LIVE Updates: SL vs ENG 2nd ODI – Steady Root helps England level ODI series in Sri Lanka

JAN.24 (Mirror Sports) -

Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI Highlights: ckeJoe Root starred with bat and ball to help England beat Sri Lanka by five wits and level their one-day international series on Saturday. Root took two wickets in two balls to end Sri Lanka's innings on 219 with three balls to spare, then hit a crafty 75 runs off 90 balls to lead England to 223-5 with 22 balls remaining.

The third and last ODI is on Tuesday, followed by three Twenty20s to prepare for next month's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.

END OF OVER 49.3

SL: 219/10

Last WICKET !

OUT! Caught & Bowled

Joe Root takes a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Asitha Fernando. Backing away to slog an off-break, Fernando mistimes it in the air and Root reacts quickly to pouch the chance at short extra cover.

England have done well to keep Sri Lanka to a below-par total, especially after batting looked easy early on. The pitch slowed as the innings wore on, and spin made scoring tough through the middle overs.

Sri Lanka had starts but couldn’t build a big innings. England’s tight lines, smart pace changes, and sharp fielding applied the squeeze.

If the surface continues to grip, the chase won’t be easy—but England have given themselves a real shot at leveling the series.

SL: 193/7 - CRR: 4.28

Last WICKET !
OUT! Caught & Bowled

Joe Root takes a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Asitha Fernando. Backing away to slog an off-break, Fernando mistimes it in the air and Root reacts quickly to pouch the chance at short extra cover.

England have done well to keep Sri Lanka to a below-par total, especially after batting looked easy early on. The pitch slowed as the innings wore on, and spin made scoring tough through the middle overs.

Sri Lanka had starts but couldn’t build a big innings. England’s tight lines, smart pace changes, and sharp fielding applied the squeeze.

If the surface continues to grip, the chase won’t be easy—but England have given themselves a real shot at leveling the series.

END OF OVER 45

SL: 193/7 - CRR: 4.28

      Pavan Rathnayake c Dawson b Jacks 29 (34b 3x4 0x6) SR: 85.29     

END OF OVER 35
SL: 150/4 - CRR: 4.28

END OF OVER 30
SL: 119/3 - CRR: 3.96

      It's a parsimonious effort from the Yorkshireman, who concedes just one from his first over.      

Partnerships:

END OF OVER 25
SL: 99/3 - CRR: 3.96

END OF OVER 20
SL: 80/3 - CRR: 4.00

END OF OVER 18
SL: 72/3 - CRR: 4.00

         Sri Lanka's top scorer from the fist ODI is on his way back to the pavilion.      

END OF OVER 15
SL: 60/2 - CRR: 4.00

END OF OVER 10
SL: 36/1 - CRR: 3.60

         Powerplay 2 is underway. England can now station a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle from overs 11 to 40. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are now eyeing to keep this partnership running.      

END OF OVER 5
SL: 17/1  - CRR: 5.00 

         Kamil Mishara c Duckett b Overton 5 (12b 1x4 0x6) SR: 41.66      

END OF OVER 1
SL: 5/0  - CRR: 5.00 

     Positive start for Sri Lanka with 6 runs off the opening over. Openers settling in confidently.     

   2.09pm:   

   2.05pm:   

Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamil Mishara, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Pavan Rathnayake, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Pramod Madushan, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Asitha Fernando

England: 1 Rehan Ahmed, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Will Jacks, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Liam Dawson, 11 Adil Rashid

   2.00pm:      Charith Asalanka wins the toss and chooses to bat first.

All eyes are on Colombo as Sri Lanka push for a series win and England fight to stay alive. Follow LIVE updates every five overs.

The stakes are sky-high at the R. Premadasa Stadium as Sri Lanka and England lock horns in the second ODI. After a thrilling 18-run win in the opener, the Lions are eyeing a series-sealing victory, while England face a must-win encounter to keep the series alive.