After a dismal defeat to Pakistan earlier in the day, the English began the day with a huge total of 429 runs thanks to captain Harry Brook’s outstanding double century. In just 114 balls, Brook achieved his double century, making him the fastest player in ODI cricket history to do so. Shubman Gill, the captain of India, had previously held the record, but Brook smashed it.
England lost the competition for the second time in a row when Sri Lanka completed the second-highest run chase in ODI history, chasing down 430 runs. For England’s bowlers, the loss was agonising. Nearly every England bowler, with the exception of Gus Atkinson, let up more than 70 runs in their allotted 10 overs. With 103 runs in 9 overs, Sam Curran was the most costly. In his entire ten overs, Overton scored 77 runs while taking just one wicket—Fernando was caught and bowled.
Sri Lanka fell to 24-2 as the chase got off to a terrible start. The visitors were then given hope by Avishka Fernando (97) and Pavan Rathnayake’s stand of 166 for the third wicket. Rathnayake then scored a century off 87 balls before forming another significant partnership with Dasun Shanaka. With eight sixes in his 97 from 50 balls, Shanaka maintained the pressure on England while Rathnayake was dismissed for 130. After that, Janith Liyanage scored a fifty from 22 balls, leaving Sri Lanka in need of eight runs from the last over.
A fan with the X handle @LOFC_Dan posted, “Good to see @JamieOverton is showing why he’s picked again. #joke.” To this, Overton replied, “Thanks Dan 👍”.
England had every reason to anticipate an easy victory thanks to Harry Brook. The skipper of England became the first hitter from England to score a double century in an ODI and set a record for the fastest double century in the format with a double century off just 114 balls. In doing so, Brook beat both Ben Stokes’ greatest individual score for England in ODIs and the mark formerly held by India captain Shubman Gill. England amassed 429 runs during Brook’s innings.
