Duckett and Dawson secure England win over Sri Lanka

Ben Duckett scored 167 runs from 132 balls to propel England to 386-5 against Sri Lanka at the Gaddafi Stadium, according to The Guardian. The innings arrived as a dead rubber after England lost their opening three matches of the tri-series in Pakistan.

Ben Duckett and Liam Dawson Secure Consolation Victory for England

Sri Lanka threatened a repeat of their successful chase of 430 in Rawalpindi earlier in the tour, needing 87 runs from the last 10 overs with Pavan Rathnayake closing in on a century, The Guardian reported. Rathnayake made 118 before Liam Dawson dismissed him, sparking a collapse where the final five wickets fell within the space of three overs. Dawson finished with figures of four for 49, securing a 55-run victory for England.

Duckett anchored the innings alongside Tom Banton, putting on 163 for the first wicket in 25 overs, according to Yahoo Sports. Banton contributed 74 runs from 75 balls before dragging a delivery from Dasun Shanaka onto his stumps. Harry Brook then promoted himself to number three, adding 44 runs from 34 balls before falling to Asitha Fernando.

Squad Selection Dilemmas and Scoring Comparisons Across Outlets

The prolific opening partnership between Duckett and Banton has presented England selectors with a team selection problem ahead of Jacob Bethell’s return from injury in Australia, The Guardian and the BBC noted. Banton registered five scores above fifty in six innings during the tour. England coach Brendon McCullum told Sky Sports after the match that having players push for opportunities represents a good problem for the team.

While Yahoo Sports reported Eshan Malinga as conceding 101 runs from 10 overs without taking a wicket until Duckett’s dismissal in the 42nd over, The Guardian highlighted Asitha Fernando as Sri Lanka’s most effective bowler with two wickets for 63 runs. Jordan Cox added 43 runs from 27 balls, Will Jacks contributed 30, and Sam Curran finished unbeaten on 21.

Match Statistics at the Gaddafi Stadium

England Innings Batting Summary
Batter Dismissal Runs Balls
Ben Duckett b Eshan Malinga 167 132
Tom Banton b Dasun Shanaka 74 75
Harry Brook b Asitha Fernando 44 34
Jordan Cox c 43 27
Will Jacks not specified 30 not specified
Sam Curran not out 21 12

Frequently Asked Questions About the Tri-Series Match

Who won the tri-series match between England and Sri Lanka in Lahore?

England defeated Sri Lanka by 55 runs after defending a total of 386-5 at the Gaddafi Stadium on Thursday.

Ben Duckett celebrates a century v Sri Lanka
Photo: BBC

Which teams advanced to the tri-series final?

Sri Lanka and Pakistan secured their places in Saturday’s final in Lahore, having eliminated England prior to this fixture.

What was Ben Duckett’s previous highest ODI score at the venue?

Duckett previously scored 165 against Australia during the Champions Trophy at the same venue last year, surpassing that mark with his 167 against Sri Lanka.