Kusal Mendis leads Sri Lanka fightback as England fall short at Headingley

Leeds, 25 September 2026: Sri Lanka turned what looked like an increasingly difficult evening at Headingley into a significant 16-run victory over England, with Kusal Mendis' superb century and a timely spin intervention from Dunith Wellalage ensuring the three-match ODI series will go to a decider.

The third match of the series will be played at the Oval on Sunday, 27 September.

For much of England's chase, Sri Lanka were under pressure. Tom Banton and Ben Duckett had made 322 appear considerably less imposing than it looked at the innings break, racing through the opening stages and putting on 143 for the first wicket.

The match changed once Wellalage entered the picture.

Duckett, who had struck nine boundaries in his 67, was the first to go when Wellalage bowled him in the 20th over. Banton followed soon afterwards for 73, before Harry Brook was trapped lbw for one.

England had suddenly slipped from 143 without loss to 157 for three, and Sri Lanka had found a way back into a contest that had been drifting away from them.

That spell proved crucial because England never completely regained the control they had enjoyed during the opening stand.

Jos Buttler launched a counterattack, striking 69 from just 49 balls, while Will Jacks battled his way to 52. Their contributions kept the required rate manageable and forced Sri Lanka to remain disciplined deep into the innings.

But the visitors found wickets whenever England appeared ready to take command again.

Dilshan Madushanka removed Rehan Ahmed and later dismissed Buttler after the England wicketkeeper-batter had returned following a spell retired hurt. Eshan Malinga then accounted for Gus Atkinson and Jacks as the chase unravelled late.

England eventually finished on 305 for nine, 16 runs short of their target.

The result owed much to the platform Sri Lanka had created earlier through Kusal Mendis.

Coming in after Pathum Nissanka's dismissal with the score on 45, Mendis initially worked alongside Kamindu Mendis to rebuild the innings before steadily increasing the pressure on England's attack.

Kamindu's 54 from 65 balls gave Sri Lanka stability, but it was Kusal who transformed a useful position into a potentially match-winning total.

His acceleration was particularly important. After reaching fifty from 47 balls, he needed only another 35 deliveries to complete his hundred and continued attacking England's bowlers until Rehan Ahmed dismissed him for 121.

The innings contained 14 fours and three sixes and gave Sri Lanka the freedom to attack through the closing overs.

Pavan Rathnayake contributed a valuable 48 from 39 deliveries, Janith Liyanage added 32 from 26 and Wellalage chipped in with an unbeaten 16 as Sri Lanka scored 84 runs from the final 10 overs to reach 321 for six.

That late acceleration ultimately mattered.

England's opening partnership showed how good the Headingley surface remained for batting, but Sri Lanka's ability to create wickets through the middle overs separated the two sides.

Wellalage finished with three for 49 from his 10 overs, an economical spell in the context of a match in which more than 620 runs were scored.

Kusal Mendis was named Player of the Match for his century, but Sri Lanka's victory was built on more than one innings. Their batting provided the total, while their spinners ensured England were never allowed to fully capitalise on one of the strongest possible starts to the chase.

The 16-run win levels the series at 1-1 and sets up a deciding third ODI.

Scores in brief:

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs

Sri Lanka 321-6 (Kusal Mendis 121, Kamindu Mendis 54, Pavan Rathnayake 48; Gus Atkinson 2-55, Rehan Ahmed 2-48)

England 305-9 (Tom Banton 73, Jos Buttler 69, Ben Duckett 67, Will Jacks 52; Dunith Wellalage 3-49, Dilshan Madushanka 2-54, Eshan Malinga 2-50)

Player of the match – Kusal Mendis