In a thrilling display of cricket, Sri Lanka and South Africa both celebrated significant victories on Thursday. Sri Lanka achieved a remarkable run chase against England in an ODI match, while South Africa secured a decisive win over Australia in the Test series.
Sri Lanka’s victory was marked by a record-setting performance as they chased down England’s formidable total of 429-4, scoring 430-8. This triumph, accomplished by a mere two-wicket margin, is now recorded as the second-highest successful run chase in ODI cricket history. Despite England’s captain Harry Brook making history with a record-breaking 202 runs off 116 balls—the first double century by an England batter in men’s ODI cricket—his efforts were not enough to stave off England’s second consecutive loss in the tri-series.
The Sri Lankan team showcased resilience, recovering from the loss of two early wickets. A pivotal 166-run partnership between Avishka Fernando, who fell just short of a century with 97, and Pavan Rathnayake, who scored an impressive 130 off 106 balls, set the stage for their victory. Captain Dasun Shanaka contributed a rapid 97 from only 50 deliveries. The match reached a dramatic conclusion with Janith Liyanage’s unbeaten 61 from 27 balls. With six runs needed from the last two deliveries, Liyanage hit a six over long-off, sealing a memorable win for Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, in Gqeberha, South Africa leveled their Test series against Australia by securing victory by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George’s Park. Despite rain disrupting play earlier on the final day, South Africa managed to dismiss Australia for 295 in their second innings. This win brought the series to a 1-1 tie after Australia had taken the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. The series now moves to a decisive third Test in Cape Town, with both teams vying for series victory and crucial World Test Championship points.