Rampant Roy ensures England seal series

England brought in Chris Jordan as an extra seamer, at the expense of off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali, for the third Royal London Series one-day global against Sri Lanka in Bristol.

Jason Roy hit his second century in five days to give England a six wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth one day global.

But the rain arrived again to leave the series poised at 1-0 to England with two games to play.

Jason Roy fell narrowly short of breaking Robin Smith’s 23-year-old record for the highest ODI score by an England batsman but he is confident that one of the new generation will eclipse it before long.

Their innings was interrupted by rain, however, and England faced a target of 309.

His innings is the second-highest score ever made by an Englishman in one-day global cricket.

Sri Lanka were able to set a worthwhile, but far from imposing, total on the back of half-centuries from their captain Angelo Mathews, his deputy Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis.

4 – Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews put on a fifty-run stand for the fourth time in this series.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, know that their best is still to come and will be hoping that this game gives them the chance to show that they can compete with England in this form of the game.

“I have done well here, and in Sri Lanka”, he said.

He admitted to some disappointment at getting out before England completed their chase, having got them within 27 runs by the time he was bowled by Nuwan Pradeep.

“I was only aware [of the record] when I walked into the changing room and I saw it on the TV”, said Roy.

Despite the obvious disappointment – he slammed his bat into his pad Roy’s innings and his 149-run stand with Joe Root here laid not only the foundation for victory in the series but everything aside from the chimney following a last ball tie at Trent Bridge and a washout at Bristol on Sunday.

England, who lead the five-match series after a thumping 10-wicket triumph at Edgbaston on Friday, were 1-16 and chasing Sri Lanka’s tally of 9-248 when the match was called off.

Mendis lit up proceedings with three boundaries came off one Willey over and must have made England captain Eoin Morgan wonder if he had made the right choice to insert the tourists on a flat Oval wicket despite the overcast conditions. He raced to his century, off just 74 balls, that all but knocked Sri Lanka out of the game.

Put in to bat, Sri Lanka suffered an early blow when Johnny Bairstow ran Perera out for just one in the second over. “I was pretty disappointed”. Roy took home the man of the match award for his ton, which was the highest individual ODI score at The Oval.