20th over: England 87-2 (Banton 61, Brook 7) Another good over of wicket-to-wicket hustle from Liyanage, who has figures of 3-0-8-1. The change in ODI regulations, with only one ball being used after the 34th over, has altered the balance between bat and ball. Sri Lanka are noticeably throwing the ball in on the bounce, to enable reverse swing later in the innings. All of which is to say that, on this pitch, a par score on this pitch feels closer to 250 than 300.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 19th over: England 86-2 (Banton 61, Brook 6) Banton skids back to batter Wellalage through extra cover for four. That\u2019s an outstanding shot because there was nothing wrong with the ball. He looks a completely different batter under Brendon McCullum, a coach with the innate ability to empower players.<\/p>\n \u201cCan we talk about the umpire\u2019s shield?\u201d says Mark Hooper. \u201cIs that a thing now?\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m mildly embarrassed to say I hadn\u2019t noticed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 18th over: England 77-2 (Banton 54, Brook 4) Liyanage concedes only three from his second over. The wicket of Root was only his fourth in 39 ODIs, so now wonder he celebrated with such gusto. I\u2019d have to check but I think the other three wickets were Ryan Burl, Michael Bracewell and Brendan Taylor.<\/p>\n \u201cHighlight of the season, you ask?\u201d begins Brian Withington, clearing his throat with rare extravagance. \u201cWell aside from getting not one but two Beatles themed tributes to Mark Wood past your door recently, I\u2019d have to say it was yesterday, when I idly switched over from The Gardens to the Edgbaston livestream to catch the last rites of Warwickshire predictably beating Leicestershire. This completed a very impressive Championship winning run-in, leaving Somerset yet again in their seemingly perennial runners-up role.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat \u2018bowled me over\u2019 was the surge of obvious and genuine delight shown by the whole winning team (and squad) at their achievement – genuinely uplifting and a testament to how much the County Championship still means to players (including international stars like Chris Woakes) – and not just sad old gits like me.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to the scenes at Taunton if\/when Somerset eventually get over the line \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 17th over: England 74-2 (Banton 53, Brook 2) The left-arm spinner Wellalage has a strangled shout for LBW when Brook plays around a delivery that would have missed leg. This is an interesting Oval pitch. Batting looks awkward against spin and seam alike.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 16th over: England 72-2 (Banton 52, Brook 1) Banton drives Liyanange for two to bring up a good half-century from 51 balls. On Thursday morning he had one fifty in ODIs; now he has three.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! England 68-2 (Root LBW b Liyanage 18)<\/p>\n Joe Root falls to the first ball after drinks. He played around a straight delivery from Janith Liyanage that hit the pad in front of middle and leg. It was given not out on the field but Sri Lanka reviewed successfully. Root is on his way after a constipated 37-ball 18, and Liyanage \u2013 an occasional medium-pacer in this format \u2013 has claimed a big scalp.<\/p>\n Janith Liyanage is mobbed by teammates after claiming the wicket of Joe Root. Photograph: Glyn Kirk\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.57 EDT<\/p>\n 15th over: England 68-1 (Banton 49, Root 18) Dunith Wellalage is the first spinner into the attack. That could suit Root, who immediately rotates strike with a drive to deep extra cover. That\u2019s the first of three singles from the over. Time for drinks.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.40 EDT<\/p>\n 14th over: England 65-1 (Banton 48, Root 16) A short ball from Madushanka is uppercut for six by Banton. That\u2019s the only scoring shot of an all-or-nothing over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 13th over: England 59-1 (Banton 42, Root 16) England scored only four runs in the last three overs. Banton releases the burgeoning pressure by flicking Malinga crisply through midwicket for four. That\u2019s his eighth boundary in a score of 42 not out from 39 balls; Root has 16 from 34 and is starting to look frustrated.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: England 52-1 (Banton 35, Root 16) Root is surprised by a bit of extra bounce from Madushanka, who has replaced Fernando, and defends the ball into the leg side. He\u2019s really struggling to rotate strike, which is not something you see very often; in fact he\u2019s scored only one run from his last 12 deliveries. I can\u2019t be the only person thinking of Colin de Grandhomme<\/a>.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: England 51-1 (Banton 34, Root 16) A nipbacker from Malinga, nephew thereof<\/a>, is inside-edged onto the thigh by Root. The commentators keep mentioning how dry this pitch is, so England\u2019s decision to bat first looks increasingly wise. They have the spin of Liam Dawson and Will Jacks, plus the cutters of Jamie Overton and friends.