Brook hits fastest ODI 200, but Sri Lanka chase 430 in Rawalpindi to stun England
Harry Brook's 202 lifted England to 429-4. Sri Lanka still won by two wickets, with a six off the second-last ball.
Rawalpindi has seen big scores this month, but Thursday was something else. Harry Brook made the fastest double hundred in ODI history, England posted 429 for 4, and they still lost. Sri Lanka got to 430 for 8 with one ball to spare and won the tri-series match by two wickets.
It is the second-highest successful chase in ODI history, according to Sky Sports, and only the third time a team has chased more than 400.
Brook’s record day
Brook, who is England’s captain, finished on 202, with 21 fours and 10 sixes. Sky Sports puts the innings at 116 balls and cricket.com.au at 114. Either way, both say it is the quickest ODI double century ever, and he is the first England batter to reach 200 in the format. He also went past Ben Stokes’ 182, the previous best by an Englishman.
He did not start fast. cricket.com.au reports he was 13 off his first 24 balls before taking off. Joe Root made 69 and became the first England player to pass 8,000 ODI runs, and Will Jacks hit 66 not out off 30 balls as the pair added 156 in the last ten overs.
Brook was out to the final ball of the innings, caught by Sahan Arachchige off Janith Liyanage.
How Sri Lanka did it
Sri Lanka lost two wickets early, including Kusal Mendis, run out without facing a ball. Then Avishka Fernando (97) and Pavan Rathnayake (130 off 106 balls) put on 166 for the third wicket.
Dasun Shanaka kept the rate under control with 97 off 50 balls. With 8 needed from the last over, Josh Tongue took two wickets in two balls, and England briefly looked like escaping. Janith Liyanage, unbeaten on 61 off 27 balls, then hit the next delivery for six to finish it.
Sam Curran had a day to forget, conceding more than 100 runs.
What Brook said
Brook did not dwell on the record. “Unfortunately it doesn’t mean anything now being on the losing side,” he told Sky Sports, adding that Sri Lanka had “played an absolute blinder.”
Where this leaves Pakistan
Good news for the hosts. After three games, Pakistan have won both of theirs, beating Sri Lanka by 37 runs and England by 87. Sri Lanka have one win, and England have none and are in trouble.
The series now moves to Lahore:
- 25 October: Pakistan vs England
- 27 October: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka
- 29 October: Sri Lanka vs England
- 31 October: Final
One more Pakistan win on Saturday would leave England needing a lot of help to reach the final, and Pakistan’s bowlers now know exactly what Brook can do if they let him get set.
Sources
This story was researched and drafted with AI assistance, then checked and edited by our editor before publishing.
