England end tri-series with consolation win - report
Four wickets for Dawson and two for Baker
Rathnayake falls for 118 after giving SL hope
Dangerous Kusal (89) removed by Root
Duckett hits 167, his second century in two games
Banton 74, Brook 44, Cox 43
England’s opening pair are averaging 58.83 in 2026 - only India (77.83) are averaging more. England's openers have also passed fifty on six occasions this year - no side has passed the milsetone more often.
A stunner. Ben Duckett nails the reverse sweep, as he so often does, and helps himself to four more.
When he's at his best, he is an absolute nightmare for spinners to bowl at.
Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special
Dilshan Madushanka has bowled well up front throughout this tournament.
It is the surprise bounce which he gets a good bounce and lift from. He almost caught England out there with his first one.
Image source, Getty ImagesDilshan Madushanka continues, testing Tom Banton with a bouncer that lifts a little too much and is called a wide.
It's a good option though, as anything full has been flying out of the middle of the bat.
Duckett 34, Banton 26
I don't think there's much I can add to that, to be honest.
Anyway, it's a quiet over from Wellalage to end the powerplay, but it's still been a very positive one for England's openers.
Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special
On Tom Banton's moustache...
You have a lot of time sat around in your room on tours like this, it can become tempting to do anything with your body hair. He has opted for the moustache and good on him. It is dark and looks thick. It is impressive for me.
A really good shot from Tom Banton. He stays on top of the bounce and punches it.
A lovely balance and a lovely weight distribution. Banton and Ben Duckett are laying the foundation for England.
Tom Banton crunches the final ball of Madushanka's over for another boundary, and he's really getting into his stride now.
But although he's batting nicely, it's his new moustache that has been gathering some admiration over on TMS...
Image source, Getty ImagesPlay has started over in Cape Town, where Australia resume on day three with a small first-innings lead and six wickets in hand.
Josh Inglis and Alex Carey are close to a 150-run partnership having come together at 185-4.
You can follow that match on our dedicated live page.
Steven Finn
Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special
England are looking good, but they will be wary that 429 is not enough, so they will have to keep going.
Duckett 30, Banton 21
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis senses the need for a change, so here's an early look at the left-arm spin of Dunith Wellalage.
He can't stop the flurry of runs, though, as Tom Banton reverse sweeps nicely to the boundary.
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on Test Match Special
Nine off the over has got England motoring.
England are ticking along very nicely now.
Duckett drives down the ground for four more.
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on Test Match Special
Image source, Getty ImagesLovely shot from Ben Duckett. You know it is a good shot when nobody in the ring bothers moving.
Punished!
Asitha Fernando has been Sri Lanka's most consistent seamer so far this morning but this is a freebie, short and wide outside the off stump and Ben Duckett hammers it for four.
Oh, and it was a no-ball. That'll be a free hit.
Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say
Why take Crane and Coles if they’re not going to be picked even in a dead rubber. Same old management. Nothing changes.
Peter, Bergamo
I hope he proves me wrong but I feel Crocombe has been given a hospital pass. He is an excellent red ball bowler but didn't pull up any trees in white ball cricket for Sussex. It would be sad if his international prospects hinge on these games.
Richard, Bromley
Image source, ReutersBanton goes back-to-back! He's been rewarded for his patience here.
Malinga doesn't do a lot wrong but it's such a good pitch. A good length delivery is simply nudged off the pads and it races away to the ropes. A productive over for England.
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on Test Match Special
Confidence back into Tom Banton's batting with that shot.
This time it was timed beautifully into the off side for four.
Early bowling change for Sri Lanka, as Eshan Malinga replaces Madushanka.
And on cue, Tom Banton pings one out of the middle of the bat at last, another backfoot punch past extra cover.
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on Test Match Special
A good fluid start from Ben Duckett and a sticky start from Tom Banton.
Banton is not timing that shot on the back foot today.
I can't imagine Banton throwing this wicket away today as we have talked about how important this innings is for him to try to get a game in Australia when Jacob Bethell comes back.
Image source, ReutersMore exquisite timing from Duckett, who plays a defensive prod that still flies through the covers and they're able to scamper back for three, and then clips into the leg side for a couple more.