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Root dropped on 15<\/p>\n 10th over: England 50-1 (Banton 33, Root 16) Root tries to glide Fernando behind square and is dropped by Nissanka, deliberately placed in a wide slip position. By modern standards, that was a pretty straightforward chance. He couldn\u2019t sort his hands out and the ball burst through them.<\/p>\n Pathum Nissanka looks on ruefully after dropping Joe Root. Photograph: Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.32 EDT<\/p>\n 9th over: England 48-1 (Banton 32, Root 15) Banton waves an errant delivery from Malinga to the extra-cover boundary. That\u2019s a lovely shot; he\u2019s been ruthless with anything full.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8th over: England 43-1 (Banton 28, Root 14) Fernando has changed ends to replace Madushanka. Banton hoicks a pull behind square for a one-bounce four, his sixth boundary of the morning. Fernando responds by beating the bat with successive deliveries, one on the outside and one on the inside.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n It\u2019s the last day of the County Championship season. Join Tanya Aldred for news of Tom Abell\u2019s 307 and more.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.06 EDT<\/p>\n 7th over: England 38-1 (Banton 24, Root 13) Eshan Malinga\u2019s first delivery is a sharp lifter that Banton edges over slip for four. His third kicks off a length to beat Banton \u2013 and startle the keeper Kusal Mendis as he takes it in front of his face. All told, that\u2019s an excellent first over.<\/p>\n Tom Banton has been taking it to Sri Lanka. Photograph: Stu Forster\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.10 EDT<\/p>\n 6th over: England 34-1 (Banton 20, Root 13) Madushanka is fractionally short to Banton, who punches an excellent boundary through extra cover. He looks in excellent touch, a player who finally feels like he belongs at this level.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: England 28-1 (Banton 15, Root 12) Banton slugs a short ball from Fernando through square leg for four. He didn\u2019t middle it, and there was a shriek of \u201ccatch!\u201d, but it beat the diving fielder and bounced away for four.<\/p>\n England are progressing well, even if the sailing hasn\u2019t been entirely smooth.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: England 20-1 (Banton 11, Root 9) Madushanka beats Banton with a good delivery, but then he gets greedy and overpitches. Banton belts it through the covers for four.<\/p>\n Root, busy as ever, tucks a single off the last ball to move to nine from eight balls. On Sky, Athers makes the point that Root hasn\u2019t scored an international century this summer; the only time that has previously happened was in the Covid summer of 2020.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: England 13-1 (Banton 6, Root 6) Root times Fernando sweetly through extra cover for four. By his recent standards, Root has had a complete shocker of a series; he\u2019s averaging 32.<\/p>\n There\u2019s some swing for Fernando and Madushanka, so England may have to sit in for a little while.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: England 7-1 (Banton 5, Root 1) Replays show that the ball to Duckett only deviated slightly, a lot less than I thought when I saw it live. On England batting first, it was a complicated decision \u2013 apparently the pitch is very dry (bat first), but it\u2019s September (bowl first) and there\u2019s a chance of rain later (bowl first).<\/p>\n \u201cSo we come to the final OBO of the 2026 summer (South Africa on the way),\u201d writes John Starbuck. \u201cWhich do you think was the best to write, and did it depend on England\u2019s own fortunes?\u201d<\/p>\n Yikes, good question. Not sure about the best to write, but my favourite memory is Ollie Robinson\u2019s triple-wicket maiden on his return at Lord\u2019s, during which there was a lot of rain on my face. Dead inside as I am, I was pleasantly surprised to experience such overwhelming happiness for somebody I\u2019ve never met.<\/p>\n How about you lot?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! England 6-1 (Duckett b Madushanka 0)<\/p>\n It\u2019s 10.38am in September, folks. Duckett tries to drive a beauty from Madushanka that nips back to hit the top of off stump. Lovely bowling, and Sri Lanka are in an amongst England early doors.<\/p>\n Dilshan Madushanka does for Ben Duckett. Photograph: John Sibley\/Action Images\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.45 EDT<\/p>\n 1st over: England 6-0 (Banton 5, Duckett 0) Asitha Fernando has an early LBW appeal against Ben Duckett turned down. It pitched fractionally outside leg stump and would probably have swung past leg. That aside, it was plumb.<\/p>\n Tom Banton gets the first boundary with a cracking cover drive. \u201cClassic cover drive to an outswing bowler,\u201d purrs Nasser Hussain on commentary. \u201cPerfection.