England and Sri Lanka head to Oval for decisive third ODI after Headingley thriller

Series on the line in London

Rob Smyth and Tim de Lisle have over-by-over coverage of the third ODI after Sri Lanka levelled the series in thrilling last-over fashion at Headingley on Thursday.

England were cruising to a target of 322 while Tom Banton (73) and Ben Duckett (67) shared a first-wicket stand of 143. Sri Lanka had been hammered 3-0 in a preceding T20 campaign but Dunith Wellalage dragged them back by removing both openers and captain Harry Brook to reduce England to 157 for three.

The left-arm spinner finished with figures of three for 49 after captain Kusal Mendis hit a fine century.

The teams now head to London for a series-decider at the Oval. In the aftermath Brook insisted this was just what England needed before next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.

“We’ve got a great opportunity now to try to win this series, and a great opportunity for 12 months’ time,” he said. “In pressure situations, like the one that awaits us at the Oval, it will be great to see where we are as a team.”

Our cricket correspondent Ali Martin reports.