Tom Banton, on the other hand, still looks a little scratchy but Duckett's fluency is taking the pressure off him for now.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Banton,bowled Shanaka Banton, bowled Shanaka | 74 | 75 | 39 | 8 | 2 | 111 | 98.67 |
Duckett,caught Asitha Fernando, bowled Malinga Duckett, caught Asitha Fernando, bowled Malinga | 167 | 132 | 50 | 24 | 0 | 192 | 126.52 |
Brook,caught and bowled Asitha Fernando Brook, caught and bowled Asitha Fernando | 44 | 34 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 129.41 |
Jacks,bowled Asitha Fernando Jacks, bowled Asitha Fernando | 30 | 21 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 37 | 142.86 |
Cox,caught Arachchige, bowled Madushanka Cox, caught Arachchige, bowled Madushanka | 43 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 159.26 |
Curran,not out Curran, not out | 21 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 175.00 |
Extras, no balls 1, wides 5, byes 1, leg byes 0, total 7 Extras, no balls 1, wides 5, byes 1, leg byes 0, total 7 | |||||||
Total,386 for 5 50.0 overs Total,386 for 5 50.0 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asitha Fernando | 10.0 | 1 | 63 | 2 | 28 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.30 |
Madushanka | 9.0 | 0 | 64 | 1 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 7.11 |
Malinga | 10.0 | 0 | 101 | 1 | 16 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 1 | 10.10 |
Wellalage | 10.0 | 0 | 75 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 7.50 |
Arachchige | 2.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9.00 |
Liyanage | 2.0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7.50 |
Shanaka | 7.0 | 0 | 49 | 1 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 7.00 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
163 for 1 (24.6 overs) | Banton |
270 for 2 (37.3 overs) | Brook |
301 for 3 (41.4 overs) | Duckett |
341 for 4 (45.2 overs) | Jacks |
386 for 5 (49.6 overs) | Cox |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | Dots | 4s | 6s | Minutes | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kamindu Mendis,bowled Baker Kamindu Mendis, bowled Baker | 4 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 36.36 |
Avishka Fernando,caught Jacks, bowled Dawson Avishka Fernando, caught Jacks, bowled Dawson | 48 | 50 | 31 | 8 | 1 | 75 | 96.00 |
Kusal Mendis,caught Cox, bowled Root Kusal Mendis, caught Cox, bowled Root | 89 | 71 | 32 | 8 | 5 | 97 | 125.35 |
Rathnayake,caught Baker, bowled Dawson Rathnayake, caught Baker, bowled Dawson | 118 | 77 | 17 | 15 | 1 | 138 | 153.25 |
Shanaka,leg before wicket, bowled Dawson Shanaka, leg before wicket, bowled Dawson | 4 | 11 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 36.36 |
Liyanage,caught Brook, bowled Baker Liyanage, caught Brook, bowled Baker | 27 | 17 | 8 | 1 | 3 | 30 | 158.82 |
Arachchige,caught Brook, bowled Crocombe Arachchige, caught Brook, bowled Crocombe | 30 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 39 | 125.00 |
Wellalage,run out Root Wellalage, run out Root | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 25.00 |
Malinga,bowled Curran Malinga, bowled Curran | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 25.00 |
Asitha Fernando,caught Banton, bowled Dawson Asitha Fernando, caught Banton, bowled Dawson | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 33.33 |
Madushanka,not out Madushanka, not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
Extras, no balls 1, wides 5, byes 0, leg byes 2, total 8 Extras, no balls 1, wides 5, byes 0, leg byes 2, total 8 | |||||||
Total,331 all out 45.1 overs Total,331 all out 45.1 overs |
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Dots | No balls | Wides | 4s | 6s | Economy rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Atkinson | 9.0 | 1 | 63 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 7.00 |
Baker | 9.0 | 0 | 75 | 2 | 26 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 8.33 |
Curran | 7.1 | 1 | 44 | 1 | 22 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 6.13 |
Dawson | 10.0 | 0 | 49 | 4 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 4.90 |
Crocombe | 3.0 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9.00 |
Jacks | 3.0 | 0 | 36 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12.00 |
Root | 4.0 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 8.75 |
| Fall of wicket | Batter |
|---|---|
13 for 1 (3.5 overs) | Kamindu Mendis |
97 for 2 (16.3 overs) | Avishka Fernando |
177 for 3 (26.2 overs) | Kusal Mendis |
186 for 4 (29.2 overs) | Shanaka |
258 for 5 (35.4 overs) | Liyanage |
315 for 6 (42.3 overs) | Arachchige |
320 for 7 (43.2 overs) | Wellalage |
329 for 8 (44.2 overs) | Rathnayake |
331 for 9 (44.6 overs) | Asitha Fernando |
331 for 10 (45.1 overs) | Malinga |