Tom Banton’s first worldwide century paved the best way for England to cap off a turbulent summer season with a ODI series-clinching thrashing of Sri Lanka.
Banton hit an impressive 126 to set his facet on the right track for a 223-run win on the Kia Oval, sealing a 2-1 victory within the sequence.
After a setback at Headingley made this season-ending conflict a decider, England completed on a excessive to conclude a marketing campaign that can be in any other case remembered for Ben Stokes’ shock retirement and Brendon McCullum’s removing as Check head coach.
Banton’s coming-of-age knock, which noticed him rating 70 of the primary 108 runs to outshine extra skilled team-mates, cemented his claims to be a part of the brand new chapter that’s now unfolding.
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Rhythm
The identical is true of Jordan Cox, stepping in for the injured Jos Buttler, who noticed England to an imposing whole of 355 for seven with breezy knock of 76 in his first one-day look in two years.
Sri Lanka made a large number of their chase, sliding to 132 all out with 20 overs unused after their harmful prime three folded.
The vacationers loved the right begin when Dilshan Madushanka toppled Ben Duckett for a duck along with his second ball, nevertheless it proved a minor setback.
Banton settled into a gentle rhythm virtually instantly, making up for an unusually scrappy begin from Joe Root.
Pathum Nissanka spared him on 15 when he shelled a ‘gimme’ at slip however Root added simply three extra earlier than falling lbw to Janith Liyanage, repeating his latest struggles within the Check enviornment.
Remarkably, England’s premier participant was simply the fourth worldwide wicket Liyanage had taken in his 53rd look.
PICTURES: Nigel French/PA
Making it rely
Banton was having no such worries, breezing away to a run-a-ball half-century, whereas Harry Brook battled a sticky begin of his personal.
Like Root he was dropped early, a thick edge off Dunith Wellalage failing to stay in Kusal Mendis’ gloves on seven, however in contrast to his Yorkshire team-mate he made it rely.
He had pieced collectively 16 off his first 31 balls, lacking a number of scoops as he looked for some tempo, when it lastly clicked.
His subsequent 35 balls disappeared for 61, a punishing sq. drive off Liyanage getting Brook going earlier than he unloaded a spread of heavy blows.
He plundered Liyanage’s closing over for 17, then stooped to hammer Sachindu Colombage for an enormous six over long-on.
Maiden ton
With 30 overs gone England have been primed at 157 for 2, with Banton looking down his private milestone after lacking out in Leeds when set on 73.
He raced into the 90s with a pair of sixes, a sweetly-struck hook and a magnificently-timed reverse sweep, then reached his ton by crashing Wellalage via extra-cover for 4.
A mishit off Asitha Fernando stopped Brook quick on 77, ending the partnership at 150, and Banton was lower off in full circulate when he picked out long-on.
He took within the acclaim of the group, celebrating a maiden ton in his 53rd look general – together with 10 ODIs and 43 T20s.
Harm was achieved
Cox made certain the momentum didn’t dip, taking cost of the demise overs in a fashion Buttler would have been pleased with, hitting the ropes six instances and clearing them twice in a 52-ball keep.
Fernando bowled Cox and Liam Dawson with the final two deliveries of the innings, however the injury was already achieved.
Sonny Baker opened England’s account within the subject with an unplayable ball that tailed in then flicked Nissanka’s edge because it straightened off the pitch, and by the 10-over mark the whole prime three was gone.
Gus Atkinson obtained the higher of Kamindu Mendis and Kusal, each caught at midwicket aiming large. From there, resistance was flimsy.
Jofra Archer ran out Pavan Rathnayake with a direct hit and the decrease order bombed, Liam Dawson taking three for 26 with one apiece for Root, Jamie Overton and Will Jacks.
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