A spectacular innings from England captain Harry Brook swept the visitors to victory in Colombo, as he produced a breathtaking performance in the third and final ODI against Sri Lanka. Brook scored an unbeaten 136 runs off just 66 balls, including a staggering 90 runs in the last 27 deliveries, turning the match decisively in England’s favour.
Brook came to the crease in the 32nd over, with England struggling at 35 runs after 40 overs. What followed was a whirlwind of hitting as Brook reached his first fifty in just 40 balls and completed his second fifty in a mere 17 deliveries. His dominance in the closing stages was such that of England’s last 69 runs, 68 came off his bat alone. Veteran batsman Joe Root, who also scored a century, effectively played the supporting role in this remarkable display.
England posted a total of 357 for three wickets, with Root and Brook’s centuries anchoring the innings. In response, Sri Lanka fought back, led by a century from Pawan Ratnayake, but managed 304 runs, leaving England victorious by 53 runs. This win sealed the three-match series 2–1 in England’s favour, marking their first overseas ODI series triumph since 2023.
Brook’s Record-Breaking Late Surge
Brook’s century was notable not only for its rapid pace but also for its timing: he reached three figures within the last 10 overs of England’s innings. In ODI history, only a handful of players have scored centuries exclusively in the final 10 overs of an innings—a feat Brook has now achieved for the ninth time in the format.
| Player | Opponent | Year | Runs in Last 10 Overs |
|---|---|---|---|
| AB de Villiers | West Indies | 2015 | 121 |
| AB de Villiers | West Indies | 2015 | 109 |
| Rohit Sharma | Sri Lanka | 2014 | 110 |
| Rohit Sharma | Sri Lanka | 2017 | 100+ |
| Glenn Maxwell | Netherlands | 2023 | 106 |
| Jos Buttler | Pakistan | 2015 | 100+ |
| Jos Buttler | West Indies | 2019 | 100+ |
| Heinrich Klaasen | South Africa | 1 occasion | 100+ |
| Harry Brook | Sri Lanka | 2026 | 136* |
Brook’s performance ranks among the most explosive in ODI history, with comparisons drawn to the likes of AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma, and Jos Buttler. His dominance in the final overs highlights a new era of aggressive, high-impact batting in limited-overs cricket.
With this innings, Brook not only secured England’s series victory but also reinforced his status as one of the premier finishers in modern cricket, capable of turning any match in a matter of overs. England’s emphatic win in Colombo showcased both strategic batting depth and the match-winning potential of an in-form captain, setting the tone for future encounters in the ODI calendar.
The Colombo crowd witnessed a masterclass in late-innings batting, as Brook’s whirlwind ensured that England claimed both the series and a memorable display of cricketing brilliance.