Joe Root's Masterclass 75 Guides England to Series-Leveling Victory Against Sri Lanka

Joe Root produced a measured and masterful 75 as England secured a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second one-day international at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, leveling the three-match series at 1-1.

The veteran batter's innings was the cornerstone of England's successful run chase of 220, as the tourists wrapped up their first ODI victory away from home in 12 matches with 22 balls to spare.

Sri Lanka's Batting Struggles Against English Spin

Sri Lanka could only manage 219 all out in 49.3 overs on a surface that offered appreciable turn throughout the day. Captain Charith Asalanka top-scored with a patient 45 off 64 balls, striking just one boundary, while Dhananjaya de Silva contributed 40 in a challenging batting environment.

England's spin-heavy bowling attack proved devastatingly effective on the turning track. In a historic display, the tourists used six different spinners in an ODI for the first time ever, with 40.3 overs bowled by spinners – the most by any England bowling attack in ODI history, surpassing the previous record of 36 overs set against Pakistan in Sharjah in March 1985.

Rashid Leads England's Spin Masterclass

Adil Rashid was the standout performer with the ball, claiming the crucial top-order wickets of opener Pathum Nissanka and captain Asalanka. The veteran leg-spinner finished with economical figures of 2-34 from his 10 overs, showcasing his mastery on subcontinental surfaces.

Root himself contributed with the ball, taking 2-13 from just two overs at the death, while Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, and Jacob Bethell all chipped in with wickets. Five different spinners picked up a wicket – matching the joint-most in an ODI innings by any team and a first for England.

The seven wickets that fell to spin was the second-most by an England attack in ODI history, bettered only by eight against West Indies at North Sound in 2014.

Root's Patient Masterclass in the Chase

With England chasing 220, Root demonstrated why he remains one of the world's premier batters across formats. His deft footwork and exceptional reading of spin made him the linchpin of the chase, leaving Sri Lanka's bowlers uncertain where to bowl to him.

Root shared crucial partnerships of 68 with Ben Duckett (39) and 81 with fellow Yorkshireman Harry Brook to break the back of the reply. His chanceless innings only ended on 75 when a yorker from Asitha Fernando struck him on the pad as he attempted to flick off his toes. Despite reviewing the lbw decision, ball-tracking technology showed it was hitting the stumps on umpire's call.

A Record-Breaking Performance in Singles

During his innings, Root passed 3,500 runs in singles in ODI cricket – a remarkable testament to his accumulation skills. His non-boundary strike-rate of 59.95 is the best for any batter in ODI history, sitting above all-time greats AB de Villiers (59.23) and Virat Kohli (58.10).

Those low-risk dabs, flicks, nudges, and nurdles proved invaluable on a pitch that demanded batters play the percentages.

Buttler Finishes the Job

With 42 runs still required after Root's dismissal, nerves jangled briefly when captain Jos Buttler saw Brook fall for 42, misjudging a sweep to be lbw to Jeffrey Vandersay.

However, Buttler put his foot on the accelerator with an unbeaten 33 off just 21 balls, guiding England over the line with authority and ending their lengthy winless streak in away ODIs.

Opening Experiment with Rehan Ahmed

With Zak Crawley absent through a knee injury, England experimented by promoting leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed to open the batting. The young all-rounder looked relatively composed in making 13 off 18 balls, though whether this experiment will continue remains to be seen.

Ahmed does have precedent in the role – a 49 off 32 balls in his sole T20 innings as opener, plus a first-class record of 203 runs at an average of 67.7 with one century and one half-century from four innings.

Looking Ahead to the Series Decider

With the series now level at 1-1, everything hinges on the third and final ODI. England will be buoyed by this comprehensive victory and their spinners' dominance on helpful surfaces.

For Sri Lanka, finding a way to counter England's spin attack and posting a more competitive total will be crucial in their quest to win the series on home soil.

Joe Root, meanwhile, continues to show no signs of slowing down. England's all-time leading Test run-scorer remains invaluable in white-ball cricket, and fans should appreciate his continued excellence while it lasts.