England have been eliminated from their 50-over tri-series in Pakistan following Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory over the hosts in Lahore on Tuesday.
Elimination Confirmed in Lahore
Harry Brook’s side suffered three defeats from their first three matches and required Pakistan to defeat Sri Lanka to keep their hopes of reaching Saturday’s final alive ahead of Thursday’s fixture against Sri Lanka. Instead, Pakistan collapsed to 110 all out in 25.2 overs, with Babar Azam top-scoring with 29 as Dilshan Madushanka claimed 5-34 for the bowling side. Sri Lanka then reached their target at 114-2 in just 18.1 overs, guided by an unbeaten 62 off 60 balls from opener Kamindu Mendis, turning Thursday’s final round-robin match into a dead rubber.
Although conditions will differ at next year’s World Cup in southern Africa, the early exit deals a setback to England following positive momentum earlier in the year. After struggling in the 2023 World Cup defense and going winless in the Champions Trophy, England secured series victories away in Sri Lanka and at home against India and Sri Lanka in 2026. During the current tournament in Pakistan, they failed to chase 303 after reaching 120-1, couldn’t defend 430 as Sri Lanka completed the second-highest ODI chase in history, and fell to a last-wicket partnership of 89 against Pakistan.
Following their final match of the tri-series on Thursday, England will head to Australia for a tour featuring three ODIs and five T20 matches beginning on 13 November. They are also scheduled to play a warm-up fixture against a Western Australia XI in Perth on Saturday, 7 November.
