ENG vs SL | 2nd ODI: All-round performance hands England unassailable 2-0 lead

England took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after winning the second encounter by 8 wickets in London on Thursday. 

Chasing 242, the hosts went over the line in 43 overs after captain Eoin Morgan and Test skipper Joe Root stitched an unbeaten stand of 140 runs for the third wicket to see the side home. 

While Morgan remained unbeaten at 75 off 83, Root notched up 68* off 87. 

England had a decent start to the chase as Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow compiled 76 runs for the first wicket before Bairstow departed for 29 after he was cleaned up by Hasaranga while trying to cut a delivery. 

Later, Chamika Karunaratne scalped the priced wicket of Jason Roy for 60 after he was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva. 

But Morgan and Root made sure that there were no more fall of wickets and the duo began the proceedings in a cautious manner and then took on the Sri Lankan bowling attack. 

Earlier, Sri Lanka witnessed another batting collapse right at the start of the innings after they were reduced to 21/4 and were later left tottering at 86/5.

But de Silva and Shanaka showed some resistance against the England bowling attack and the two batsmen put up a partnership of 78 runs for the sixth wicket. 

Dhanajaya eventually departed for 91 off 91 while Shanaka was later undone for 47 off 67. 

The lower order also made some important contributions but they went in vain as Sri Lanka suffered another defeat on this England tour. 

England fast bowlers Sam Curran and David Willey ripped through the Lankan batting order. Curran returned with a fifer during the course while Willey bagged a four-wicket haul as the visitors were restricted to 241/9 in 50 overs eventually. 

Kusal Perera expressed his disappointment at the failure of the top order with the bat. 

“Very hard for the lower order to get many once the top order fails that way. Dhananjaya played very well. We want to finish on a winning note,” he said. 

England captain Eoin Morgan was back in form with a brilliant fifty in the second ODI. 

Talking about his contribution after the match, Morgan said that he was delighted to take his team to a win and also lauded the efforts from Curran and Willey with the ball and the way Roy began the proceedings with the bat. 

“Delighted to score runs and make contribution to a series win. Left-arm seamers swung the ball and started so well. The wicket then slowed down. Roy, Bairstow at the top and Root batting at 3.. Good day all along. Not thinking about your batting as a captain seems to be working for me. We will see more changes in the final ODI with an eye on the Pakistani series as well. Always looking to grow and get better,” Morgan said. 

The two teams will now play the third and final ODI on Sunday in Bristol.