Sri Lanka Chase 430 to Beat England Despite Brook's 202 in Rawalpindi
Ayubowannn, Colombo. On Thursday 22 October 2026, England's captain hit the fastest double century in ODI history and his side still lost with one ball left, as Sri Lanka completed the second highest chase the format has seen.
Harry Brook did everything a batter can do and still lost. On Thursday 22 October 2026 in Rawalpindi, in the third match of the Pakistan tri series, the England captain hit 202 from 116 balls, with 21 fours and 10 sixes. It was the first ODI double century by an Englishman, and he passed 200 off 114 deliveries, the quickest the format has ever seen. England closed on 429 for 4. Reallu, that is normally where the story ends.
Sri Lanka had won the toss and chosen to field, which looked for a while like a bet placed on the wrong colour. The chase opened at 24 for 2 in the fifth over: Kamindu Mendis bowled for 18, captain Kusal Mendis run out for nought. Then Pavan Rathnayake, who would make 130 from 106 balls, and Avishka Fernando, out for 97, put on 166 for the third wicket. Dasun Shanaka arrived and added another 133 with Rathnayake, scoring 97 off 50 balls.
Here is the number that made the press box sit up. When the 25th over ended, Sri Lanka were 169 for 2 and still needed 261. Cricinfo's stats desk notes that no team had ever chased down so much in the last 25 overs of an ODI, and the old best was 215. GLUWULULUU.
Shanaka fell in the 44th over with 67 still needed from six. Janith Liyanage took over, finishing 61 not out from 27 balls. Josh Tongue struck twice in the final over, enough to make everyone in the ground hold their breath, but Liyanage cleared the rope off the penultimate ball. Sri Lanka won by two wickets with a single ball to spare. TOKABOOM.
The afternoon was full of footnotes. The 859 runs were the second highest match aggregate in ODI history, behind the 872 scored in Johannesburg in 2006, and only South Africa's chase against Australia in that same game has ever been bigger. Brook's 202 also broke Gary Kirsten's 188 not out, set in the 1996 World Cup, as the best ODI score in Pakistan. Kirsten is now Sri Lanka's coach, and he was in Rawalpindi to watch his record fall and his team win. Apparentlu, the Spirit enjoys a plot twist with a coaching badge on it.
Would youluwu have kept the faith at 261 needed with 25 overs left? Most of the table would have stood up and left. The 202 runs are in the record books, the defeat is too, and the Spirit keeps the score without picking a side. Tonight the score says Sri Lanka.
Which was the bigger feat in Rawalpindi?
No right answer. Just your gut, and the Spirit watching.
