England's Brook slams 'worst' Colombo pitch

The visitors secured a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka

COLOMBO:

England captain Harry Brook said the pitch used for Saturday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka was probably the worst he had ever played on despite their series-levelling victory in Colombo.

England used six spinners, who bowled a combined 40.3 overs - the most by the side in an ODI - on a slow, turning track at Khettarama, where Joe Root's composed 75 secured their five-wicket victory.

"The pitch is probably the worst pitch I've ever played on," Brook said after England's first win in 12 ODIs away from home.

"You had to go out there and adapt as quick as possible, and just try to get off strike and get the other batter on strike."

Brook contributed 42 off 75 balls at a strike rate of 56, which is considerably lower than his overall strike rate of 99.83 in this format.

Brook also doffed his hat to Root for the way he dominated spin to register his second successive fifty of the series.

"He is an awesome player and his ability to get off strike and put the bad ball away when they slightly miss is awesome," Brook said.

"Joe is a phenomenal player to have in our side."

The third and final ODI is scheduled at the same venue on Tuesday.

Steady Root

Joe Root produced a batting masterclass on a turning track to steer England to a hard-fought five-wicket win over Sri Lanka, squaring the three-match ODI series in Colombo on Saturday.

With their backs to the wall and defeat meaning curtains for the series, Root played the anchor to perfection, crafting a gritty 75 as England crossed the line with 22 deliveries to spare.

"Nice to get a win on a very difficult surface. The key when you come here is to play as late as possible. To be brutally honest, it wasn't a great wicket for ODI cricket. But we adapted well and learned from the mistakes in the first game," said Root.

Chasing a modest 220, England found the target anything but a cakewalk on a surface that kept low and offered generous assistance for spin.

Unfurling the sweep and reverse sweep, Root teased the spinners, milked the singles with soft hands and rotated strike intelligently. His 81-run fourth-wicket stand with skipper Harry Brook took the sting out of the chase with Root bringing up his half-century off just 52 balls.

Root had already notched a half-century in the opening game and once again looked untroubled by the slow bowlers, forcing Sri Lanka to turn to pace. The breakthrough eventually came via Asitha Fernando, who trapped Root leg before with a sharp yorker.

By then, England needed 42 off 59 balls and Jos Buttler calmly applied the finishing touches with an unbeaten 33 off 21 to see the former world champions home.