47th over: England 356-4 (Cox 27, Curran 7) Curran plonks out his front foot and shovels a low full toss from Eshan down the ground. With one potential over left, he's conceded 96.
46th over: England 345-3 (Cox 21, Curran 2) Clever bowling by Asitha first beats Jacks with a yorker and gets his prize the next ball. Root remains marooned between the muscle T-shirts of McCullum and a another coach, as Curran is sent in. Four singles follow.
Jacks drags a full ball from Asitha onto his stumps and kicks the bail in frustration as he heads home.
45th over: England 341-3 (Jacks 30, Cox 19) Jacks top edges Shanaka's first ball for four, who follows up with a wide. His day gets worse when Pavan Rathnayake on the rope crouches into the long barrier but somehow misses and lets Cox's pull trickle for four.
44th over: England 327-3 (Jacks 24, Cox 12) Cox, promoted above Root, joins the boundary gang, punching Eshan with pin-point precision between deep midwicket and long on.
43rd over: England 315-3 (Jacks 23, Cox 3) A wonderful innings that by Duckett, a man who has refound his touch. Shanaka runs in with over number six, Jacks flays him down the ground for four and next ball hauls him square past a hapless double act on the rope.
The stroke of a tired man, a slow low full toss blarghed to short fine where Asitha takes it on his knees. The end of a super innings.
41st over: England 298-2 (Duckett 166, Jacks 11) Just four singles in a clever over of varying pace from Shanaka, and a near run out as Duckett sends Jacks back. This is a career best now for Duckett, beatinging his 165 against Australia here during the Champions Trophy in 2025. A prize for anyone who can remember who won the competition.
40th over: England 294-2 (Duckett 164, Jacks 9) A woman with a gorgeous long black mane advertises shampoo in one of those live-action plugs. Duckett finds the gap off Asitha with another pull for four, and England jog five easy singles.
Bonjour Gary Naylor, in France.
"A simply glorious day in Northern France, but the melancholy still clings to these flat fields and to the towns (Saint Quentin, Amiens etc).
"We're off to bear witness at our great uncle's stone, dead after three nights in no man's land as a teenager in the mud and the blood.
"The names on the Menin Gate at Ypres appear like a list of Test Match statistics: English, Hindu and Muslim and everything in between. It's a reminder that our forefathers fought alongside each other 110 years ago but now play alongside each other.
"Lest we forget."
Thank you.
39th over: England 285-2 (Duckett 157, Jacks 7) Wellalage finishes his 10 over spell for a heart-shimmering 75. Fair play to Duckett, he's shown excellent endurance and fitness both today and in the last match, still grinning after 39 overs as he sweeps Wellalage for yet another boundary.
38th over: England 277-2 (Duckett 151, Jacks 5 ) Brook is furious with himself, falling just after shimmying legside and nudging Asitha delightfully down to the rope. Jacks bumps Root further down the order and is off the mark with a Pietersenesque whip through midwicket. And Duckett brings up his 150 to enthusiastic applause.
From nowhere, Brook tries to flip Asitha over the keeper but gets in a pickle with his footwork and toe ends him instead back to a delighted Asitha.
37th over: England 265-1 (Duckett 148, Brook 40) Yes please says Duckett: pulls Wellalage for consecutive boundaries and then with a little nudge brings up the 100 partnership off just 70 balls.
36th over: England 252-1 (Duckett 136, Brook 39) Madushanka, towel tucked into his waistband, starts with three dots, but Duckett spots a wide slower ball and upper cuts it for four. He wipes his brow, I imagine he won't be quite so game for quick singles in the last few overs.
35th over: England 247-1 (Duckett 131, Brook 39) Duckett dinks a full toss from Eshan Laminga over the keepers head for a very jolly four. Another boundary pulled with oiled joints. The crowd, which has grown, applaud sportingly.
"Intrigued by your reply to TvdG (over 21) which suggested there would be a lot of 'joshing' for positions in the England team over the next 12 months," writes Brian Withington. "I know the coach likes to operate a fairly relaxed regime, but didn't think selection would resort to a Last One Laughing format - what's next, Jimmy Carr as chair of selectors?" That would be a divisive choice even for Rob Key…
34th over: England 234-1 (Duckett 119, Brook 38) Madushanka waves his fielders into position, royal blue shirt tucked in neatly. Another one handed haul, a pull at a stretch, this time from Duckett, bounces just before the rope. England are cruising.
33rd over: England 224-1 (Duckett 112, Brook 35) Just a one-handed pull for six by Brook (almost into the hands of a diving fielder) and then four hauled through mid on. Eshan, elbows pumping, runs in again and Duckett – swivel and pull – sends him behind square for four more. Eighteen from the over.
32nd over: England 206-1 (Duckett 107, Brook 22) Brook has taken 22 balls to find his mojo but bang he hits the rope with a brutal sweep off Wellalage and next ball dispatches him out of the ground. He grins, ominously.
31st over: England 194-1 (Duckett 106, Brook 11) Are England eyeing up that 429 they pistolled against Sri Lanka about a week ago? Shanaka restricts England to three singles off the first three balls, but the fourth is slapped to the rope by Duckett. They all take a DRINK on a hot afternoon.
