England vs Sri Lanka Live ஸ்கோர், 3rd ODI of Sri Lanka tour of England, 2026

That's it for England's home season - Harry Brook lifts the ODI series trophy and goes on to celebrate with his teammates on the podium. Well then, it has been a long English summer, fueled by the additional heat wave this year, and we have seen plenty of action - county cricket, the T20 Blast, and The Hundred- to go along with a plethora of international fixtures, but it is now time to move on. Both England and Sri Lanka will now travel to Pakistan for an ODI Tri-series starting October 18. However, Sri Lanka have another contingent representing them in the ongoing Asian Games, and their next fixture is a Quarterfinal clash against Nepal on Tuesday, September 29, beginning at 12 am GMT. Also, before the tri-series, Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in a three-match bilateral T20I series. So, there's plenty of action to look forward to, but for now, we take your leave. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Take care and goodbye!

Now, the victorious captain of England - Harry Brook says that it was a near-perfect performance for the team and everyone chipped in. He reckons that there were a few tough periods, but the guys did well. He says that Cox played beautifully towards the end and that they need to adapt to the conditions. Further says that having many players in form is a good problem to have, as they have replacements for the players, and that is what builds a strong squad. He ends by saying that they are looking forward to their series with Pakistan, but for now, they will go home and rest.

A chat with Sri Lanka's skipper - Kusal Mendis says that they played a couple of good games, and today they struggled with the bat, and there was some poor fielding as well. He goes on to say that the middle order wasn't at it's best. On his own spilled catch, Kusal says that Dunith Wellalage bowled really well and that missed catch gave Harry Brook a chance to kick on. Goes on to end by saying that they travel to Pakistan next, and they need to learn from their mistakes.

Player of the Series - Will Jacks has been given the accolade for his brilliant all-round contribution. He scored 123 runs at an average of 61.5 and picked up 6 wickets at an economy of just 4.15. Jacks says that as soon as he had the surgery, he worked towards his recovery, and he is happy to be back. He adds that the pitches were spin-friendly, so it worked for him, but his role can be different for the series in Pakistan, and he will adapt to it. Ends by saying that with the World Cup coming up, they need to adapt to the conditions.

Player of the Match - For his maiden ODI ton (126 off 105 balls), Tom Banton has been given the award. Banton starts by saying that as a kid he dreamt of scoring a century for his country, and now achieving that in front of friends and family as well feels special. On his journey, he says that after breaking into the national team, he's had a few tough years and had to fight hard to come back. On Kevin Pietersen, he says that he's chatted a lot with him behind the scenes, and there's plenty of banter involved as well. On opening the batting, Banton says that he's happy to bat wherever he's asked to.

England's Men's ODI Player of the summer - Joe Root has been given the accolade for amassing 326 runs across the series against India and Sri Lanka. Root says that it's been a good series and they are moving in the right direction with the World Cup around the corner. He reckons that he loves where the team is heading and they are really confident. When asked about the contribution, he says that everyone stood up despite the injuries and ends by saying that they are really confident as a team, given the amount of series heading their way.

The Presentation ceremony...

Not the talking point we expected - After hammering 355 runs with the bat, England got a perfect start with the ball as Sonny Baker, another fringe player, picked up Pathum Nissanka in his first over. England then picked up a total of three wickets inside the first 10 overs despite some counterattack from Kusal Mendis. With the odds already against them, Pavan Rathnayake got run out in what turned out to be a very arguable decision, albeit a fair one in the end. Jofra Archer nailed a direct hit at the keeper's end, but Jordan Cox had clipped the bails before the throw hit the stumps. Rathnayake was well short, but the main talking point was the law behind the dismissal. Generally, the law states that when such an incident happens, the keeper needs to collect the ball and then uproot the stumps, but a subsection of that same law says that if there's a direct hit and even one of the stumps gets uprooted, then the decision will be out. From that dismissal onwards, England completely bossed the game, not that they were lagging behind before that, but the spinners then raced through the middle order. Jamie Overton also bowled a short but spicy spell, and it was Will Jacks who sealed the series with a brilliant catch from Joe Root to go along with it.

England's bench strength shines - With the bat, we saw two wonderful performances from Tom Banton and Jordan Cox, neither of whom are the first-choice players in their positions, and both of them were brilliant in the field as well. Then with the ball, Liam Dawson, who was playing his first game of this ODI series, picked up 3 wickets whilst being miserly. Overall, England will feel that this competition for places is exactly what they need a year before the next ODI World Cup.

Not good enough from Sri Lanka - The T20I series was a mess for the visitors, but the fight they showed in the 2nd ODI made everyone believe that they can go toe-to-toe with the best. However, this final ODI has been disappointing for the Lankans in so many ways. They conceded too many runs on what seemed like a tricky pitch to bat on, then were bowled out for 132 in just 29.1 overs.

The English summer ends with a bang - England have roared back to their best after that defeat in Leeds and have clinched this ODI series 2-1. This was also the last game of England's home season in 2026, and they have given a packed Oval crowd plenty to cheer about. It's been an up-and-down summer, but the latter half of it has been very fruitful for England, especially the white-ball side, and now white-ball coach Brendon McCullum can celebrate his birthday with much relief.

OUT! TAKEN! Excellent catch from Joe Root seals the game for England. Flatter, on middle and leg, Eshan Malinga looks to sweep it but doesn't connect well. The ball goes hard and low towards the leg slip, Joe Root, who bends low and takes a sharp low catch. England win by 223 runs.

Fullish, on off, Dilshan Madushanka taps it to point.

Slightly down the leg side, Dilshan Madushanka looks to block it but wears it on his pads. A stifled appeal but turned down.

Much fuller, on leg, Eshan Malinga flicks it to mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR MORE! Back-to-back boundaries from Malinga! Flighted up, on off, Eshan Malinga picks it well and chips it over mid off for yet another boundary.

FOUR! That's a good shot! Fullish, outside off, Eshan Malinga opens the face of his bat and guides it magnificently through backward point for a boundary.

Fullish, on off, Eshan Malinga pushes it to cover.

Slightly down the leg side, Dilshan Madushanka looks to block it but wears it on his pads.

A bit short, on off, Dilshan Madushanka eases it to cover.

Too full, on middle, Dilshan Madushanka pushes it to cover.

Short, on off, Dilshan Madushanka looks to punch it but edges it to third man for a brace.

Flatter, on off, Eshan Malinga drags it through mid-wicket for a single.

Shortish, outside off, Eshan Malinga looks to slap it but misses.

Will Jacks is back on.

Fired in, on middle, Dilshan Madushanka blocks it back to the bowler.

Beaten! Flatter, outside off, Dilshan Madushanka looks to block it but misses.

Fired in, on off, Dilshan Madushanka eases it back to the bowler.

Much fuller, on off, Dilshan Madushanka taps it to mid off.

Dilshan Madushanka is the last batter.