Banton hits maiden international century as England seal Sri Lanka series

Tom Banton scored his first international century as England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs at The Oval to win their one-day international series. BBC Sport reported that Banton's 126 helped England reach 355-7 in the deciding third match, before the visitors were dismissed for 132 in 29.1 overs. It was England's largest ODI victory over Sri Lanka.

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Banton's innings came after an awkward start for the home side. Ben Duckett was bowled in the second over, while Joe Root struggled to find scoring opportunities and finished with 18 from 37 balls. Banton reached his hundred from 95 deliveries and made 126 from 105 overall, hitting 16 fours and five sixes. His scoring accelerated sharply after the milestone, allowing England to build on the work he had done through the difficult early overs.

Captain Harry Brook contributed 77 and shared a partnership of 150 from 117 balls with Banton. Sri Lanka had opportunities to limit the damage: Root was dropped before his dismissal, and wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis put down an edge when Brook had seven. England were 108-2 after 25 overs, but their eventual total reflected a much more productive second half of the innings.

Jordan Cox supplied another substantial contribution with 76 from 52 balls after being selected in place of the injured Jos Buttler. Like Brook, he increased his scoring after a measured start. Together, the three leading scorers gave England a total that Sri Lanka never approached on a pitch BBC Sport described as providing bounce for the seamers and turn for the spinners.

Sonny Baker, recalled for his second ODI in place of Josh Tongue, removed Pathum Nissanka early in the reply. The breakthrough came two balls into the second over, and Sri Lanka could not recover. Liam Dawson, selected ahead of Rehan Ahmed, took 3-26 as England completed an emphatic defence of their total and secured a third consecutive ODI series victory.

For Banton, the century marked a significant step after a disrupted international career. He debuted in 2019 but subsequently spent almost five years outside England's 50-over team, according to the BBC report. His opening opportunity in this series followed an injury to Jacob Bethell. England's next ODI assignment is a tri-series in Pakistan, also involving Sri Lanka, beginning on 20 October.