30th over: England 185-1 (Duckett 100, Brook 8) And there it is! With a gentle dab into the offside, back to back centuries, a sixth in ODIs, a third in Pakistan. He takes off his helmet, grins endearingly and wipes his perspiring forehead.
29th over: England 180-1 (Duckett 98, Brook 5) Shanaka keeps him hanging…
28th over: England 175-1 (Duckett 95, Brook 3) If Duckett gets to three figures, it will be his third hundred at Lahore in five games. A pull off Madushanka takes him a hit away.
Australia, by the way, have had a little collapse at Cape Town, despite Inglis' century.
27th over: England 170-1 (Duckett 91, Brook 2) On they're banging the drum for triangular series. I agree, I do think they give context. I still remember the 86-87 tri series in Australia, when Allan Lamb conjured 18 from the last over off Bruce Reid to win England a game. Anyway, Sri Lanka review a caught behind decision off Brook, but lose the review as there was no bat involved. Another tight over from Shanaka until the last ball which allows Duckett to whip him off his pads for four.
26th over: England 165-1 (Duckett 87, Brook 1 ) Brook, double century fresh in his mind, gets off the mark with a dab down to third.
25th over: England 163-1 (Duckett 86, Brook 0 ) Shanaka replaces Wellalage and Banton, possibly frustrated by a couple of tighter overs by Sri Lanka, launches into an off cutter and plays on. Super innings and a perfect platform for Harry Brook, pushed up the order.
Banton, moustache decorating his top lip, not quite Burt Reynolds but getting there, drags on and bends over his bat in despair.
24th over: England 160-0 (Banton 72, Duckett 85) A fat pigeon lands on my neighbour's crab apple tree and tucks into the red berries, rather like England, though they can only peck at Asitha this over.
23rd over: England 158-0 (Banton 71, Duckett 84) The strains of Despacito float over Lahore as some new gloves are brought out. And that is gorgeous, Banton gallops down and lofts Wellalage over long off for six, which is appreciated by the spectators who are scattered like confetti the day after a wedding.
22nd over: England 148-0 (Banton 63, Duckett 82) A kite flies across the pitch as Asitha bustles in. A super bit of fielding by Rathnayake at short mid wicket cuts off a brutal Duckett boundary.
21st over: England 144-0 (Banton 62, Duckett 79) A great save on the rope to prevent a Banton boundary is probably the highlight of Sri Lanka's afternoon.
Hello there Tom vd Gucht. "Morning, Ive managed to watch some of this series (for the first time since the last Ashes...) and have been wondering where it leaves England as an ODI unit. Is Rashid injured at the moment? I read something about him hurting his hand. Anyhow, with Archer, Buttler, Bethell and Rashid back in the fold (not to mention what might have happened in the two equally nail-biting and exhilarating losses had they been there to finish off the job) what would McCullum"s A-team look like? Is Curran too much of a luxury if the batting doesn't hold up coming in so down the order, or do his left arm variations bring too much to the table (even if he's not had a series to remember). What would the bowling look like? Who would make the cut out of Buttler, Banton, Cox and Bethell or even Root or Duckett..."
Rashid is fit and raring to go, England just aren't picking him which is peculiar. Feels a long time since he wasn't first name on the team sheet. But yes, lots of joshing for position over the next 12 months…
20th over: England 140-0 (Banton 59, Duckett 78) Eshan Malinga, with a hop and a skip. Three dots in a row but two boundaries either side spoil things.
19th over: England 132-0 (Banton 51, Duckett 78) Liyanage gets belted twice for four by Duckett on this lovely batting pitch.
18th over: England 122-0 (Banton 50, Duckett 69) A single to deep third brings Banton his fifty, he salutes the empty ground with a quick raise of the bat. Four more to Duckett off his belt.
17th over: England 111-0 (Banton 49, Duckett 64) Liyanage is thrown the ball and instructed to stop the steam train. And he does, kind of, no boundaries, though five from it. A straight drive from Duckett which is stopped by the non-striker's stumps, deserves riches.
Hello Brian Withington! "I've really enjoyed this tri-series despite England's losses - some exceptional performances and entertaining games, with Sri Lanka and Pakistan turning the tables magnificently against WinViz and all other expectations.
"Particularly interested to see whether Tom Banton can turn another good start into a major contribution. (I hesitate to say match winning given how Sri Lanka responded to Harry Brook's stupendous double century previously …)"
Too true! And Banton certainly looks the part, so tall and elegant.
16th over: England 111-0 (Banton 47, Duckett 61) Duckett picks up a third fifty of the series with a pull, and four more follow through midwicket as Malinga "slingy action, skiddy pitch" delivers Duckett just what he fancies. A third four is whipped through mid-off. They take DRINKS with England well on top.
15th over: England 99-0 (Banton 47, Duckett 49) Banton, for the second time in a few balls, only just clears mid off , inside out off Arachchinge for four. Now that's the business, six pancaked over long on as England hit cruise control.
14th over: England 85-0 (Banton 35, Duckett 47) A handful of singles.
