Sri Lanka chase 430 to beat England, pushing India's 406 down to third

Rawalpindi produced one of the most remarkable one-day internationals on record on Thursday. Sri Lanka chased down 430 against England with one delivery left and won by two wickets. England had piled up 429 for 4, and Sri Lanka finished on 430 for 8 in 49.5 overs.

The result changes the list of the biggest successful ODI chases. Only South Africa's 2006 pursuit against Australia in Johannesburg, which ended on 438 for 9, is now bigger. Sri Lanka's effort replaces India's 406 for 2, scored against the West Indies earlier in 2026, in second place. India therefore drop to third on that list.

It was the third match of the tri-series in Pakistan. The win gave Sri Lanka their first points in the event, and it was England's second defeat.

England's innings was historic in its own right. Captain Harry Brook hit 202 off 116 balls, with 21 fours and 10 sixes. He became the first Englishman to make an ODI double century, beating Ben Stokes' 182 against New Zealand at The Oval in 2023. The innings has also been described as the fastest ODI double hundred. He had plenty of support. Will Jacks made 66 off only 30 balls, Joe Root scored 69 off 66, and Tom Banton added a steady 50 off 51.

Sam Curran's nine overs cost 103 runs. Josh Tongue took three wickets but conceded 79.

Sri Lanka lost two wickets early, but Avishka Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake steadied the innings. Fernando played aggressively for 97 off 83 balls and missed a hundred by three runs. Rathnayake anchored the chase with 130 off 106 balls, his second ODI century.

Dasun Shanaka then walked in at number five and took the game away from England. He and Rathnayake added a rapid 133 for the fourth wicket. Shanaka made 97 off 50 balls with eight sixes, and like Fernando he fell three short of a hundred. Janith Liyanage held his nerve at the end and finished unbeaten with a half-century. He hit the winning six off Tongue over long-off.

Captain Kusal Mendis praised the side's character and belief after the win. He said he enjoyed leading the team through the chase.

The match was also a feast of runs in total. The two sides scored 859 between them.

For Indian fans, the result carries a few lessons. India's 406 chase had sat in second place for only a short time. It shows how quickly batting limits are being pushed in the 50-over game, with flat pitches, powerful hitters and a lot of depth in the batting order.

Sri Lanka's win also shows that no target is safe if a side has hitters down to number seven or eight. India will play Sri Lanka and England in white-ball cricket in future, and their bowlers will need to prepare for that kind of assault. Death-over plans and a fifth or sixth bowler who can hold an end will matter more than ever.

With next year's World Cup approaching, the win is a significant confidence boost for Sri Lanka. England, meanwhile, will need to look at their bowling options after this defeat.