Sri Lanka Pull Off the Impossible! Liyanage's Last-Over Six Stuns England in 859-Run Thriller 🔥
Some cricket matches are unforgettable because of the records. Others are remembered for the drama. This one delivered both.
Sri Lanka pulled off an extraordinary chase against England at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, hunting down 430 runs after England piled up 429/4. With 859 runs on the scoreboard across the two innings, the match became a breathtaking batting spectacle capped by a finish worthy of a movie.
Harry Brook's Historic 202 Powers England to 429/4
England captain Harry Brook produced an extraordinary innings, smashing 202 off 116 balls to put England in command.
Brook's innings included 21 fours and 10 sixes. He reached his double century in just 114 balls, setting a new record for the fastest ODI double century and becoming the first English batter to score an ODI double hundred.
His innings also surpassed Shubman Gill's previous fastest double-century mark of 117 balls. Brook's performance helped England finish on a massive 429/4. Reuters reported Brook's record-breaking innings and England's total.
| England Batter | Runs |
|---|---|
| Harry Brook | 202 (116) |
| Joe Root | 69 (66) |
| Will Jacks | 66* (30) |
| Tom Banton | 50 (51) |
| England | 429/4 |
Sri Lanka Refuse to Surrender
Chasing 430 was always going to demand something special. Sri Lanka's response was built on resilience, aggressive stroke-play and a refusal to let the asking rate dictate the match.
Pavan Rathnayake led the fight with a magnificent 130, while Avishka Fernando came agonisingly close to a century with 97.
Dasun Shanaka added another crucial contribution with 97, and it was Janith Liyanage who remained unbeaten on 61 from 27 deliveries.
The innings was a collective effort, with multiple batters contributing to a chase that seemed almost impossible against England's enormous total.
Josh Tongue's Hat-Trick Threat
Just when Sri Lanka appeared to be writing a fairytale ending, the final over delivered another twist.
England's Josh Tongue had Sri Lanka under pressure, taking late wickets and putting himself in a position where a hat-trick was suddenly on the cards.
The tension was enormous. England could sense a dramatic escape, while Sri Lanka needed composure and one decisive moment to finish the job.
Janith Liyanage Steals the Show With a Six
Then came the moment Rawalpindi will remember.
Janith Liyanage produced the decisive late fireworks, striking a six to turn the closing drama into a Sri Lankan celebration.
With England chasing a hat-trick breakthrough and Sri Lanka needing the finishing runs, Asitha Fernando facing the hat-trick ball, took a crucial single giving the strike back to Liyanage. The six sealed an astonishing victory and completed a chase that will live long in the memory.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| England | 429/4 (50 overs) |
| Sri Lanka | 430/8 (49.5 overs) |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets |
859 Runs and an ODI Classic
This Rawalpindi contest had everything: a record-breaking double century, a massive England total, a fearless Sri Lankan chase and an extraordinary final-over finish.
Brook's 202 will dominate the record books, but the final memory belongs to Sri Lanka's fightback and Liyanage's decisive six.
England scored 429. Sri Lanka scored 430. And the difference between defeat and an unforgettable victory came down to the final moments.