Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd ODI at Colombo, SL v ENG, Jan 27 2026 - Match Result

10.05pm: Right, time for the presentations... starting with Player of the Match, England's captain, Harry Brook. We'll hear from him in a moment, I think. Next up, Player of the Series is Joe Root: "Just want to win games and contribute. My role is pretty obvious, nice to try and help the guys now I'm a bit older. [20th hundred] It was great out there, the way Beth played and then Harry came in a took the game on. Shows his versatility, the way he played the other night and then here. Shows what we're capable of, been a tough period for the group, lot of confidence to take from it as well. [Next?] Looking forward to some time at home, time with the family. I'll be ready for the Tests. Rare we get long breaks, got to make the most of them."

SL captain Charith Asalanka: "Was a good game, the result was disappointing. Positive was we found a good player at No. 4, Pavan Rathnayake. Second game we could have batted better, 30 more runs for sure. This game, Harry Brook and Joe Root won it with their batting. [Responding in field?] Really tough, was thinking the ball might turn, that's why we played 3-4 spinners. When it's not turning, it's hard to bowl spin [at the death]. [Hasaranga fitness] He just had cramp, he's all right. [T20 series] That's the most important for us before the WC, want to do basics right."

Harry Brook is back: "Working on a few things in the nets and it paid off. Glad me, Rooty and Beth could get us to that total. Awesome effort from everyone. Root is exceptional, to have him in the side helps every day. [Toss?] Not that important, a lot better pitch than we were expecting. Got a good score and managed to defend it. Very happy with how the spinners bowled, they were working in tandem. The batters tried to put the pressure back on in tough conditions. [Pitch] It was a decent wicket! Ended up being better than we thought."

Okay, that's a wrap for this one. Andrew Fidel Fernando's report should be your next port of call, and we'll be back for more with the T20Is, starting on Friday. Cheerio!

9.55pm: The decider was a run-fest. First overseas ODI series win for England since early 2023, when they also triumphed 2-1 in Bangladesh. For Sri Lanka, a first defeat at home in the format since India came here and won five years ago. Joe Root and Harry Brook led the charge for England, but it was also a game to remember for Pavan Rathnayake, in only his fourth ODI, as he made 121 from 115 to marshall the chase. SL were given a flying start and pretty much kept up with the rate, but shipped too many wickets along the way

Jamie Dow: "The worms never actually crossed!" There's a lesson in there, somewhere...

My colleague Paul Muchmore points out: "England were only on 296-3 after 46.4 overs, so SL were 8 runs ahead, but out of wickets"

"Career best figures for Dawson." Great spot, Ed. Beating the 2 for 70 he took on debut in Cardiff ten years ago (I was there, but can't say I remember much about it!)

Sam Curran returns

Dawson finishes with impeccable figures on what turned out to be an absolute road. Worth reading Cam Ponsonby's piece from yesterday about how he got here

"It's time for the blue line to overtake the red line," says Bacha Khan, "this was the phase when Brook was hitting the ball for fun."

Dawson to bowl. SL require 61 from 30 balls

Big over, but SL need five more of them

Here's Saba: "Pavan means breeze, or wind. Guess it is time for Pavan to take flight now and blow England away!"

Rehan to bowl again. Unfortunately TNT have lost pictures...

"Does anyone else think that the name Jeffrey Vandersay sounds like an 80s American R&B singer?" Good shout, Bruce. It's that or a niche Seinfeld reference

"Brook has come in for a lot of criticism this winter," says Tony Torrance. "However today he has rotated the spinners very well. Top job."