Second-Highest Chase in ODI History: Sri Lanka Hunt Down England's 430 Target in Stunning Win
Sri Lanka have completed the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history. In the third match of the tri-nation series being held in Pakistan, they overhauled England's target of 430 with two balls and four wickets to spare.
The cricket world witnessed another thriller after 20 years — one in which even 429 runs in an ODI proved not to be safe. In reply to England's huge total, Sri Lanka reached the target in the end.
England batted first and posted 429 runs. A total that large in ODI cricket usually decides the fate of a match, but Sri Lanka shattered that assumption in this game.
Chasing, Sri Lanka kept the contest alive until the final over. They reached the winning target with four wickets in hand and just two balls remaining — proof that in the modern ODI game, no total is entirely safe any more.
The victory has entered the record books as the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history. Chasing down a target this big is a rare feat for any team.
The result in the third match of the tri-nation series has also multiplied the excitement of the series being held in Pakistan, where every match now carries added importance.
For England, the defeat is particularly disappointing. Losing after scoring 429 runs leaves big questions over bowling and fielding — under pressure at the death, they could not halt Sri Lanka's scoring rate.
For Sri Lanka, by contrast, the win is a major confidence boost. Successfully chasing such a big target is proof of the team's batting depth and its ability to handle pressure.
The match will be remembered by cricket lovers for a long time. A thriller of this kind after 20 years — where almost four hundred and thirty runs were not enough — has underlined afresh the appeal of ODI cricket.
Attention will now turn to whether this momentum can be sustained in the remaining matches of the series. Sri Lanka will want to build on the win, while England will look to correct their bowling errors and bounce back.
