In Colombo, England captain Harry Brook unleashed a batting storm that left Sri Lanka reeling and secured the three-match ODI series 2–1 for his side. In the third ODI, Brook scored a blistering 136 not out off 66 balls, with the most dramatic portion of his innings coming in the final 27 deliveries, during which he amassed 90 runs.
Brook arrived at the crease in the 32nd over when England had scored only 35 runs in 40 overs. What followed was a breathtaking onslaught: he reached his first fifty in just 40 balls, and his second fifty came in a mere 17 balls. The sheer pace of his strike decimated the Sri Lankan bowling attack, leaving his teammate Joe Root, who scored his 20th ODI century, largely a spectator in the latter stages.
England’s formidable total of 357 for 3 wickets was built predominantly by Root and Brook, with Brook contributing 68 of the final 69 runs. In response, Sri Lanka, led by Pawan Ratnayake’s century, managed 304 runs. England’s 53-run victory marked their first overseas ODI series win since 2023.
Last-10 Overs Century Record in ODIs
Brook’s century is notable for being scored entirely within the last 10 overs of the innings—a feat achieved by only a handful of players in ODI history. This was the ninth such century, placing him among legends like AB de Villiers, Rohit Sharma, and Jos Buttler.
| Player | Opponent | Year | Runs in Last 10 Overs | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harry Brook | Sri Lanka | 2026 | 136* | 90 runs off last 27 balls |
| AB de Villiers | West Indies | 2015 | 121 | Record for most runs in last 10 overs |
| AB de Villiers | West Indies | 2015 | 109 | Second 100+ in last 10 overs same year |
| Rohit Sharma | Sri Lanka | 2014 | 110 | First ever last-10-overs century |
| Rohit Sharma | Sri Lanka | 2017 | 100+ | Second last-10-overs century |
| Jos Buttler | Pakistan | 2015 | 100+ | ODI record |
| Jos Buttler | West Indies | 2019 | 100+ | ODI record |
| Glenn Maxwell | Netherlands | 2023 | 106 | Australia’s last-10-overs century |
| Heinrich Klaasen | – | – | 100+ | South Africa’s contribution |
Brook’s innings ranks among the most destructive in ODI cricket, not only for its rapid scoring but also for its tactical precision, turning what seemed a moderate total into a commanding one. England’s series triumph is a testament to the impact of aggressive, modern ODI batting and Brook’s emerging dominance on the international stage.
With such a performance, Brook joins an elite group of players capable of transforming an innings in the final overs, rewriting the record books, and energising his team to series victories away from home.