Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by 99 runs, clinch series
The victory caps a remarkable turnaround for Sri Lanka in the 50-over format since their dismal World Cup campaign in India
Sri Lanka's players pose with the trophy after winning the third and final one-day international (ODI) cricket match against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on July 8, 2025. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
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SRI LANKA stormed to a 99-run win over Bangladesh in the third and final ODI at Pallekele on Tuesday (8), sealing the three-match series 2-1 with a clinical all-round display.
Set a challenging target of 286, Bangladesh faltered under pressure and were bundled out for 186 inside 40 overs as Sri Lanka flexed their bowling muscle to wrap up the contest with ease.
The victory caps a remarkable turnaround for Sri Lanka in the 50-over format since their dismal World Cup campaign in India in 2023, where they finished ninth and failed to qualify for this year's Champions Trophy.
Since that debacle, they have won seven of nine ODI series, including notable triumphs over heavyweights Australia and India.
"This is probably one of our best games," Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said. "We were under pressure and we wanted to win badly and Kusal Mendis was superb today. When we ended up scoring 285, we knew we had the runs on the board and the bowlers' job became easy."
The architect of the series-deciding win against Bangladesh was indeed Mendis, who silenced his critics with 124 off 114 balls – his sixth ODI hundred.
The wicketkeeper-batter came into the game under fire after his rash dismissal during Sri Lanka's 16-run defeat in the second ODI in Colombo.
But at Pallekele, with the series on the line, Mendis dropped anchor and rebuilt the innings with a mature knock laced with 18 boundaries.
Coming in during the fourth over, he put on a vital 124-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Asalanka to lay the foundation for a competitive total.
Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis celebrates after scoring a century (100 runs) during the match. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)
"Very pleased with the knock today. Was disappointed with what happened in Colombo. I had got a start and couldn't finish," said Mendis, who was named man of the match and player of the series.
"Here I was determined to bat through the innings and very satisfied."
At one stage the hosts looked set for a 300-plus total, but Bangladesh clawed back with tight death bowling to restrict them to 285 for seven.
The target proved to be a tall ask once the tourists' top order caved in.
Dushmantha Chameera, returning to the fold in this series after more than a year on the sidelines due to injury, hit the deck hard and was a handful with the new ball.
The right-arm quick rattled the stumps of in-form Najmul Hossain Shanto (0) with a gem that jagged back sharply to kiss the top of off.
With Towhid Hridoy then offering some resistance with a half-century, Chameera returned to breach his defence with another sharp in-swinging delivery that crashed through the gate.
The quick finished with three for 51 and was ably supported by Asitha Fernando, who also claimed three wickets. The two sides will now be involved in a three-match T20I series beginning Thursday, also at Pallekele.
"We started off well and we tried to bat positive, but the scoreboard pressure got to us," Bangladesh captain Mehidy Hasan Miraz said.
"But we are rebuilding the team and (there are) a lot of young players... we have a lot of positives."
India levelled the series 1-1 with a 336-run win at Edgbaston
Shubman Gill has scored 585 runs in two Tests as captain
Jofra Archer set for first Test appearance since 2021; Bumrah returns for India
INDIA will look to continue their strong form when they face England in the third Test at Lord's starting Thursday. After losing the first Test at Headingley, India bounced back to level the five-match series 1-1 with a 336-run win at Edgbaston.
India are chasing just their fourth Test series win in England, and come into the Lord's Test with several key players in form.
Gill's record chase continues
Shubman Gill has made a strong start to his captaincy, scoring 585 runs in his first two Tests as skipper after taking over from Rohit Sharma. At Edgbaston, he made 269 and 161, becoming the first batter in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match.
Gill also made 147 in the series opener, and his form has sparked comparisons with Donald Bradman’s 974-run record in a single Test series. The record has stood for 95 years.
"You've got to give your opposition credit when it's due and for him to bang out as many runs as he has done in this game has been pretty special," England captain Ben Stokes said.
There is precedent for a drop in form later in the series. In 2003, South Africa’s Graeme Smith started with two double hundreds at Edgbaston and Lord's but scored just 93 more runs in the final three matches.
Archer return boosts England hopes
Jofra Archer is expected to return for England, marking his first Test since 2021. Archer made his Test debut at Lord's in 2019, where he famously hit Steve Smith with a bouncer. His return comes after a long injury lay-off.
"He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he's capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and improve on what he's been able to do already," England coach Brendon McCullum said.
England's attack has struggled in this series. Chris Woakes has taken just three wickets at an average of nearly 97, despite sharing the new ball. Geoffrey Boycott recently said the 36-year-old was "past his sell-by date".
