SL vs ENG

With that, we would like to conclude our live coverage for this game. So the series stays alive as we head over to the third and final ODI that is scheduled to be played next Tuesday. There's plenty of action to look forward to, so keep following us. This is Datrim Ray signing off on behalf of the Sportskeeda family. Goodbye!

9:40 PM local time and IST: England win by 5 wickets and level the series 1-1 with an ODI to go.

Joe Root - 75 (90) | Adil Rashid - 2/34
Charith Asalanka - 45 (64) | Dhananjaya de Silva - 2/37

England finally have the win! After 11 straight away ODI defeats, England fight back and overcome a tricky second-innings run chase at the R. Premadasa Stadium to keep the series alive. The toss didn't go their way in this game, but the spinners executed their plans to perfection. Adil, Jacks, and Dawson bowled tightly to curb the scoring rate during the middle overs. The trio accounted for four dismissals, which really broke the back of the Lankan batting lineup. Sri Lanka looked well-poised for a score above 250 but failed to stitch together any partnerships. Asalanka steered the ship and helped Sri Lanka navigate through treacherous waters on the back of his fighting 45.

Coming back to the run chase, England tried out a surprise experimentation by promoting Rehan up the order. He opened the batting along with Duckett and added 13 useful runs before being castled by DDS. What followed next was a calm and composed partnership between Duckett and Root. Root in particular, led the way with a brilliant half-century (75 off 90) and forged useful partnerships with Duckett and Brook to bat Sri Lanka out of the contest. Both Root and Brook (42 off 75) played sensibly by knocking the ball around and avoiding high-risk shots. Sri Lanka missed a trick by not setting an attacking field. They allowed the English batters to maneuver the ball into the gaps and get off strike with ease. But despite a late wobble, which saw England lose two quick wickets towards the end, Buttler breazy cameo of 33 (21) eliminated any chances of a potential Sri Lankan victory tonight. 

46.2 Pramod Madushan to Will Jacks, FOUR! ENGLAND WIN! Jacks finishes it off in style! Overpitched from Pramod on leg stump line. Jacks gets some bat on it and gently eases it through midwicket to power England over the finishing line.

46.1 Pramod Madushan to Will Jacks, length ball straying down leg. Jacks gets some bat on it and helps it on its way to deep fine leg for a couple. SCORES LEVEL!

45.6 Pavan Rathnayake to Jos Buttler, Monstrous! Clean as a whistle! Tossed up around off. Buttler gets the ball in his slot and goes through with the shot to launch it high and handsome over the sightscreen for a massive six. 

44.6 Jeffrey Vandersay to Will Jacks, tossed up wrong un on middle. Jacks does not pick it up to perfection but still manages to steer it away to short fine leg for no run.

44.4 Jeffrey Vandersay to Will Jacks, Big shout but not given! Tossed up wrong un on middle and leg. Jacks plays down the wrong line and is sutck on his back pad. Would have probably gone over!

44.2 Jeffrey Vandersay to Jos Buttler, Risky but finds the boundary! Tossed up around off. Buttler swings across the line but gets the desired elevation over midwicket and finds the boundary with ease.