England suffered an incredible two-wicket ODI defeat to Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on Thursday despite posting a massive 429-4.
Captain Harry Brook smashed his nation’s first-ever one-day double century, scoring 202 off 116 balls, but Pavan Rathnayake (130 off 106), Avishka Fernando (97 off 83) and Dasun Shanaka (97 off 50) propelled Sri Lanka to the second-highest chase in ODI history.
Brendon McCullum’s side must now find a way to bounce back, starting with a clash against Pakistan in Lahore on Sunday, which is scheduled to begin at 8am UK time.
Brook rues loose bowling
After the game at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, a disappointed Brook told Sky Sports: “It was an incredible game of cricket.
“I thought both sides were exceptional, but Sri Lanka just outplayed us unfortunately.
“We didn’t hit our straps with the ball and played to their strengths a little bit. Fair play to them for an incredible achievement.
“It [his 202] was a nice innings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t mean anything now being on the losing side. It has no value whatsoever.
“We have to go back to the drawing board a little bit. We know where we have gone wrong – we didn’t execute well enough with the ball.
“We have an opportunity in the next couple of games to try and nail down a spot in the final. We need to keep things simple and keep our chins up.”
Hussain lauds Sri Lanka
Former England captain Nassser Hussain, meanwhile, praised Sri Lanka, saying on Sky Sports: “Sri Lanka had to be pretty much perfect for 50 overs and they were.
“There were lads in there who played pretty much the perfect innings.
“It was like running a marathon for Sri Lanka – they saw that last bit and started to stumble when they needed to be calm.
“It was a perfect, historic chase and brilliant for Sri Lanka.
“They are such a talented, passionate cricketing nation. They needed a day like today and they got one.”
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Cricket news: England ‘too careful’ in heavy ODI tri-series loss to Pakistan, says Brook
Sangakkara identifies England mistake
Analysing the match alongside Hussain, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara added: “England needed an all-out push to take wickets when they had Sri Lanka 24-2.
“You have 429 on the board. Have set plays, try to bowl the bumpers, fielders set for catches.
“If you want to restrict because conditions are not suitable for wickets, then go to death bowling early – try to cut off the boundaries.
“The only way they were going to lose the game was by the boundary count rising. If you are a fast bowler, you stop the fours with fields set and the sixes by executing the best deliveries.
“Still, England need to give credit to an incredible batting performance from Sri Lanka.”
READ NEXT: F1 news: Christian Horner says Toto Wolff has it ‘easier’ without him amid Ferrari rumours
SportJustSport writers 
Nicole Powell