However, Woakes has a strong record at Lord's with 32 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 12.90. He also averages 42.50 with the bat at the ground.
Bumrah back for India
Jasprit Bumrah is expected to return after being rested at Edgbaston. Akash Deep, who took 10 wickets in Birmingham, is likely to retain his place. But Bumrah’s return strengthens the Indian attack.
"He (Bumrah) jogs in, you will be thinking 'this will be 70 miles an hour' and it hits you at 90," former England pacer Stuart Broad said on his For the Love of Cricket podcast.
Bumrah is yet to earn a place on the Lord's dressing room honours board. The 31-year-old will aim to change that in the third Test.
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Archer was part of the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but did not play. (Photo: Getty Images)
ENGLAND coach Brendon McCullum said pacer Jofra Archer is "ready to go" as he considers bringing him back for the third Test against India, following a four-year absence due to injury.
Archer was part of the squad for the second Test at Edgbaston but did not play. India won that match by 336 runs on Sunday, levelling the five-match series at 1-1.
The third Test begins at Lord's on Thursday. With little time between games, both teams are likely to make changes to their pace attacks. India have already confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the second Test, will return.
Archer, who was born in Barbados, made his international debut in 2019 and has played 13 Tests, the last in February 2021. So far this season, the 30-year-old has bowled just 18 first-class overs for Sussex.
England are now considering him for the Lord's Test as they look to strengthen their bowling unit.
"It's hugely exciting, he's buzzing as well," said McCullum.
"He's obviously been through his injuries and his time out of Test cricket, but we all know what he's capable of achieving and we hope that when the opportunity does arrive for him, he's able to recapture and improve on what he's been able to do already."
McCullum also ruled out the possibility of replacing off-spinner Shoaib Bashir with Jacob Bethell.
Bashir, 21, has taken eight wickets in the first two Tests, but they have come at an average of nearly 60. Bethell, who offers more with the bat, bowls left-arm spin but McCullum said the Warwickshire all-rounder would only be considered as a batting option.
"He's a batting option. He's the next one in if something happens, but we don't crowbar anything," said McCullum.
Speaking about Bashir, he added: "We know (Bashir) is not the finished article yet, but I feel like he's getting better and better. As the series wears on, I think we'll see him play quite a big hand."
McCullum said he was hoping to see a more balanced contest between bat and ball in the remaining matches. The first two Tests have produced 11 centuries, with India captain Shubman Gill scoring a total of 585 runs so far, including a big contribution in Birmingham.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Gupta previously served as CEO of JioStar Sports, a role he took up following the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s Indian media assets in November last year. (Photo: X/@HomeOfCricket)
THE International Cricket Council (ICC) has named Sanjog Gupta as its new chief executive officer, replacing Geoff Allardice. The announcement was made on Monday.
Gupta previously served as CEO of JioStar Sports, a role he took up following the $8.5 billion merger between Reliance Industries and Walt Disney’s Indian media assets in November last year. He becomes the ICC’s seventh CEO.
Allardice, who was appointed in November 2021 after serving in an interim capacity for eight months following the suspension of Manu Sawhney, stepped down from the position earlier this year.
Gupta took charge on Monday and said, “These are exciting times for the sport as marquee events grow in stature, commercial avenues widen and opportunities such as the women's game scale in popularity. Cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games and the rapid acceleration of technology deployment/adoption could act as force-multipliers for the cricket movement around the world.”
ICC chair Jay Shah said Gupta’s experience would support the organisation’s plans. “His deep understanding of the global sports as well as M&E landscape combined with his continued curiosity about the cricket fan’s perspective and passion for technology will prove essential in our ambition to grow the game in the coming years.”
The ICC said over 2,500 applications were received from 25 countries.
(With inputs from agencies)
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Gill's 430 runs in the match made him only the fifth batter to score over 400 in a single Test. (Photo: Getty Images)
INDIA captain Shubman Gill became the first batter in Test history to score 250 and 150 in the same match, before Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep struck early to put India in control of the second Test at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Gill followed his first-innings 267 with 161 off 162 balls in the second innings. India declared at 427-6 after tea on the fourth day, setting England a target of 608 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
The highest fourth-innings chase in Test history remains West Indies’ 418 against Australia at St John's in 2003. England’s record is 378, achieved against India at the same venue three years ago.
At stumps on Saturday, England were 72-3, still needing 536 runs to win on the final day.
