Jos Buttler injury derails England as Sri Lanka seal 16-run win in second ODI to level series

Thursday, 24 September 2026 22:28

Sri Lanka showed great fight to halt England’s chase and clinch a 16-run victory, levelling the three-match ODI series at 1-1 at Headingley in Leeds.

It was a match filled with drama encapsulated by Jos Buttler's innings. Buttler looked like he was going to be the match-winner but in the 38th over, he had to retire hurt after pulling up with England on 254-4 due to what appeared to be a hamstring injury.

Buttler limped back out in the 48th over but could add only two more runs before being dismissed. Will Jacks (52), Rehan Ahmed (0), Gus Atkinson (16) and Jamie Overton (2) also fell as England's chase floundered, with just one four and one six coming from the 37th over onwards.

Scorecard: England vs Sri Lanka, second ODI
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It was a remarkable comeback from Sri Lanka after Ben Duckett (67) and Tom Banton (73) had given England an incredibly strong start, but inspired bowling from Dunith Wellalage (3-49) proved decisive, alongside a sensational 121 from Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis.

The series will now be decided on Sunday September 27 at The Kia Oval, with first ball at 10.30am, live on Sky Sports.

A tale of two spells: Sri Lanka start badly and end exceptionally

When Sri Lanka set England a target of 322, the hosts would have been optimistic about chasing it down - even more so after Banton and Duckett made a blistering start, with Asitha Fernando (1-68) and Dilshan Madushanka (2-54) struggling for line and length.

England raced past 50 inside six overs and reached 82-0 after 10, needing 240 more for victory. It was their highest-ever ODI Powerplay score against Sri Lanka.

More milestones quickly followed, with Duckett bringing up his 10th ODI fifty in the 12th over before Banton reached his second in the 15th. The latter continued to canter towards a career-best score with England firmly in control.

Sri Lanka finally found the breakthroughs they needed through Wellalage, who single-handedly began to derail England's chase. His deceptive delivery accounted for Duckett for 67 before he caught Banton out of his crease.

Wellalage struck again when England captain Harry Brook (1) was trapped lbw two overs later, with Sri Lanka successfully reviewing the original decision. England were suddenly 157-3 and still needed 165.

Sachindu Colombage (1-55) then claimed the prized wicket of Joe Root (17). Although England passed 200, they still had plenty of work to do with 21 overs remaining.

Buttler looked like he could be the difference when he came to the crease, attacking from the outset and bringing up his 46th ODI half-century from just 36 balls.

But England's chase was derailed when Buttler suffered a hamstring injury while running between the wickets and had to retire hurt.

Jacks attempted to steady the innings and reached his half-century, but Sri Lanka steadily turned the screw, restricting the scoring rate before Ahmed, Atkinson and Overton all fell as the visitors' death bowling took control.

Buttler limped back out in a final attempt to rescue England, but could add only two more runs before Kamindu Mendis took the catch that dismissed him for a second time at the start of the 50th over.

That left Jofra Archer (0no) and Josh Tongue (1no) needing 19 from the final over. Only three runs came from it as Sri Lanka secured a victory full of character.

Kusal Mendis stars with sensational captain's knock

After winning the toss and electing to bat on a strong Headingley surface, Sri Lanka made a steady start. Pathum Nissanka (25) fell to the final ball of the ninth over, but the visitors still reached 46-1 at the end of the Powerplay.

From there, Kamindu Mendis (54) and captain Kusal Mendis (121) built an outstanding partnership. They took Sri Lanka past 100 in the 20th over before the boundaries began to flow.

Mendis brought up his half-century in the 23rd over and celebrated with a huge six. Kamindu then reached his fourth ODI fifty from 56 balls, with England's spin options Ahmed (2-48) and Jacks (0-33), as well as Tongue (0-55), coming under pressure.

England eventually got the breakthrough they needed in the 30th over when Brook caught Kamindu on the boundary.

Mendis continued to build despite losing his partner and brought up his century from just 82 balls in the 31st over, striking a four. His wicket had been preserved by a successful review on the previous delivery after he was initially given out caught behind, with UltraEdge showing no contact.

It was the Sri Lanka captain's seventh ODI century, featuring 12 fours and three sixes. It also made Atkinson's costly drop in the 15th over, when Mendis was only 17, even more significant.

Kusal Mendis eventually fell in the 36th over attempting another boundary, finding Banton in the deep to leave Sri Lanka 222-3.

Charith Asalanka (11), Pavan Rathnayake (47), Janith Liyanage (32), Wellalage (16no) and Sachindu Colombage (3no) all chipped in during the closing overs to push Sri Lanka to 321-5 - a total that proved just enough to level the series.

'Nothing special' - Kusal salutes Sri Lanka for doing the basics

Sri Lanka captain and player of the match Kusal Mendis (121 off 100 balls)…

"I'm so happy winning and getting the hundred. The overall performance was very good.

"We started really well and the middle order batted really well. Nothing special, basic cricket and I was very happy with 320, we wanted more than 300 on this pitch.

"Wellalage bowled really well, the whole team, after the powerplay. The guys gave 100 per cent.

"Today is finished and now we have to focus on the next game and do the basics right."

Brook: 'Back to the drawing board'

England captain Harry Brook…

"It was an outstanding game. You can look back and dwell on some many different areas but that is not what this team does, we go back to the drawing board and get ready for The Oval.

"We put up a really good fight with the ball. To restrict them to 320 and have the chance to chase that down was a hell of an effort.

"The lads got the chase off to a flyer. You couldn't really ask for much more. We probably stalled in that middle period and lost a few too many wickets, but the fight we showed was great.

"We've got a great opportunity now to try and win this series, and a great opportunity for 12 months' time. In pressure situations, like the one that awaits us at The Oval, it will be great to see where we are as a team."