Daijiworld Media Network - Rawalpindi
Rawalpindi, Oct 23: England and Sri Lanka produced a memorable contest in their ongoing tri-series in Rawalpindi on October 22, with Sri Lanka pulling off a remarkable chase of 430 runs to win the match despite Harry Brook's brilliant double century.
Batting first, England piled up 429 runs, with skipper Harry Brook leading the charge. Coming in after the fall of two wickets, Brook smashed 202 runs off just 116 deliveries to propel England to a formidable total.
However, Sri Lanka responded with an exceptional batting display to complete the 430-run chase. Pavan Rathnayake played a crucial role, scoring 130 runs off 106 balls to help his side secure a remarkable victory.
Despite his outstanding innings, Brook ended up on the losing side and set a unique record. His 202-run knock became the highest individual score in men's ODI cricket in a losing cause, surpassing previous notable performances.
Charles Coventry had scored an unbeaten 194 against Bangladesh in Bulawayo in 2009, while Pakistan's Fakhar Zaman scored 193 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2021. Scotland's George Munsey made 191 against the Netherlands in Dundee in 2025, while Australia's Matthew Hayden scored an unbeaten 181 against New Zealand in Hamilton in 2007.
Speaking after the match, Brook described the contest as an incredible game of cricket and acknowledged Sri Lanka's superior performance.
“Incredible game of cricket. I thought both teams were exceptional. Sri Lanka just outplayed us, unfortunately,” he said, admitting that England had struggled with the ball and allowed their opponents to exploit their strengths.
Brook also praised Sri Lanka for successfully chasing down a total of more than 400 runs, describing the achievement as remarkable.
Reflecting on his personal performance, the England captain said the double century had little significance because his team had lost the match. He added that England needed to return to the drawing board and address the shortcomings exposed during the game.