‘Enjoyed It as Captain’: Kusal Mendis on the Belief Behind Sri Lanka’s Historic 430 Chase Against England

Harry Brook became the first England batter to score an ODI double-century. Joe Root became the first Englishman to reach 8,000 runs in the format. Sri Lanka still walked away with the win.

Chasing 430 in Rawalpindi, Sri Lanka recovered from 24/2 to complete their highest successful ODI pursuit and the second-highest overall, handing England their second defeat in the tri-series also featuring Pakistan.

Pavan Rathnayake anchored the chase with a career-best 130, Avishka Fernando and Dasun Shanaka struck 97 apiece, and Janith Liyanage supplied the finishing burst with an unbeaten 61 off 27 balls.

For Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis, dismissed for a duck, the pleasure came from watching his teammates turn an imposing target into a historic victory.

“We chased very well today, I enjoyed it as captain,” Mendis said. “Everybody showed their character. I am very happy as a captain. Everyone believed we can do it.”

BROOK’S RECORD, ROOT’S MILESTONE

Asked to bat, England built their innings around Brook’s extraordinary 202 off 116 balls, studded with 21 fours and 10 sixes.

Tom Banton’s 50 and Ben Duckett’s 29 provided a 74-run opening partnership before both departed, leaving England at 85/2.

Brook and Root then added 159. Root made 69 off 66 balls, taking his ODI tally to 8,005 runs in 197 matches.

Will Jacks accelerated at the finish with an unbeaten 66 off 30 deliveries, including eight fours and three sixes, as England piled up 429/4.

Dunith Wellalage returned Sri Lanka’s best figures of 2/56. Elsewhere, the punishment was severe: Eshan Malinga conceded 91 runs, Dilshan Madushanka 89 and Shanaka 74 from six overs.

FROM 24/2 TO A RECORD CHASE

Sri Lanka’s reply began badly. Kamindu Mendis fell for 18 and Kusal departed without scoring, leaving the side two wickets down with just 24 on the board.

Fernando and Rathnayake rebuilt through a 166-run third-wicket partnership. Fernando struck 12 fours and two sixes in his 83-ball 97, giving the chase momentum after its early setbacks.

Rathnayake then joined Shanaka in a 133-run stand that brought the target within reach. His 130 came off 106 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes.

Promoted up the order, Shanaka transformed the tempo, smashing six fours and eight sixes in a 50-ball 97.

Mendis said the move followed discussions with the coach about how to approach the chase.

“Me and coach spoke to the batters and said to play the first couple of overs normally. Then we decided for Dasun to come earlier,” he said.

LIYANAGE FINISHES THE JOB

Sri Lanka still needed 67 from the final six overs when Shanaka departed. Liyanage took charge, hitting seven fours and three sixes to carry the pursuit through its tense closing stages.

Josh Tongue threatened a late reversal with wickets off successive deliveries in the final over, but Sri Lanka completed the chase. Tongue finished with 3/79, while Sam Curran conceded 103 runs in nine overs, taking two wickets.

Mendis credited a belief reinforced in team meetings.

“Everyday we talk about showing the character in team meetings, and it is about showing we can get any score,” he said.

In Rawalpindi, his batters gave that belief a number: 430.

With inputs from ANI