Away the lads for Brook

SKIPPER HAILS ‘AWESOME’ ROOT AND SPINNERS AFTER OVERDUE WIN

- BY SCOTT HUNT

HARRY BROOK saluted an “awesome” innings from Joe Root and praised his battery of spinners as England ended their long wait for an away ODI win.

Root's 75 led England to their target of 220 and a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI to level the three-match series 1-1.

Brook used six spinners in Colombo, bowling 41 overs and taking a combined 7-130 as England played Sri Lanka at their own game on a turning wicket.

The success of England’s spin attack left them with a chaseable target.

It was a first ODI victory on their travels since Brendon McCullum added the white-ball job to his Test role 12 months ago, ending an 11-match losing streak in total.

Brook played a key hand with 42 and shared an 81-run partnership with Root after England began to wobble.

He said watching his fellow Yorkshireman bat from the other end was a pleasure.