England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs in the deciding One Day International at The Oval on Sunday, with opener Tom Banton striking his maiden ODI century to seal a 2-1 series win for Harry Brook's side. Banton's 126 from 105 balls set up a mammoth total of 355-7, and Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 132 in reply as England's bowlers ran through the tourists' batting line-up.
Banton finally converts with the bat
Tom Banton struck a first One Day International century before England's bowlers romped through the Sri Lanka line-up to ensure a 2-1 series victory, winning the deciding clash by an imposing 223 runs at The Oval. It was his first century in 10 ODIs and 43 T20Is since his England debut over six years ago.
Banton's innings, which highlighted his expansive range of shots, included five sixes and 16 fours as he mercilessly took to the visiting bowling after fellow opener Ben Duckett had been castled in the second over. Fresh from his 73 in Sri Lanka's series-levelling win in Leeds, Banton went into the 90s with an audacious reverse-swept six, before a glorious drive through extra cover took him to his hundred. His majestic innings eventually came to a conclusion when his effort to hit a sixth maximum was caught at long-on.
Brook and Cox add the finishing touches
England captain Harry Brook, who was dropped when he had seven runs, punished Sri Lanka's poor fielding display with 77 off 66 balls, while Jordan Cox, replacing the injured Jos Buttler, made 76 from 52 balls on his return to the ODI side for the first time in almost two years. Banton and Brook shared a third-wicket partnership of 150 before Brook eventually miscued a paceman to mid-off with England well-placed at 218-3 in the 35th over.
Cox had been drafted into the side after Buttler was ruled out with a hamstring injury sustained during the second ODI at Headingley. The wicketkeeper-batter said before the match that being 1-1 wasn't what the team wanted, but insisted "they're the games you want to be playing in." Cox spearheaded a late flurry of runs alongside Will Jacks, notching his half-century off 42 balls, before England finished on 355-7.
Sri Lanka collapse in reply
England had won the first ODI at Chester-le-Street by 89 runs but lost by 16 runs in Leeds two days later, setting up Sunday's deciding tie which turned into a one-sided contest with Sri Lanka bowled out in 29.1 overs. Sonny Baker took just two balls on his second ODI appearance to snag the wicket of Pathum Nissanka, who touched one behind to wicketkeeper Cox, beginning a steady stream of dismissals.
Six of the seven bowlers England used got among the wickets, with Liam Dawson finishing with 3-26 in eight overs and Gus Atkinson taking 2-26 from five overs. Captain Kusal Mendis, who had scored a century in the second ODI, top-scored for the visitors with 36 as Sri Lanka never looked like being able to chase down the imposing target.
England's winter schedule looms
The series win rounds off a home summer in which England have also beaten India, and it comes with a busy winter ahead. England have a heavy winter ahead, with tours of Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and Bangladesh all scheduled.
For Cox, Sunday's innings marked a timely response to his recall. The ECB is also due to announce its next round of central contracts in the coming weeks, and a strong showing at The Oval could factor into that decision. Banton, meanwhile, will hope his maiden hundred proves the platform for a more permanent role at the top of England's one-day order after years of white-ball promise in franchise cricket finally translating into international runs.
The series also offered warning signs for Sri Lanka's bowling attack, who leaked runs freely once Banton got going, while their batting order struggled badly once early wickets fell in the decider. With a heavy international calendar ahead for both sides, England will point to the ruthlessness of their bowling unit at The Oval, which shared the wickets around to bowl out the tourists inside 30 overs, as much as Banton's batting heroics.