England beat Sri Lanka by 89 runs in the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday, with Will Jacks named player of the match for an unbeaten 46 and figures of 5 for 22.
Batting first, England were bowled out for 265. Captain Harry Brook top-scored with 67, and Jacks rescued the innings from No. 6, at one point hitting four fours in a row. Asitha Fernando took 3 for 53 for Sri Lanka, finishing things off with yorkers that bowled Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue, while Colombage took 3 for 44.
Sri Lanka’s chase stalls
Sri Lanka never got their chase going. Kusal Mendis made 42 on his return from a hamstring injury and Dunith Wellalage struck 45 off 36 balls late on, but the middle order struggled against Jamie Overton’s cross-seamers and Jacks’s off-breaks. Jacks took three wickets in his final over as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176 in 37 overs.
The three-match series continues on 24 September, and the tour ends on 27 September.