Duckett and Dawson earn England consolation win over Sri Lanka in ODI tri-series

Lahore, Oct 29 (AP) Ben Duckett's second straight century and Liam Dawson's career-best 4-49 earned England a 55-run consolation win over Sri Lanka in a cricket tri-series Thursday.

    Duckett's career-best 167 off 132 balls propelled England to 386-5 — the highest-ever ODI score at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore — after Kusal Mendis won his seventh successive toss on the tour and elected to field.

    Pavan Rathnayake followed his century in Sri Lanka's astonishing run-chase against England at Rawalpindi last week with 118 off 77 balls before falling to Dawson in the 45th over as Sri Lanka got bowled out for 331.

    It was England's first ODI win in Pakistan since 2005 after it lost its first three games in this tri-series and was already out of contention for Saturday's final.

    Last week, England captain Harry Brook's fastest-ever ODI double-century wasn't enough to stop Sri Lanka from successfully chasing down the second highest-ever total of 430 runs in the 50-over format.

    Shadab Khan trumped Duckett's hundred and smashed an extraordinary 113 off 96 balls in Pakistan's epic one-wicket win at Lahore on Sunday after England had reduced the home team to 154-9 in a chase of 242.

    England crashed to 87-run defeat in its opening match against Pakistan after cruising to 120-1 in a chase 303-run target at Rawalpindi.

     Rathnayake century goes in vain

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     Rathnayake's third ODI century against England this year kept Sri Lanka in the hunt for another big chase in the tournament after Mendis opted to field for the fourth consecutive time.

    Mendis made 89 off 71 balls and rebuilt the chase with 84-run second-wicket stand with Avishka Fernando, who scored 48, after Kamindu Mendis was clean bowled by Sonny Baker in the fourth over for 4.

    Dawson broke the stand in the 17th over when Fernando was caught by Will Jacks on the edge of extra cover boundary but Mendis and Rathnayake kept on accelerating with another 80-run partnership.

    Brook turned to Joe Root in the 27th over and the off-spinner struck when Mendis got a faint edge to wicketkeeper while trying to sweep. Rathnayake then took charge and together with Janith Liyanage, who struck three sixes in his cameo of 27, and Sahan Arachchige (30) added half-century stands as bowlers found it difficult to grip the wet ball because of dew.

    But Dawson took the game away from Sri Lanka when Rathnayake, who hit 15 fours and a six, miscued a sweep against the left-arm spinner and top-edged to fine leg as England claimed the last three wickets for three runs for its first win.

     Openers Duckett and Banton set up platform

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     Duckett's sixth ODI hundred and Tom Banton's 74 off 75 balls gave England a strong platform of finishing big as they shared 163-run opening stand in 25 overs.

    Brook, batting at No. 3 for the first time in ODIs, made 44 and put on another brisk 107 off 75 balls with Duckett as they carried England to 270-2 in the 38th over.

    Duckett continued his fine form by playing some exquisite shots with 17 of his 24 boundaries coming on the leg-side of the wicket as he surpassed his previous ODI best of 165 made against Australia at the same Gaddafi Stadium during the Champions Trophy last year.

    He completed his century off 89 balls and then upped the ante with Brook. Asitha Fernando (2-63) was the pick of the bowlers and dismissed Brook when the England captain tried to scoop the pace bowler but got a leading edge and offered a return catch.

    Duckett soon followed when he scooped Sri Lanka's most expensive bowler Eshan Malinga (1-101) to short fine leg in the 42nd over, but England still managed to score 94 runs off the final 10 overs.

    Jacks made 30 off 21 balls while Jordon Cox scored 43 off 27 balls and Sam Curran was unbeaten on 21. AP

KHS

KHS

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)