A double century in 114 balls
Harry Brook, captaining England, produced the quickest double hundred ever recorded in men's one-day internationals on Thursday, reaching the landmark from 114 deliveries. He was dismissed from the last ball of the innings for 202, having struck ten sixes and 21 fours. It was the first double century by an England player in the format, and it carried his team to 429-4, their fourth-highest total in ODIs.[S1][S2]
The previous benchmark belonged to Shubman Gill, who needed 116 balls for his double ton while playing for India against West Indies in Guwahati last month. Brook therefore bettered that mark by two deliveries. His route to the milestone was aggressive throughout: he brought up his first hundred from 75 balls with a ramped shot over fine leg, arrived at 150 with a similar stroke, then added his second century in only 39 balls, completed by a paddle sweep off Janith Liyanage in the closing over.[S1][S2]
Supporting fifties and a costly spell
England had been put in to bat at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, and Brook found substantial support. Joe Root made 69, Will Jacks finished unbeaten on 66 and Tom Banton contributed 50. Brook and Jacks combined for 156 runs across the final ten overs, accelerating an innings that had already been built on a rapid foundation.[S1][S2]
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Sri Lanka's pace attack endured a punishing day. Eshan Malinga finished with figures of 0-91 and Dilshan Madushanka 0-89, while Dasun Shanaka, back in one-day internationals after a gap of more than two years, conceded 74 from his six overs. The left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage offered some resistance, taking 2-56, but the seamers leaked runs steadily as England's total climbed.[S1][S2]
Both sides still seeking a first win
The match forms part of a tri-series in Pakistan, and neither England nor Sri Lanka has yet registered a victory in the competition, each having lost to the host nation. Brook's innings therefore arrived with both teams under pressure to open their accounts, and it tilted the contest firmly toward England on the scoreboard.[S1][S2]
