When England put 429 runs on the board, few cricket fans would have expected Sri Lanka to chase it down.
Yet Sri Lanka did exactly that.
A stunning two-wicket victory in Rawalpindi saw Sri Lanka complete the second-highest successful run chase in men’s ODI history, reaching the target with just one ball left.
Dasun Shanaka, who smashed 97 from 50 balls, has now revealed what made the chase possible.
England’s Big Score Gave Sri Lanka Belief
England’s batting had already shown Sri Lanka that a huge score was possible.
Harry Brook’s extraordinary double century became an unexpected source of confidence inside the Sri Lankan dressing room.
“If they can do that, why can’t our team do that?” Shanaka recalled the players asking.
Sri Lanka also knew there was little room for a cautious approach. A defeat would have left the team almost out of the competition, so the players decided to attack the target.
The team leadership had prepared the players mentally and given them a clear plan for the chase.
Rathnayake and Fernando Changed the Chase
Sri Lanka lost two early wickets, including the captain, and the target still looked far away.
Then Pavan Rathnayake and Avishka Fernando changed the mood.
Rathnayake struck a magnificent 130, while Fernando scored 97 on his return to the team. Their partnership gave Sri Lanka the belief that the chase was genuinely possible.
Shanaka then joined the attack.
His 97 came from just 50 balls as Sri Lanka kept pushing towards the target. He said his initial aim was to time the ball, build momentum and take the chase deep rather than try to finish too early.
One Six Completed the Impossible
Sri Lanka eventually reached the final stages with victory within reach.
Janith Liyanage kept his nerve and hit the winning six, completing a chase that had looked almost impossible when England reached 429.
Shanaka said the victory gives the players and supporters a major confidence boost, particularly with several match-winning players unavailable.
Sri Lanka’s 430-run chase now stands second only to South Africa’s successful chase of 438 against Australia in 2006.
For a team that began the innings facing 430 runs, one belief changed everything: if England could do it, Sri Lanka believed it could too.
Sports Update Sri Lankan Made Proud
Last modified: October 23, 2026