“Nothing is impossible,” England batting coach Marcus Trescothick told the BBC. “But 536 is a lot of runs... If we were to chase that down then it would be an epic day's play.”
Harry Brook, who made 158 in England’s first-innings total of 407, was unbeaten on 15.
Siraj and Deep strike early
Siraj, who took 6-70 in the first innings, dismissed Zak Crawley for a duck with a loose drive to backward point. Deep, playing in place of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, then bowled Ben Duckett for 25 and dismissed Joe Root for six with a full-length delivery that moved late.
"That's a pleasing sign from Akash, he is an attacking bowler that asks questions, bowling at the stumps a lot," said India bowling coach Morne Morkel.
The former South Africa pacer added: "Top-quality player, Joe Root, and to dismiss him in that fashion just shows the quality of Akash."
Gill crosses 400 in a match
Gill's 430 runs in the match made him only the fifth batter to score over 400 in a single Test. The 25-year-old has now scored three centuries in four innings since becoming captain, following Rohit Sharma’s retirement from Test cricket in May.
He was supported on Saturday by Rishabh Pant, who scored 65 after being dropped twice. Crawley missed a chance at mid-off when Pant was on 10. The wicketkeeper-batter hit eight fours and three sixes during his 58-ball knock, adding 110 runs in just 103 balls with Gill for the fourth wicket.
Gill, batting at number four in place of the retired Virat Kohli, hit Josh Tongue for three consecutive boundaries – a hooked six, a lofted four over mid-on, and a pulled four past Ben Stokes.
He later struck another hooked six off Tongue. Pant’s innings ended when he tried to hit Shoaib Bashir and lost control of his bat, which flew towards midwicket while the ball was caught by Duckett at deep mid-off.
India pile on after tea
After tea, Gill hit a straight six and two fours off Chris Woakes, then slog-swept Joe Root for six to reach 150. He was eventually dismissed for 161, giving a return catch to Bashir after hitting 13 fours and eight sixes.
With crowd chants of "Boring, boring India" heard as the visitors continued to bat, Gill eventually declared with Ravindra Jadeja unbeaten on 69.
MOHAMMED SIRAJ said he "loved the challenge" of leading India's attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah after taking a six-wicket haul in the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday (4).
There was widespread criticism when India, who lost last week's series opener at Headingley, omitted outstanding spearhead quick Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, from their team in Birmingham.
But they could yet draw level at 1-1 in a five-match campaign after fellow paceman Siraj took 6-70 on Friday, despite England's Harry Brook and Jamie Smith sharing a mammoth sixth-wicket partnership of 303.
The 31-year-old Siraj dismissed star batsman Joe Root and England captain Ben Stokes with successive balls early in the third day's play to reduce the hosts to 84-5.
And he returned to clean up the tail as England were dismissed for 407 in reply to India's first-innings 587 built upon skipper Shubman Gill's exceptional 269.
By stumps, India had extended their overall lead to 244 runs at 64-1 in their second innings.
"I have been bowling well but not getting wickets, so getting six here is very special," said Siraj after the close. "When you are asked to lead the attack I love responsibility, I love the challenge.
"My mindset was to keep it tight and not give away runs," added Siraj, well-supported by 4-88 from Akash Deep after the paceman was given the unenviable task of standing-in for Bumrah.
Brook and Smith staged a remarkable fightback after they joined forces with England more than 500 runs behind.
The 24-year-old Smith survived Siraj's hat-trick ball with a straight drive for four and went to make a breathtaking 184 not out, the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper, surpassing Surrey mentor Alec Stewart's 173 against New Zealand at Auckland in 1997.
Brook was alongside Smith for much of this innings as the Yorkshireman made 158 -- his ninth Test century and fifth in excess of 150.
"It was good fun being out there with 'Smudge' (Smith)," Brook told reporters. "He's a phenomenal player and it felt good to be out there, putting on 300 with him.
"The way that he came out of the blocks and put the pressure back on their bowlers was awesome. He tried to change the momentum back in our favour and it worked for a long period of time."
Brook added: "It was so good to watch from the other end, I felt like he could hit four or six every ball and I was just trying to get him on strike. He just leans on it and it goes to the boundary. He has a long England career ahead of him."
England may be behind in this game but having chased down 378 to beat India at Edgbaston three years ago and made light of a target of 371 in the first Test at Headingley, they haven't given up hope of leaving Birmingham with a 2-0 lead.
"I think everybody in the world knows that we're going to try and chase whatever they set us," said Brook.
"We've obviously got a big task at hand but we'll try and get a couple of wickets early on and try and put them under pressure. You never know how this game can go."