Harry Brook Hits England's First ODI Double Century as 429 Sets Sri Lanka Record Chase

Brook turns a slow start into 202 in Rawalpindi

Harry Brook struck 202 from 116 balls as England piled up 429 for four against Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi on October 22, 2026, becoming the first England batter to score a double century in men's one day international cricket. He reached 200 from 114 deliveries, the fastest double century recorded in the format.

The England captain hit 21 fours and 10 sixes, sharing partnerships of 159 with Joe Root and 185 with Will Jacks. England scored 156 runs in the final 10 overs, leaving Sri Lanka needing 430 to win the third match of the tournament involving three nations in Pakistan.

Brook's innings lifted England to their fourth highest ODI total, their highest overseas against a country that plays Test cricket and the biggest ODI total recorded in Pakistan. Sri Lanka had never previously conceded as many runs in the format.

The finish was a striking contrast to Brook's opening passage. He made only 13 from his first 24 balls before attacking Sri Lanka's supporting bowlers and accelerating through a succession of scoops, reverse scoops and powerful hits down the ground.

Root contributed 69, Tom Banton made 50 and Jacks finished unbeaten on 66 from 30 balls. Brook reached his double century with a paddle sweep for four in the final over before being caught at deep point from the last delivery.

Sri Lanka reached 60 for two after 10 overs, needing another 370 from 40 overs. Kamindu Mendis was bowled by Josh Tongue for 18 and Kusal Mendis was run out by Gus Atkinson for a duck. Avishka Fernando was unbeaten on 32 alongside Pavan Rathnayake on 12. The match was still in progress at the latest update, with no final result available. At the interval, the immediate task was to score at 8.6 runs per over across a full 50 overs to reach the target.

England needed a response after losing to Pakistan

England entered the match after an 87 run defeat by Pakistan, having been bowled out for 215 despite reaching 120 for one. Pakistan spinner Arafat Minhas had taken six wickets in that opening loss.

Sri Lanka also needed their first win of the tournament after losing to Pakistan by 37 runs. Captain Kusal Mendis won the toss in Rawalpindi and chose to field, his fifth consecutive successful toss on the tour.

England brought in fast bowler Josh Tongue and spinner Liam Dawson for Sonny Baker and Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka selected Dunith Wellalage in place of Sachindu Colombage, a change that brought their most successful bowler of England's innings into the side.

The teams had met in England the previous month, when the hosts won their ODI series 2-1. This meeting offered both a chance to recover ground in a tournament whose remaining four matches, including the October 31 final, were scheduled for Lahore.

Banton and Duckett build the opening platform

England reached 54 without loss after the opening 10 overs, with Banton taking most of the strike and providing most of the scoring. The opening powerplay, when fielding restrictions limit the number of defenders near the boundary, produced a steady start rather than an immediate rush of runs.

Banton reached 50 for the fourth successive innings, then fell three balls later when he hit Wellalage straight to long on. His contribution gave England an early platform, although two wickets in relatively quick succession left Root and Brook with rebuilding work.

Ben Duckett had already survived two opportunities involving Sahan Arachchige at point. A missed direct hit spared him a possible run out, and Arachchige then dropped a catch from a mistimed cut.

Duckett eventually made 29 from 39 balls before Wellalage trapped him leg before wicket as he attempted a sweep. Brook arrived at number four during the 17th over, with much of England's eventual scoring surge still to come.

Two sixes change the rhythm

Brook initially struggled to find gaps or time the ball cleanly. His first 24 deliveries produced 13 runs, a scoring rate of just over half a run per ball.

Kamindu Mendis's left arm spin provided the opening. Brook hit consecutive sixes and began to attack Sri Lanka's rotation of supporting bowlers. He drove Janith Liyanage straight down the ground and also used a lap shot to send him for six.

Sri Lanka's reliance on bowlers sharing the work beyond their main attack became expensive. Those supporting options conceded 123 runs, giving Brook opportunities to build momentum through the middle overs rather than wait for the closing stages.

Brook also attacked Dilshan Madushanka, hitting two fours and a six in one over. An edge from a slower delivery then fell just short of wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis when Brook had 67. Sri Lanka escaped the boundary damage on that ball, but missed a chance to end an innings that was gathering speed.

Root supplies stability, Jacks adds another gear

Root's 69 helped turn England's uncertain spell after the opening wickets into a partnership of 159. Brook could expand his range of shots while an experienced partner kept the innings moving at the other end.

Asitha Fernando eventually dismissed Root, who chipped a catch to short midwicket. England then promoted Jacks ahead of Sam Curran and Jordan Cox, putting another aggressive batter alongside their captain.

