- Published
Second Metro Bank one-day international, Headingley
Sri Lanka 321-6 (50 overs): Kusal 121, Kamindu 54; Ahmed 2-48
England 305-9 (50 overs): Banton 73, Buttler 69; Wellalage 3-49
Sri Lanka won by 16 runs
Jos Buttler's bravery came in vain as Sri Lanka fought back to beat England in the second one-day international at Headingley and set up a series decider at The Oval.
asserted
Lanka → publish → Oval
Needing 68 from 75 balls, England were cruising towards a target of 322 until Buttler retired hurt on 67 after tweaking a hamstring.
asserted
Buttler → need → hamstring
When Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton fell, Buttler re-emerged with 27 now needed from 14 balls and witnessed Will Jacks fall for 52 at the non-striker's end.
asserted
Jacks → fall → end
England were left needing 19 from the last with Buttler on strike but, barely able to hobble a single, he holed out at deep mid-wicket.
asserted
he → leave → wicket
England finished on 306-9 as Sri Lanka won by 16 runs.
asserted
Lanka → finish → runs
Buttler had earlier shown flashes of his vintage best in hitting Sri Lanka's spinners for five sixes, putting England on course after collapse of 3-14 spoiled an opening stand of 143 between Tom Banton and Ben Duckett.
asserted
collapse → show → Banton
Sri Lanka were fortunate for the way he was abruptly halted but deserve credit for the way their seamers used reverse swing afterwards to deny England's lower order.
asserted
seamers → halt → order
Their captain Kusal Mendis also hit a fine 122 in their 321-6.
asserted
captain → hit → 321
The series, and the international summer, concludes on Sunday from 10:30 BST.
asserted
series → conclude → BST
It is a defeat for England, one which halts their momentum a touch as they build towards next year's 50-over World Cup.
asserted
they → halt → Cup
They will do well to find situations like these again when the bigger moments come.
asserted
moments → do → these
"It is always disappointing when you lose," captain Brook said.
"Sri Lanka played exceptionally well there, especially the last 10-15 overs.
asserted
Lanka → lose → ?
There were plenty of moments in the game we could have been slightly better."
uncertain
we → be → game
One positive was the batting of Buttler before injury struck.
asserted
injury → strike → Buttler
He has not scored a century in this format for three-and-a-half years and had his T20 form doubted earlier this year at the World Cup.
asserted
form → score → Cup
The way he took down the spinners was brutal.
asserted
he → take → spinners
When he was flying, England were on course for their highest chase at this ground.
asserted
England → fly → ground
The opening stand between Banton and Duckett was also impressive - reminiscent of England's brightest ODIs days as they thrashed around the bowling at more than seven runs an over.
asserted
they → thrash → runs
That neither pressed on – Duckett was bowled for 67 and Banton stumped for 73, both to left-arm spinner Dinuth Wellalage – was disappointing.
asserted
both → press → Wellalage
There were also rare failures for Joe Root who made 15 and Harry Brook, the latter also pinned in front lbw for one by Wellalage.
asserted
latter → be → Wellalage
Perhaps more concerning was that the lower order were unable to support Jacks in his quest to push England over the line again.
asserted
were → support → line
That aspect must improve over England's three white-ball series that come before mid-January.
asserted
that → improve → January
Captain Kusal stands up for Sri Lanka
This has been a difficult tour for Sri Lanka, who were outclassed in the 3-0 T20 series defeat and well beaten by 89 runs in the first ODI at Chester-le-Street.
asserted
who → stand → Street
This, especially given the bad start with the ball, will be a significant boost to morale.
asserted
This → give → morale
Kusal was troubled early on by Overton's bouncers, top-edging one into a gap soon after Atkinson dropped a simple chance at fine leg when the right-hander had 17 - another England error.
asserted
hander → trouble → 17
The Sri Lanka captain also had to overturn a caught-behind decision on 99 when Overton was the bowler again.
asserted
Overton → have → 99
Kusal was eventually caught on the boundary trying to clear deep mid-wicket off Ahmed, who also had Charith Asalanka caught in the same position for 2-48 but did not offer the control usually brought by Adil Rashid.
asserted
Asalanka → catch → Rashid
Josh Tongue struggled with his lines for 0-50 in seven overs.
asserted
Tongue → struggle → overs
Atkinson, who took 2-55, and Overton, who had another catch dropped in the final over, in taking 0-63 from 10 were England's best bowling performers.
asserted
who → take → 10
"Tight games are always good games to watch and good games to be a part of," Brook added.
asserted
Brook → watch → ?
"Having the opportunity to play in a decider will only benefit us."
asserted
Having → have → us
The Aporia
