- Published
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
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.
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England → publish → 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.
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hander → rise → 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.
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all → reach → him
"My fiance, Lilly, was here and all of her family," Banton said.
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Banton → say → family
"Unfortunately, my mum, dad and brother weren't here because whenever my mum seems to come I don't do that well.
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I → seem → that
"Bless her, she is not banned from coming, but she avoids coming now."
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.
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Root → bless → Brook
"To score a hundred for England is just the best feeling on earth," Banton said.
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Banton → score → earth
"I don't think anything is going to beat it."
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anything → think → it
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.
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Cox → pick → 7
That always appeared a match-winning total on a surface offering bounce for the pace bowlers and turn for the spinners.
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That → appear → 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.
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Lanka → crumble → 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.
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that → mean → formats
When, fresh out of Second XI cricket, he made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2019 he was seen as England's next big thing.
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he → make → thing
He was in the same England Under-19 team as Brook but, rather than the Yorkshireman who is now captain, it was the Somerset product who was given the opportunity when Eoin Morgan's World Cup-winning side needed a fresh face on its journey forward.
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side → give → journey
Tougher times followed, resulting in almost five years out of the 50-over side and only occasional T20 appearances.
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times → follow → side
During that time Kevin Pietersen, now an England mentor, said Banton "has all the talent but, at the moment, he is wasting it".
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he → say → it
It was comparisons to Pietersen which Banton struggled with.
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Banton → struggle → which
Last week, Banton said remains "in awe" of the iconic England batter.
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Banton → say → batter
With thrilling reverse sweeps here, he showed the invention that drew those comparisons.
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that → show → comparisons
He was also vicious on the pull, hit classically through the covers and, when Ben Duckett was bowled in the second over and Root faced 13 dot balls in a row, did not panic.
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Root → hit → row
By the time he was dismissed he had hit 16 fours and five sixes.
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he → dismiss → fours
When he walked off he turned and raised his bat amid a standing ovation from The Oval crowd – as Pietersen famously did 21 years ago.
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Pietersen → walk → crowd
England show their depth
Banton only has the opportunity as opener here because of Jacob Bethell's injury.
He may find himself out of the XI when England begin a tri-series in Pakistan - a series that also involves Sri Lanka - on 20 October.
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that → show → October
The tourists, impressive in setting up this decider on Thursday, were poor here.
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tourists → set → Thursday
They had already dropped Root before he was dismissed and wicketkeeper and captain Kusal Mendis spilled a thick edge when Brook had seven.
Afterwards the England captain started slowly but he kicked it into life from a position of 108-2 after 25 overs.
Also encouraging was the performance of Cox, whose knock also built on a slow start and followed an impressive run in the Test side against Pakistan.
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knock → drop → Pakistan
Sonny Baker, recalled for his second ODI in place of Josh Tongue, nicked off Pathum Nissanka with a quick, swinging and rising delivery two balls into the second over, after which Sri Lanka did not recover.
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Lanka → recall → which
Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also repaid the faith for his inclusion over Rehan Ahmed with figures of 3-26.
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Dawson → repay → 3
This summer has provided so many issues for England, including the end of Brendon McCullum's reign as Test coach.
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summer → provide → coach
Still his ODI side now has momentum - a third series win a row - as it builds towards next year's World Cup.
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it → have → Cup
Series in Pakistan, Australia and South Africa are to come this winter.
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Series → come → Pakistan
The Aporia