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n A good spot from our cricket correspondent Ali Martin. Jos Buttler\u2019s absence means Joe Root is the only player with 50+ caps in the England team. He has 195 caps; the other ten players have 214 between them. Harry Brook (44*) is second on the list.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.16 EDT<\/p>\n Team news<\/p>\n The injured Jos Buttler is replaced by Jordan Cox, who plays his first ODI since a tough tour of the Caribbean two years ago. Liam Dawson and Sonny Baker also come into the XI; Rehan Ahmed and Josh Tongue drop out.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka, unsurprisingly, are unchanged from their stirring win at Headingley.<\/p>\n England Banton, Duckett, Root, Brook (c), Cox (wk), Jacks, Dawson, Atkinson, Overton, Archer, Baker.<\/p>\n Sri Lanka Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c\/wk), Rathnayake, Asalanka, Liyanage, Wellalage, Colombage, Malinga, Fernando, Madushanka.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>England win the toss and bat<\/p>\n That\u2019s an interesting call given it\u2019s a 10.30am start in late September. Harry Brook clearly doesn\u2019t care for the Natwest Trophy finals of the 1990s.<\/p>\n Share<\/a> Ethan Bamber may be an adopted Brummie but it\u2019s fair to say he has the city\u2019s self-effacing nature down to a tee. After sealing Warwickshire\u2019s ninth County Championship<\/a> with one final explosion of bails, and watching captain Ed Barnard lift the trophy to cheers of \u201cYou Bears\u201d from the stands, Bamber tried to credit anyone but himself and even claimed to be an \u201caverage cricketer\u201d.<\/p>\n Average? Not so fast. No bowler in Division One has sent down more than Bamber\u2019s 445.3 overs this year, nor can top the 69 wickets that he finished on after rattling Tom Scriven\u2019s timbers to wrap up a comprehensive innings and 79-run victory over Leicestershire. The 27-year-old ploughed through all 14 games of the campaign, with his waspish brand of wobble-seam and swing consistently undermining batting line-ups in this slow-burn triumph.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Kevin Pietersen\u2019s return to the England dressing-room has evoked all those JFK innings he played in international cricket. I never took euphoric drugs, but I liveblogged several KP specials and that\u2019s basically the same thing. In this silly job, nothing has come close to the exhilaration of the KP surge.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.51 EDT<\/p>\n Kevin Pietersen insisted he is a \u201ccompletely different\u201d person these days as he sat down at Headingley \u2013 the ground where he declared \u201cit\u2019s tough being me in this dressing room\u201d 14 years earlier \u2013 and spoke at length about his role as the new \u201cspecialist mentor\u201d<\/a> to England\u2019s white-ball teams.<\/p>\n In the aftermath of a 16-run loss to Sri Lanka that sends this late summer one-day series into an Oval decider on Sunday, Pietersen also revealed that while not full-time \u2013 \u201cI\u2019ll be in and out\u201d \u2013 his input may not be restricted to the challenge of winning the 50-over World Cup in South Africa next year. A home Ashes comes before that, the series that launched his career back in 2005, and discussions with Stephen Fleming, the incoming Test coach, and Joe Root have already taken place.<\/p>\n For now though it is Harry Brook\u2019s team that has his attention beyond work as a content creator and home life, with this role the brainchild of Brendon McCullum, now the specialist white-ball coach<\/a>. Pietersen was racking his brains as to whether he had publicly criticised England when McCullum\u2019s name flashed up on his phone.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I was in trouble,\u201d said Pietersen. \u201c\u2018What have I done now? Have I said something?\u2019 But [after]: \u2018How are you doing? \u2018All good?\u2019 \u2018Yes, I\u2019m fine. What do you want?\u2019 [McCullum replied:] \u2018I want you to join us in the dressing room. We want to work over the next 12 months to be competitive in South Africa next year.\u2019<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a004.50 EDT<\/p>\n Ben Stokes is on course for another clash with the England and Wales Cricket<\/a> Board because the governing body is unlikely to grant him permission to play in overseas franchise competitions next summer.<\/p>\n The former England captain<\/a> is understood to have had discussions with franchises in the United States\u2019 Major League Cricket (MLC) and Pakistan Super League (PSL) about joining them next season, but the Guardian has learned that the ECB is reluctant to provide the No-Objection Certificate required to play in either competition while he remains registered with Durham.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n We\u2019re liveblogging another ODI today: Daniel Gallan is on duty for the second match between South Africa and Australia.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.01 EDT<\/p>\n Preamble<\/p>\n![\"Ali](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790507410_160_Ali_martin3,_L.png\")
Ali Martin<\/p>\nAli Martin<\/p>\n![\"Matt](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Matt_Hughes.png\")
Matt Hughes<\/p>\n