 1. Joe Root was given out lbw after a review with the first ball after a drinks break for 18 from 37 balls with one boundary 4 when he was trapped by Liyanage with the England total 68 for 2 from 15.1 overs.

Banton (49 not out) was then joined by captain Harry Brook. Banton backed up his half century in the last match with another 50 from 51 balls with eight boundary 4's and one boundary 6 when England reached 71 for 2 from 15.4 overs.

England brought up their 100 for the loss of 2 wickets from 24.1 overs. Sachindu Colombage's leg spin caused England problems with some intriguing bowling, particularly against Tom Banton and Harry Brook.

Harry Brook achieved his 50 from 49 balls with four boundary 4's and two boundary 6's when the England total reached 150 for 2. England's 150 came from 29.4 overs.

Tom Banton achieved his first century in ODI cricket from 95 balls with thirteen boundary 4's and three boundary 6's with a dominating innings on a difficult pitch.

England reached 218 for 3 after 34.4 overs when Harry Brook holed out to Wellalage at wide mid off off the bowling of Fernando for 77 from 66 balls with nine boundary 4's and two boundary 6's.

England lost Tom Banton at 242 for 4 from 38 overs when the England opener holed out to Eshan Malinga at long on off the bowling of Sachindu Colombage for 126 from 105 balls with eighteen boundary 4's and five boundary 6's.

Jordan Cox and Will Jacks continued to plunder runs for England and the pair took the England total to 287 for 5 from 44 overs when Will Jacks was caught by Charith Asalanka off the bowling of Sachindu Colombage for 25 from 21 balls with two boundary 4's and one boundary 6.

Jordan Cox was then partnered by Jamie Overton with six overs remaining. England reached 300 for 5 from 45.1 overs.

Jordan Cox achieved his 50 from 42 balls with three boundary 4's and one boundary 6 when the total reached 310 for 5. With twelve balls of the innings remaining England were 337 for 5.

England reached 350 for 5 from 49.2 overs. Jordan Cox was clean bowled by Fernando for 76 from 53 balls with six boundary 4's and two boundary 6's. Liam Dawson was bowled for 0 and England finished on 355 for 7 from 50 overs. Jamie Overton was 21 not out.

Asitha Fernando bagged 3 for 64 with two wickets at the end of the innings.

Sri Lanka needed 356 to win from 50 overs. Sri Lanka were 1 for 1 after just eight balls when Pathum Nissanka was caught behind by Jordan Cox off an 89 mph delivery from Sonny Baker for just 1 from 3 balls.

Sri Lanka started to get some momentum but lost their second wicket when Kamindu Mendis was caught by Ben Duckett, a steepling catch, off the bowling of Gus Atkinson for 12 from 19 balls with two boundary 4's when the total reached 36 for 2 from 6.4 overs.

Kusal Mendis, the Sri Lankan captain, was 20 not out when he was joined by Pavan Rathnayake in the seventh over.

Sri Lanka reached their 50 for 2 wickets after 8.4 overs. Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 35 from 26 balls with two boundary 4's and three boundary 6's when he was caught by Tom Banton off the bowling of Gus Atkinson, with some extra bounce off the track, when the total was 53 for 3 after 9 overs.

With the wicket of Mendis it was possibly the end of Sri Lanka's chances of winning the game and the three match series.

Sri Lanka lost their next wicket at 77 for 4 when Jofra Archer ran out Pavan Rathnayake with a direct throw.

Sri Lanka lost Charith Asalanka for 7, caught by Jamie Overton off Joe Root's second ball, when the Sri Lanka total was 77 for 5 from 15.2 overs.

There was a steady flow of wickets thereafter as Sri Lanka were 82 for 6 from 16.2 overs when Dunith Wellalage was caught by Sonny Baker off Liam Dawson for 5 from 6 balls, then at 104 for 7 Sachindu Colombage was well stumped by Jordan Cox off the bowling of Liam Dawson for 4 from 19 balls.

The eighth wicket fell 2 runs later at 106 for 8 from 23.1 overs when Janith Liyanage was caught by Jordan Cox off the bowling of Jamie Overton for 19 from 20 balls with one boundary 4.

The Sri Lankans rallied a little to 120 for 9 when Asitha Fernando was caught by Jamie Overton off Liam Dawson for 6 from 9 balls, and then the last wicket fell on 132 when Eshan Malinga was caught by Joe Root off Will Jacks for 14 from 19 balls. The not out batter was Dilshan Madushanka on 2.

The pick of the bowlers for England were Liam Dawson 3 for 26 and Gus Atkinson 2 for 26, with a wicket apiece for Sonny Baker, Will Jacks, Joe Root and Jamie Overton. Only Jofra Archer failed to take a wicket, although he only bowled three overs mid innings.

England won by 223 runs to take the Metro Bank Men's ODI Series 2-1 and go into the next triangular series in Pakistan, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan, in good form ahead of going to Australia for ODIs and Tests and T20Is against South Africa.