Not this time. Sri Lanka threatened a repeat of Rawalpindi, and a target of 387 in Lahore was within reach. Pavan Rathnayake was the thorn again with another century but, unlike his captain Harry Brook's last week, Ben Duckett's epic was not in vain. The left-hander struck 167 before Liam Dawson took four wickets, setting up a consolation 55-run victory for England.

Sri Lanka had already booked their place in Saturday's tri-series final against Pakistan but looked ready to take this dead rubber, too. With 87 runs required from the last 10 overs, and Rathnayake's low hands working their magic, the game looked theirs.

But England's attack kept calm and Dawson, back for his final over, nabbed Rathnayake for 118 as the last five wickets fell in a rush. The win rounded off a bizarre tour for England who lost two seemingly unloseable games. Here, they were grateful for their left-arm spinner's steel in another run-fest. Four for 49 in a 700-plus game is a special return.

"I wasn't getting nervy," said Brook. "We had a clear plan and a lot of clarity at the top of the mark with the bowlers. The lads have learned a hell of a lot from that game we played a couple of days ago. To finish the game off like we did there was an exceptional effort."

Duckett was the leading man in the first half. He struggled in the 430 game, way off his best with a scratchy 29 while everyone else teed off. Move forward a week and he has two more ODI tons, 105 in the low-scorer against Pakistan followed by a career-best. With Tom Banton punching his way to his fifth 50-plus score in six innings, the first-wicket stand was worth 163 from 25 overs. England now have a healthy problem: where does Jacob Bethell, back next month in Australia, fit into the picture? Banton taking the gloves could be an option if England want to keep this opening partnership intact, with Bethell going to the middle order.

Banton will undoubtedly be peeved that he failed to turn three half-centuries in the series into at least one helmet-raising moment. He fell for 74 when his footwork went missing, dragging a Dasun Shanaka delivery on to the stumps. But Duckett, in love with Lahore, was on for the big one. He reached his third ODI hundred on this ground off 89 deliveries, and the southpaw swung freely from there, his next 50 taking only 29 balls. Middling his pull shots, Duckett eventually tired, though only after he had gone past his 165 against Australia at this venue last year.

Brook promoted himself to No 3 as England pushed towards another gargantuan total, but an errant scoop limited him to 44. Will Jacks, Jordan Cox and Sam Curran kept England moving at pace but Brook's dismissal still felt significant, the moment that eliminated the chance of another 400. Asitha Fernando, armed with his tailing yorker, helped limit the damage with figures of two for 63, but England still made their way to the highest-ever ODI total at the Gaddafi Stadium. Joe Root was not even required.

Sri Lanka had no reason to be daunted, even with an early dismissal: Sonny Baker dropped Avishka Fernando at deep fine leg but went through Kamindu Mendis not long after. Kusal Mendis's bat split in half early on when facing Gus Atkinson, but the replacement blade worked just fine.

England looked short with the ball having left out Adil Rashid once again, and Henry Crocombe was barely called upon in his second ODI. At 177 for two off 26 overs, Sri Lanka were more than well-placed on a dewy pitch.

Brook called for Root's off-spin, a move that felt desperate but quickly worked. Kusal edged down the leg-side on 89, into the gloves of Cox, and Dawson had Shanaka leg-before three overs later after a successful review.

Spin was tightening things from both ends, but Root's third over was expensive as Janith Liyanage thumped over the on-side. Curran was handled comfortably, his moon ball punished, and Jacks was too short as Rathnayake made up for a patient start.

Nonetheless, England rediscovered some composure as the game closed in. Baker had been expensive against Kusal but he prompted the removal of Liyanage on 27. Crocombe had bowled only two overs when Brook called him in for the 43rd, and Sahan Arachchige launched the newbie into the hands of the captain at long-on.

Curran's tricks began to work too, setting up the run-out of Dunith Wellalage, and Dawson returned for one final over, getting Rathnayake to lob an edge to short fine leg. Next up for England: Australia.