Jacks’ all-round masterclass powers England to 89-run win over Sri Lanka

Chester-le-Street, 23 September 2026: Will Jacks delivered with both bat and ball as England opened their three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka with an emphatic 89-run win at the Riverside Ground. The second match of the series will be played in Leeds on Thursday, 24 September.

Jacks first struck an unbeaten 46 to help England recover from a middle-order stumble and reach 265, before producing career-defining figures of 5-22 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 176 in just 37 overs.

England’s total was built around captain Harry Brook’s 67 from 69 balls, but the innings was far less comfortable than the final margin of victory suggested.

After electing to bat, England lost Tom Banton for 10 before Ben Duckett and Joe Root steadied the innings. Duckett’s brisk 32 helped take England to 67 before he was trapped lbw by Dunith Wellalage.

Root and Brook then put together the most important partnership of England’s innings, adding 68 for the third wicket and giving the hosts a platform from which a total well beyond 300 appeared possible.

Brook reached his half-century from 49 balls and looked increasingly comfortable before Dushmantha Chameera removed him for 67 with England 182-4.

That wicket changed the tempo of the innings.

Jos Buttler departed for 31 shortly afterwards and England slid from 182-3 to 211-7 as Sri Lanka’s bowlers found a way back into the contest.

Sachindu Colombage, making his ODI debut, played an important role in the recovery, dismissing Root, Buttler and Jamie Overton on his way to figures of 3-44. Asitha Fernando also claimed three wickets as England were bowled out in 48.1 overs.

The difference between a modest total and something England could defend was Jacks.

With wickets falling around him, he resisted the temptation to force the pace and remained unbeaten on 46 from 47 deliveries. His late contribution, supported by Gus Atkinson’s 14, pushed England to 265 and ensured Sri Lanka faced a demanding chase under the Chester-le-Street lights.

Sri Lanka never established the partnership required to seriously threaten the target.

Kamindu Mendis fell for 14 before Pathum Nissanka was removed for 27, leaving the tourists 48-2.

Captain Kusal Mendis attempted to rebuild the innings with a patient 42 from 60 balls, but England repeatedly found wickets just as Sri Lanka appeared to be settling.

Pavan Rathnayake was removed by Jamie Overton for 13 and Charith Asalanka lasted only three balls before Jacks trapped him lbw for one.

When Janith Liyanage fell for four, Sri Lanka had slumped to 100-5. Jacks then struck the decisive blow by dismissing Kusal Mendis at 105-6, effectively ending any realistic hope of a successful chase.

Dunith Wellalage refused to concede the match quietly.

The all-rounder counter-attacked with 45 from only 36 balls, striking five fours and two sixes as Sri Lanka briefly found some momentum late in the innings.

But Jacks returned to end Wellalage’s resistance before removing Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka in the space of four deliveries to complete his five-wicket haul and bring the match to a sudden finish.

Sri Lanka lost their final three wickets without adding a run, collapsing from 176-7 to 176 all out.

It completed a remarkable individual performance from Jacks, whose unbeaten 46 had earlier repaired England’s innings before his off-spin dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle and lower order.

England’s 89-run victory gives them a 1-0 advantage in the three-match ODI series.

Scores in brief

England 265 all out in 48.1 overs (Harry Brook 67, Will Jacks 46 not out, Joe Root 44; Sachindu Colombage 3-44, Asitha Fernando 3-53)

Sri Lanka 176 all out in 37 overs (Dunith Wellalage 45, Kusal Mendis 42, Pathum Nissanka 27; Will Jacks 5-22, Jamie Overton 2-21)

England won by 89 runs

Player of the Match: Will Jacks (46 not out and 5-22)

Series: England lead the three-match ODI series 1-0