England sign off with a win as Ben Duckett’s 167 and Liam Dawson’s four-for overpower Sri Lanka

England signed off their campaign in the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series with a 55-run victory over Sri Lanka, riding on Ben Duckett’s magnificent 167 before Liam Dawson’s four-wicket haul derailed the chase at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Thursday.Asked to bat first after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field, England piled up 386/5 in 50 overs, registering the highest ODI total at the Lahore venue. Duckett led the charge with a commanding 132-ball knock, while Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook made valuable contributions to keep the scoreboard moving.Sri Lanka put up a spirited fight in reply, with Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake scoring half-centuries. However, Dawson’s spell of 4/49 broke the backbone of their middle order as the visitors were bowled out for 331 in 45.1 overs.Duckett leads England’s record-breaking batting effortDuckett provided the foundation for England’s imposing total with an innings of 167 off 132 deliveries. The left-hander combined patience with attacking strokeplay, setting the tone for a commanding batting performance.He shared an opening partnership of 163 runs with Banton, who contributed 74 off 75 balls. The stand gave England early control before Duckett continued to accelerate through the middle overs.Captain Brook then joined the charge, helping England add another 107 runs in a brisk partnership with Duckett. The substantial contributions at the top ensured England maintained momentum throughout the innings and finished with 386/5.The total surpassed Pakistan’s 375/3 against Zimbabwe in 2015 to become the highest ODI score recorded at Gaddafi Stadium.Sri Lanka fight back but Dawson turns the gameSri Lanka needed a strong start to chase down the daunting target and found contributions from Fernando, Mendis and Rathnayake, who all registered half-centuries. Their efforts kept the chase alive, but England continued to find breakthroughs at crucial moments.Dawson proved particularly effective in the middle overs, finishing with figures of 4/49 from his 10 overs. His spell disrupted Sri Lanka’s progress and left the lower order with too much to do.With the required rate climbing and wickets falling, Sri Lanka eventually folded for 331 in 45.1 overs. Sam Curran claimed the final wicket, dismissing Malinga to complete England’s victory.England end campaign with a consolation winThe 55-run victory gave England a positive finish to their campaign in Pakistan, ending their winless run in the country. However, the result did not alter the tournament's final lineup, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan having already secured qualification for the tri-series final.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.