Summary

  • Buttler sees England home with 33* off 21 balls - report

  • Root hits 75 off 90, Brook adds 42, Duckett 39

  • England bowl out SL for 219

  • Overton, Rashid & Root take two wickets each

  • Asalanka (45) anchors SL with patient middle-order knock

  • England bowl a national ODI record 40.3 overs of spin

  • Series now level at 1-1 with one to play

  • Final match of series on Tuesday (09:00 GMT)

Your views on England's tour of Sri Lanka

  1. Postpublished at 12:49 GMT 24 January

    England are all set to chase 220, so here's the very busy Timothy Abraham to take you through the next stage of the match.

  2. Ireland beat Italypublished at 12:49 GMT 24 January

    With the T20 World Cup looming, Ireland are playing Italy in Dubai and they won the first warm-up game but they only just squeezed through by three wickets in the last over.

    Chasing 119, two from Ben Calitz got the Irish over the line with three balls to spare.

  3. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:43 GMT 24 January

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    That man Root again... always comes back to rescue England A nice ton now would be perfect

    Rob Henry

  4. England in a spinpublished at 12:41 GMT 24 January

    Back to today in Colombo, and England bowled 40.3 overs of spin, the most that English spinners have sent down in an ODI.

    The previous record was 36 overs, back in March 1985 in a 50-over match against Pakistan in Sharjah.

    The spinners that day?

    Phil Edmonds, Pat Pocock, Rob Bailey - better known as a middle-order batter for Northants - and Norman Gifford, who sadly passed away this week aged 85.

  5. Scotland replace Bangladesh at T20 World Cuppublished at 12:34 GMT 24 January

    Elsewhere, there is some very big breaking news - Bangladesh have decided to boycott the men's T20 World Cup next month, and they will be replaced by Scotland.

    Bangladesh had asked for their games to be switched from India citing safety concerns amid growing tensions between the countries and demanded to play them in Sri Lanka, which is co-hosting the tournament, instead.

    Earlier this week the ICC rejected Bangladesh's request, saying there was an "absence of any credible security threat" before the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) subsequently reaffirmed their position.

    A source close to the ICC board said the BCB were given a final 24 hours to confirm they would travel to India.

    That deadline has now passed and ICC officials have decided to press ahead with an alternative plan to invite Scotland to participate instead.

    Tim Abraham has the full story here.

  6. How's stat?!published at 12:31 GMT 24 January

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Five or more spinners picking up at least a wicket in an ODI (only Full Member teams):

    Sri Lanka - four times

    Afghanistan - once

    England - once

  7. Get Involvedpublished at 12:27 GMT 24 January

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    England will need to take their time and not make any silly mistakes and be aggressive even though there is a low score that was our downfall last game

    Angus

  8. Intervalpublished at 12:26 GMT 24 January

    SL 219 all out

    There are a few thundery-looking clouds off in the distance - let's hope the weather doesn't spoil the contest, eh?

  9. How's stat?!published at 12:24 GMT 24 January

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Teams posting a total between 200 and 230 at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, since 2020: Six instances, three wins, two losses, and one tie. The last time Sri Lanka posted a similar total here, they defended 214 successfully against Australia in 2025. England will need to be mindful in the chase, as today's pitch has seen around 15% more turn at this stage of the innings than the first ODI.

  10. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 49.3 overs

    Asitha Fernando c and b Root 0 (SL 219)

    The number 11 plays a shot beloved of all number 11s - a horrible hoick that Joe Root claims as his own.

  11. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 49.2 overs

    Dunith Wellalage c Curran b Root 20 (SL 219-9)

    Not for long though, as he slogs Root straight down Sam Curran's throat at long on.

  12. SL 219-8published at 49.1 overs

    Jeffrey Vandersay squeezes a run off the first to get Dunith Wellalage back on strike.

  13. SL 218-8published at 49 overs

    A decent end to the over as Dunith Wellalage grabs a boundary but he'll be off strike as the last over begins - which Joe Root will bowl.

  14. Not outpublished at 12:15 GMT 24 January

    No, nothing doing and the batter survives.

  15. Umpire reviewpublished at 12:15 GMT 24 January

    Jeffrey Vandersay tries a reverse sweep and Buttler is convinced he has edged it into his gloves. The umpire turns it down, but England ask for the review.

  16. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 12:12 GMT 24 January

    Pramod Madushan st Buttler b Ahmed 7 (SL 213-8)

    Jos Buttler catching his helmetImage source, Getty Images

    Rehan Ahmed returns and lures Pramod Madushan down the track. Jos Buttler has a simple stumping chance, which he doesn't pass up.

    Simple, beautiful, classic.

  17. Get Involvedpublished at 12:11 GMT 24 January

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    It feels like if Sri Lanka are struggling on this surface then we'll be worse. Perhaps Root can get the broom out and sweep everything.

    Tim

  18. SL 212-7published at 48 overs

    Sri Lanka are trying any method to wring as many runs out of this as they can, Pramod Madushan almost falling over as he flips high down toowards the long leg boundary off Liam Dawson.

    Seven comes from the over, Dawson finishes with 1-40 off his 10.

  19. SL 205-7published at 47 overs

    Dunith Wellalage must be getting frustrated and he is doing well, dropping onto one knee to reverse sweep-slap Will Jacks down to fine third for a rare boundary before eking a few more and pinching the strike.

    Three overs left - is 230 in the offing?

  20. How's stat?!published at 12:04 GMT 24 January

    Soham Sarkhel
    CricViz analyst

    Adil Rashid getting a wicket against Sri LankaImage source, Getty Images

    Adil Rashid in his last five ODIs in Sri Lanka: 11 wickets, average 18.36, economy rate 4.48.