Jacks reached his half century from 25 balls and finished with eight fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 66. Those boundaries supplied 50 of his runs, showing how little time he needed to make a substantial contribution.

Brook and Jacks added 185 from 79 deliveries. Together, England's two largest partnerships contributed 344 runs, just over 80 percent of the final total. Root helped establish control; Jacks helped convert it into an exceptionally fast finish.

How Brook reached 200

Brook's first hundred came from 75 balls, reached with a scoop for four off Asitha Fernando. He needed only 39 more deliveries for his second hundred, nearly halving the time required for the same number of runs.

England Cricket highlighted that acceleration in its public celebration of the innings, describing the second half of Brook's double century:

Second hundred off just 39 balls

Brook passed Ben Stokes's England record of 182 by whipping Madushanka for six over square leg. Avishka Fernando then dropped him at mid off late in the innings, allowing the captain to continue into the last over.

Liyanage began that over with Brook still short of 200. A six over the off side and two successive twos moved him within one boundary of the milestone. Brook then played the paddle sweep for four, raising his arms as he completed the moment.

After roughly two and a half hours batting in the afternoon heat, Brook acknowledged a standing ovation from England's dressing room. He added two more runs before his catch at deep point ended the innings.

The milestones behind the score

Brook's 202 exceeded Stokes's previous England record by 20 runs. Stokes had made 182 against New Zealand at The Oval in September 2023. Brook also set an England ODI record with 31 boundary strokes.

His 21 fours contributed 84 runs and his 10 sixes added 60. Together, they accounted for 144 of his 202 runs, or about 71 percent. He supplied 10 of England's 13 sixes.

Brook's 114 ball double century moved him ahead of Shubman Gill's recent effort against West Indies in Guwahati. Gill's previous mark is listed as 116 balls in some published records and 117 in others; either figure places Brook's innings ahead.

The England captain also joined Chris Gayle in completing a rare collection across international formats: a triple century in Test cricket, a double century in an ODI and a century in a T20 international. Each milestone demands a different balance of endurance and speed, making Brook's achievement broader than a single national scoring record.

England's finish changes the scale of the chase

England's final 10 overs produced 156 runs, an average of 15.6 per over. Their score therefore rose from 273 after 40 overs to 429 after 50. More than a third of the innings total arrived in its last fifth.

The total surpassed England's previous highest overseas score against a Test playing country, 418 for six against West Indies in Grenada in 2019, by 11 runs. It also more than doubled the 215 they had managed against Pakistan in their previous match.

Wellalage finished with two wickets for 56, removing both openers. Asitha Fernando and Liyanage took one wicket each. Sri Lanka's seam attack suffered heavily, with Eshan Malinga conceding 91, Madushanka 89 and Dasun Shanaka 74 from six overs.

Sri Lanka now needed more than a brisk opening partnership. A target of 430 required sustained scoring through the middle overs as well as an aggressive finish. England had demonstrated how quickly a controlled innings could expand, but the visitors faced that demand from the start of their reply.

The innings in sequence

Brook's record emerged through several distinct stages, from a measured opening to a final over milestone:

• Opening 10 overs: England reached 54 without loss.
• Early middle overs: Wellalage dismissed Banton for 50 and Duckett for 29.
• Brook's first 24 balls: He scored 13 before consecutive sixes off Kamindu Mendis changed his pace.
• Third wicket: Brook and Root added 159 before Root fell for 69.
• Brook's 75th ball: A scoop brought up his first hundred.
• Final 10 overs: England scored 156, with Jacks helping sustain the attack.
• Final over: Brook reached 200 from 114 balls and was dismissed for 202 from 116 on the last delivery.

The progression explains the scale of England's turnaround within the innings. Their record total came from a platform built by the openers, a substantial partnership with Root and an acceleration that Sri Lanka could not contain once Jacks joined Brook.

Key Points

• Harry Brook made 202 from 116 balls, England's first individual double century in men's ODIs.
• He reached 200 from 114 deliveries, setting the fastest mark in the format.
• England finished on 429 for four, leaving Sri Lanka a target of 430.
• Sri Lanka were 60 for two after 10 overs, needing another 370 from 40 overs; the match was still in progress.
• Brook hit 21 fours and 10 sixes and shared partnerships of 159 with Joe Root and 185 with Will Jacks.
• England scored 156 runs in the final 10 overs; Jacks finished unbeaten on 66 from 30 balls.
• Both teams entered the match after defeats by Pakistan. The tournament final was scheduled for October 31 in Lahore.