England will take a narrow advantage into their penultimate one-day international meeting with Sri Lanka next week after seeing the third ODI eventually abandoned with no result due to persistent rain. The hosts, who had a dramatic last-ball six from Liam Plunkett to thank for sealing an opening draw, still lead the series 1-0 courtesy of a record-breaking stand from openers Alex Hales and Jason Roy that secured an emphatic 10-wicket win at Edgbaston on Friday (24 June).
Hales, who notched 133 in that aforementioned thrashing, failed to replicate such heroics in Bristol and fell to a golden duck when he edged a delivery from Suranga Lakmal through to wicket-keeper Dinesh Chandimal in only the third ball of the innings. Roy made five and Joe Root had reached 11 not out when a final 90-minute delay led to proceedings being called off with England on 16-1 after four overs.
Trevor Bayliss’ side, who beat Sri Lanka 2-0 in their recent three-match Test series that ended in a similar washout, were chasing a target of 249 for victory after Kusal Mendis, Chandimal and captain Angelo Mathews had all struck half-centuries for the tourists.
Upul Tharanga also hit 40 as Plunkett and Chris Woakes led England’s bowling effort with three wickets apiece. Chris Jordan and David Willey chipped in with one dismissal each.
After that frustrating finish, the two teams will reconvene for the fourth match at the Oval on Wednesday (29 June) before rounding things off in Cardiff three days later. They are also scheduled to play a one-off T20 contest at the Ageas Bowl on 5 July.
England then turn their attentions to Pakistan, who arrive next month for a tour that includes four Tests, five ODIs and a closing T20 international. Key bowler James Anderson has emerged as an injury doubt for the start of that series with a stress fracture of the right shoulder blade.