Sri Lanka completed the second-highest successful run chase in one-day international history on Thursday, hunting down England's 430-run target with one ball to spare in a Pakistan ODI Tri-Series classic at Rawalpindi. It came just hours after Harry Brook's record double century had seemed to settle the game — covered by GlobalDeskNews earlier this evening. This is what happened next.
Quick Answer: Sri Lanka beat England by two wickets in Rawalpindi on October 22, 2026, chasing 430 — the second-highest successful ODI chase ever. Janith Liyanage's unbeaten 61, including a six off the penultimate ball, sealed victory with one ball remaining, overshadowing Harry Brook's record 202.
How Sri Lanka Pulled Off the Impossible Chase
Chasing 430 looked like a lost cause when Sri Lanka slipped to 24 for two. England, powered by captain Harry Brook's sensational 202, had posted 429 for four — their first 400-plus ODI total on Pakistani soil.
Pavan Rathnayake had other ideas. The opener anchored the chase with a commanding 130, steadying the innings with Avishka Fernando in a 166-run third-wicket stand. Fernando fell for 97, caught off Jamie Overton. Then Dasun Shanaka produced the innings of the night: a blistering 97 off just 50 balls, with eight sixes and six fours, in a 133-run partnership with Rathnayake off only 79 deliveries.
Needing eight runs off the final over, Sri Lanka lost two wickets in successive deliveries to paceman Josh Tongue. Then Liyanage did what great finishers do: he smashed a six off the penultimate ball, and Sri Lanka reached 430 for eight with one delivery remaining, winning by two wickets.
Brook's Record Knock in a Losing Cause
Before the chase stole the show, the day had belonged to Brook. The England captain reached his double century in just 114 deliveries — the fastest in ODI history, beating Shubman Gill's previous record of 117 balls set against the West Indies last month. He became the first England batter to score a double century in men's ODI cricket, clobbering 10 sixes and 21 fours.
He was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings, caught off Liyanage, but not before England had added 156 runs in the last 10 overs. Joe Root's 66-ball 69 made him the first England batter to complete 8,000 ODI runs, in his 197th one-day international, while Tom Banton (50) and Will Jacks (66 not out off 30) added the late fireworks. The previous highest ODI total at a Pakistan venue was 375 for three — England sailed 54 runs past it, and still lost.
The Records That Fell in Rawalpindi
The numbers from Thursday night tell the story of a match that rewrote the record books:
- Second-highest successful ODI chase: Sri Lanka's 430 sits behind only South Africa's famous 438 against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006, when the Proteas chased a 435-run target.
- First 400-plus chase against England: The Daily Mirror reported that no team had ever successfully chased a target above 400 against England in an ODI before.
- Fastest ODI double century: Brook's 200 in 114 balls, and the first double hundred by an England player in the format.
- 8,000 ODI runs: Joe Root became the first Englishman to reach the landmark.
- Highest ODI total in Pakistan: England's 429 for four smashed the previous venue record of 375 for three.
What the Captains Said
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis was delighted at the victory, and pointed to the belief inside his dressing room.
"I'm very happy as a captain," said Mendis. "Everyone believed we can do it. Every day we talk about showing the character in team meetings, and it's about showing we can get any score."
Brook was full of praise for Sri Lanka, and remarkably downbeat about his own record innings.
"Incredible game of cricket, both teams were exceptional. They played exceptional cricket to knock off 400," said Brook, downplaying his double hundred. "It was a nice innings but being on the losing side it has no value whatsoever in my eyes."
Why It Matters
Chases of this size change how teams think about what is possible in 50-over cricket. Twenty years after South Africa's 438, the 430 mark always looked untouchable — Sri Lanka have now shown it is not. And for England, the warning is stark: even a record-breaking individual performance and a total of 429 cannot be defended without sustained pressure through all 50 overs.
What Happens Next
The tri-series moves to Lahore, where unbeaten Pakistan — winners over both Sri Lanka and England in their two games so far — take on England on Sunday. England must regroup after conceding the second-highest chase in history; Sri Lanka will carry enormous confidence into their remaining fixtures. With 429 being chased down, expect more fireworks before this series is done.
Key Takeaways
- Sri Lanka chased 430 to beat England by two wickets in Rawalpindi — the second-highest successful ODI chase in history.
- Janith Liyanage's unbeaten 61, sealed with a six off the penultimate ball, finished it with one ball to spare.
- Harry Brook's 202 was the fastest ODI double century ever (114 balls) and the first by an England player — in a losing cause.
- Rathnayake (130), Fernando (97) and Shanaka (97 off 50) powered the chase after Sri Lanka slipped to 24 for two.
- Pakistan, unbeaten in the tri-series, face England in Lahore on Sunday.
FAQs
What was the result of the Sri Lanka vs England ODI in Rawalpindi?
Sri Lanka beat England by two wickets, chasing down a target of 430 to finish on 430 for eight in 49.5 overs. Janith Liyanage finished unbeaten on 61 and hit a six off the penultimate ball to seal the win with one delivery remaining in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series match on October 22, 2026.
Is Sri Lanka's 430 the highest successful chase in ODI history?
No — it is the second-highest. The record remains South Africa's 438 for nine against Australia in Johannesburg in 2006, when they chased a 435-run target. Sri Lanka's 430 is the next best, and the first successful ODI chase of a target above 400 against England.
How many runs did Harry Brook score against Sri Lanka?
Harry Brook scored 202 for England in Rawalpindi, reaching his double century in just 114 balls — the fastest double hundred in ODI history, beating Shubman Gill's previous record of 117 balls. He hit 10 sixes and 21 fours, and it was the first ODI double century by an England player.
Who were Sri Lanka's top scorers in the 430 chase?
Pavan Rathnayake led the way with 130, sharing a 166-run third-wicket stand with Avishka Fernando, who made 97. Dasun Shanaka then blasted 97 off 50 balls in a 133-run partnership with Rathnayake off just 79 deliveries, before Janith Liyanage's unbeaten 61 finished the job.
What did the captains say after the match?
Mendis said: "Everyone believed we can do it. Every day we talk about showing the character in team meetings, and it's about showing we can get any score." England's Harry Brook praised Sri Lanka and said of his own 202: "It was a nice innings but being on the losing side it has no value whatsoever in my eyes."
When is the next match in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series?
Pakistan, who have beaten both Sri Lanka and England in their two games so far, face England in Lahore on Sunday in the next match of the tri-series. The series has already produced two of the most dramatic games of the year.
Sources
- SABC Sport — "Sri Lanka pull off second-highest successful chase in ODI history to beat England" (opened in full, October 23, 2026)
- SuperSport — "Sri Lanka stun England with huge chase after Brook's 202" (opened in full, October 23, 2026; source of both captains' verbatim quotes)
- Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) — "Sri Lanka pull off record-breaking 430-run chase to beat England" (opened in full, October 23, 2026; published 2026-10-22T21:52:00+05:30)
By GlobalDeskNews Staff