Will Jacks Five-for! England Crush Sri Lanka by 89 Runs in 1st ODI 🔥
England have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after a commanding 89-run victory at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street.
England were bowled out for 265 in 48.1 overs, but Sri Lanka could not build a sustained chase and were dismissed for 176 in 37 overs. The biggest difference came from Will Jacks, who followed an unbeaten 46 with a career-best 5/22.
England 265 all out (48.1 overs) defeated Sri Lanka 176 all out (37 overs) by 89 runs. England lead the three-match ODI series 1-0.
England
48.1 overs • Run rate 5.50
Sri Lanka
37 overs • Run rate 4.76
England Post 265 After Middle-Order Wobble
England won the toss and chose to bat. The hosts made a positive start before losing regular wickets through the middle overs.
Captain Harry Brook provided the foundation with a team-high 67 from 69 balls, including seven fours.
Joe Root added 44 from 52 balls, while Jos Buttler contributed 31 from 33. Ben Duckett also made a brisk 32 from 29 balls.
England were eventually reduced to 265 all out in 48.1 overs. Sri Lanka's bowling attack had a particularly strong contribution from debutant Sachindu Colombage, who finished with 3/44.
| England Batter | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook (c) | 67 | 69 | c Madushanka b Chameera |
| Joe Root | 44 | 52 | b Colombage |
| Will Jacks | 46* | 47 | Not out |
| Jos Buttler | 31 | 33 | lbw b Colombage |
| Ben Duckett | 32 | 29 | lbw b Wellalage |
| England Total | 265 | 48.1 overs | All out |
Will Jacks Turns the Match Around
Will Jacks was the standout performer of the match.
After scoring 46 not out from 47 balls to give England valuable runs at the end of their innings, Jacks returned with the ball and dismantled Sri Lanka's lower order.
His final figures were 5/22 from seven overs. It was a career-best bowling performance and included three wickets in the final over as Sri Lanka's innings came to an end.
Sri Lanka's Chase Starts Carefully
Sri Lanka began their chase with caution, reaching 40/1 after the opening ten overs. Pathum Nissanka made 27 from 37 balls before Josh Tongue removed him.
Kusal Mendis then attempted to anchor the innings. The Sri Lankan captain scored 42 from 60 balls, but his dismissal at 105/6 left the visitors in serious trouble.
Dunith Wellalage provided the major counterattack, hitting 45 from 36 balls with five fours and two sixes.
However, once Wellalage fell at 176/8, Sri Lanka's innings was effectively over. The final two wickets fell without another run being added.
Sri Lanka Bowled Out for 176
Sri Lanka were eventually dismissed for 176 in 37 overs, giving England an 89-run victory.
| Sri Lanka Batter | Runs | Balls | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis (c/wk) | 42 | 60 | lbw b Will Jacks |
| Dunith Wellalage | 45 | 36 | c Overton b Will Jacks |
| Pathum Nissanka | 27 | 37 | c Buttler b Tongue |
| Kamindu Mendis | 14 | 19 | c Duckett b Atkinson |
| Sachindu Colombage | 14 | 14 | lbw b Rehan Ahmed |
| Sri Lanka Total | 176 | 37 overs | All out |
England's Bowling Attack Shares the Wickets
Jacks was the obvious headline act, but England's attack received useful contributions throughout the innings.
Will Jacks
5/22 from 7 overs. He also scored 46 not out from 47 balls.
Jamie Overton
2/21 from 5 overs, adding two important wickets during the chase.
Gus Atkinson
1/25 from 7 overs and helped restrict Sri Lanka's scoring rate.
Rehan Ahmed
1/46 from 7 overs, including the wicket of Sachindu Colombage.
England Take a 1-0 ODI Series Lead
The victory gives England an early advantage in the three-match ODI series. It also continues their strong white-ball run against Sri Lanka after England completed a 3-0 sweep in the preceding T20I series.
For Sri Lanka, the first ODI exposed a familiar problem: promising starts were not converted into a sustained chase. Kusal Mendis and Wellalage provided resistance, but England's bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial moments.
Will Jacks produced the decisive all-round performance — 46 not out with the bat and 5/22 with the ball — as England successfully defended 265 and moved 1-0 ahead in the ODI series.
England vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI 2026: Match Summary
| Match Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Sri Lanka, 1st ODI |
| Date | September 22, 2026 |
| Venue | Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street |
| England | 265 all out (48.1 overs) |
| Sri Lanka | 176 all out (37 overs) |
| Result | England won by 89 runs |
| Series | England lead 1-0 |
| Player of the Match performance | Will Jacks — 46* and 5/22 |