England vs Sri Lanka: Tom Banton sets up huge win in series decider

Third Metro Bank one-day international, Kia Oval

England 355-7 (50 overs): Banton 126, Brook 77, Cox 76

Sri Lanka 132 (29.1 overs): Kusal 35; Dawson 3-26

England won by 223 runs

Scorecard

Tom Banton delivered on all of his potential by crashing a brilliant first international century as England wrapped up their summer with an ODI series win over Sri Lanka.

The 27-year-old right-hander was once the rising star of English cricket when handed a debut in 2019 but afterwards fell out of love with the game after losing his way.

After reaching his hundred in 95 balls in the third one-day international at The Oval, he stood with arms wide and looked to the sky – all of that disappointment seemingly behind him.

The opener went on to make 126 from 105 deliveries, perfectly countering tricky early conditions – conditions in which Joe Root struggled uncharacteristically for 18 from 37 balls – and going on to share an increasingly aggressive stand of 150 in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook.

Brook made 77 and Jordan Cox, picked in the place of the injured Jos Buttler, added a 52-ball 76 to lift England to 355-7.

That always appeared a match-winning total on a surface offering bounce for the pace bowlers and turn for the spinners.

Sri Lanka crumbled to 132 all out in 29.1 overs, giving England a 223-run win and their biggest ODI victory against the tourists.

It meant England signed off their summer, one that included off-field issues, the end of Bazball, Ben Stokes’ retirement and Root’s surprise return as Test skipper, with a fifth successive series win amid the madness across formats.