13th over: England 81-0 (Banton 33, Duckett 45) Arachchige replaces Madushanka, four singles from it.
Over in Cape Town, for the crucial third Test between South Africa and Australia, Josh Inglis is on the brink of a century. Australia have a lead of 20 with six wickets still in hand. Let Martin Pegan be your guide.
12th over: England 77-0 (Banton 31, Duckett 43) Duckett's eyes light up, he tangoes and reverse sweeps Wellalage for four with style. Beautiful shot.
11th over: England 68-0 (Banton 27, Duckett 38) The cameras have found a few faces in the crowd, grains of sand in an empty sandpit. But they look happy enough. Madushanka starts with a wide again, stops England from scoring a boundary, but there is still six from the over.
10th over: England 62-0 (Banton 26, Duckett 34) Wellalage whisks through his over, England massage him for four runs.
9th over: England 58-0 (Banton 25, Duckett 31) Madushanka starts with a wide, but is neat and tidy until Banton, balanced like a gymnast, threads him through extra cover for four from the last ball.
8th over: England 52-0 (Banton 21, Duckett 30) Slow left arm from Wellalage, England are watchful for the first five balls but Banton reverse sweeps four over point to finish the over.
7th over: England 46-0 (Banton 16, Duckett 29) Asitha's fourth starts with three dots, then Duckett licks his lips as a pie lands in his sweet spot wide of off stump and is forked through backward point for four. Worse, it is a no ball. Duckett can't get a bat on the free hit but he drives the next, a half volley, through mid off for four more. Nine from the over, England are in fine fettle.
6th over: England 37-0 (Banton 16, Duckett 21) Malinga into the attack. Banton turns on the charm, legs together, perfect timing to another backfoot punch through mid off, then wristy gloriousness through midwicket for another four.
5th over: England 27-0 (Banton 7, Duckett 20) Duckett looking in fine touch after his hundred against Pakistan.
4th over: England 21-0 (Banton 6, Duckett 15) Oooh la la, stylish from Duckett, shimmied through point for four. Beautiful blue sky, hazy like an early morning dream.
3rd over: England 14-0 (Banton 6, Duckett 8) Banton bends his knees and glances around the ground like a wise old owl. He picks up two from a back foot punch off Asitha but is greedy for more, and there it comes from the last ball of the over, a boundary with another smart back-foot jab.
2nd over: England 8-0 (Banton 0, Duckett 8) Madushanka from the other end, a five-fer against Pakistan in his back pocket, long legs. Runs at last as Duckett tonks him off his pads for four. Then top edges a hook for four more.
1st over: England 0-0 (Banton 0, Duckett 0) Banton almost edges Asitha's very first ball to slip, but it falls short. The ground is full only with empty green seats, as the call to prayer rings out. A maiden to start.
The sun is out, Asitha Fernando has the ball, the drums are rolling.
England's record in this tri-series is played three, won none. A consolation win would pad the flight home.
Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c/wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
England XI: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Henry Crocombe.
is chatting to Mark Butcher in a carpet shop: "It has been a very exciting year, my life has changed quite a bit. It has been a bit of a rollercoaster for me the last few months, couldn't be happier to make my debut and my family have loved it as well so it has been very exciting.
"A lot of my success this year has been through red-ball cricket so when I got my initial call up for the home series I was a bit surprised but at the end of the day it is cricket. I'm very happy to be here in the white-ball squads.
"I was pretty nervous on Sunday, but it is a good group of lads and they made it easy for me. Once you step on the pitch, the big crowd was very loud, I was bowling on autopilot a little, and I was very happy. I'm usually quite a quiet celebrator but I couldn't help it with my first wicket.
"We seemed fairly confident of a win, it seemed pretty comfortable but sometimes someone has a day out - that was some knock and you have to applaud him for it.
"It is my first time properly being away and I'm enjoying the experience, I like to think I've got a decent chance of getting some red ball stuff hopefully, if I don't get it now, there are plenty of opportunities."
There are 17 ODIs till the next World Cup but some of those clash with the IPL so for some players that will come down for 12, or less. Enough time? We shall see…
Nasser and Mark Wood are in the Sky studio in their autumnal quarter zips. "If you look at conditions in Pakistan they are very different to home series," says Wood, "when people are in and out it is hard to get that consistency."
"Adil Rashid would be very useful in the middle overs and at the end, he would probably have got through Haris Rauf last week," says Nasser. "They obviously think these are one spinner pitches. I think the main issue is the allrounder, they have a spin bowling allrounder in Will Jacks, but not a seam bowling allrounder in these conditions. There is no pace – no Archer, no Wood – and Sam Curran is being smashed about – in those middle over they're not getting wickets."
calls correctly. "We hope to play a genuine match and will play 100 per cent to prepare for the final." No changes for Sri Lanka.
in shades, "We hope to adapt to conditions as quickly as we can, we've had a lot of learnings, hoping to finish on a high." Sonny Baker comes in for Jamie Overton, who has a quad strain.
Good morning! The rubber is dead, but plenty of things to chew over here in Lahore. They're about to toss the coin, so let's whizz to the middle….