Root leads England to overdue win to level the series

ENGLAND won their first away ODI under Brendon McCullum as Joe Root led them to a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Colombo to level the three-match series.

- By SCOTT HUNT

Since adding the white-ball position to his Test role in January 2025, McCullum had overseen 10 ODI losses in a row on England's travels.

The tourists knew a second defeat in Colombo in three days would ensure they had won only one of their last eight 50-over series but produced a strong all-round display to make it 1-1 ahead of Tuesday's decider.

Captain Harry Brook deployed 41 overs of spin in an impressive bowling performance to bowl Sri Lanka out for 219 before Root made an imperious 75 on a slow wicket under lights to lead England home. Following a dismal Ashes tour which culminated in a 4-1 defeat, this was a morale-boosting win which helps limit the damage to England’s world ranking as pressure builds on their automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

England played Sri Lanka at their own game by using six spinners, who claimed a combined seven for 180.