England v Sri Lanka: Deciding ODI Opens With Drama and Early Banton Boundaries
England face Sri Lanka in the deciding third ODI, featuring early tension for Ben Duckett and a brilliant boundary from Tom Banton.
England and Sri Lanka met in the third and deciding men's one-day international, delivering immediate action from the opening over. Asitha Fernando opened the bowling for Sri Lanka, immediately testing Ben Duckett with a strong LBW appeal.
The appeal was turned down as the ball pitched fractionally outside leg stump and would likely have swung past leg. Aside from that close call, the delivery was deemed plumb by observers at the venue.
Tom Banton soon settled into a fluent rhythm, striking the first boundary of the innings with a cracking cover drive. Commentary praised the shot as a classic cover drive to an outswing bowler executed to perfection.
As the match progressed into the 18th over, England moved to 77-2 with Banton reaching 54 alongside Harry Brook on 4. Earlier, Liyanage picked up a wicket, conceding just three runs from his second over to apply pressure in the middle phases.