England record consolation win

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Ben Duckett and Liam Dawson starred as England conquered Sri Lanka by 55 runs in the last league stage match of the ODI tri-series at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore on Thursday.
Pavan Rathnayake also hit superb century for Sri Lanka but failed to make his side home in another high-scoring game.
Set to score 387, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 331 in 45.1 overs, with Rathnayake scoring 118 off 77 deliveries and captain Kusal Mendis contributing 89 from 71 balls.
This was the second century from Pavan in the series.
As Sri Lanka have already qualified for the final it was a practice game for them ahead of the Saturday’s decider against Pakistan at the same venue.
England signed off their league stage campaign with a commanding batting performance.
Duckett’s explosive 167-run innings, featuring 24 boundaries, laid the foundation for England’s total of 386-5 in their allotted 50 overs after Kusal Mendis elected to field first for the fourth successive time in the series.
The left-handed opener dominated a 163-run opening partnership with Tom Banton, who scored 74 off 75 deliveries, including eight fours and two sixes.
Both batters reached half-centuries as England made a flying start, putting Sri Lanka’s bowlers under sustained pressure.
Experienced all-rounder Dasun Shanaka eventually broke the stand by bowling Banton around the halfway stage of the innings.
Duckett continued to punish the Sri Lankan attack alongside England captain Harry Brook, with the pair adding 107 runs for the second wicket.
Brook struck 44 off 34 balls before falling to Asitha Fernando in the 38th over, but Duckett maintained his aggressive approach.
The opener’s outstanding innings ended in the 42nd over when he scooped a slower full toss from Eshan Malinga straight to Fernando at short fine-leg.
Wicket-keeper Jordan Cox then provided England with a late surge, smashing 43 off 27 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Will Jacks added 30, while Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 21 as England finished with a formidable total.
Fernando was Sri Lanka’s most successful bowler, taking two wickets for 63 runs in ten overs. Malinga and Shanaka claimed one wicket each.
Sri Lanka’s reply suffered an early setback when Kamindu Mendis was bowled by Sonny Baker for four, but Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis rebuilt the innings.
Avishka made 48 off 50 deliveries, hitting eight fours and a six, before falling to Liam Dawson with the total at 97.
Kusal Mendis then combined with Rathnayake to keep Sri Lanka in the contest. The captain struck eight fours and five sixes in an aggressive 89 before being caught behind off Joe Root, ending a partnership that had taken the score to 177.
Rathnayake continued the fight with a powerful innings, striking 15 fours and a six. He shared a 72-run stand with Janith Liyanage, who contributed 27 from 17 balls, as Sri Lanka attempted to maintain the required scoring rate.
Liyanage fell to Baker, while Dawson dismissed Shanaka for four to further undermine the chase.
Rathnayake later received support from Sahan Arachchige, who scored 30 off 24 balls, but England continued to take wickets at crucial moments.
Dawson removed both Arachchige and Rathnayake, finishing with impressive figures of four wickets for 49 runs from ten overs. Baker claimed two wickets for 75, while Curran, Henry Crocombe and Root took one each.
Rathnayake’s dismissal at 329 left Sri Lanka’s lower order with too much to do, and the innings ended at 331 in the 46th over.