England win series as Banton delivers on potential

Tom Banton delivered on all of his potential by crashing a brilliant first international century as England wrapped up their summer with an ODI series win over Sri Lanka.

The 27-year-old right-hander was once the rising star of English cricket when handed a debut in 2019 but afterwards fell out of love with the game after losing his way.

After reaching his hundred in 95 balls in the third one-day international at The Oval, he stood with arms wide and looked to the sky - all of that disappointment seemingly behind him.

The opener went on to make 126 from 105 deliveries, perfectly countering tricky early conditions - conditions in which Joe Root struggled uncharacteristically for 18 from 37 balls - and going on to share an increasingly aggressive stand of 150 in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook.

Brook made 77 and Jordan Cox, picked in the place of the injured Jos Buttler, added a 52-ball 76 to lift England to 355-7.

That always appeared a match-winning total on a surface offering bounce for the pace bowlers and turn for the spinners.

Sri Lanka crumbled to 132 all out in 29.1 overs, giving England a 223-run win and their biggest ODI victory against the tourists.

It meant England signed off their summer, one that included off-field issues, the end of Bazball, Ben Stokes' retirement and Root's surprise return as Test skipper, with a fifth successive series win amid the madness across formats.

Banton's success is heartwarming. When, fresh out of Second XI cricket, he made his debut as a 20-year-old in 2019 he was seen as England's next big thing.

He was in the same England Under-19 team as Brook but, rather than the Yorkshireman who is now captain, it was the Somerset product who was given the opportunity when Eoin Morgan's World Cup-winning side needed a fresh face on its journey forward.

Tougher times followed, resulting in almost five years out of the 50-over side and only occasional T20 appearances.

During that time Kevin Pietersen, now an England mentor, said Banton "has all the talent but, at the moment, he is wasting it".

It was comparisons to Pietersen which Banton struggled with. Last week, Banton said remains "in awe" of the iconic England batter.

With thrilling reverse sweeps here, he showed the invention that drew those comparisons. He was also vicious on the pull, hit classically through the covers and, when Ben Duckett was bowled in the second over and Root faced 13 dot balls in a row, did not panic.

By the time he was dismissed he had hit 16 fours and five sixes.

When he walked off he turned and raised his bat amid a standing ovation from The Oval crowd – as Pietersen famously did 21 years ago.

Banton only has the opportunity as opener here because of Jacob Bethell's injury.

He may find himself out of the XI when England begin a tri-series in Pakistan - a series that also involves Sri Lanka - on 20 October.

The tourists, impressive in setting up this decider on Thursday, were poor here. They had already dropped Root before he was dismissed and wicketkeeper and captain Kusal Mendis spilled a thick edge when Brook had seven.

Afterwards the England captain started slowly but he kicked it into life from a position of 108-2 after 25 overs.

Also encouraging was the performance of Cox, whose knock also built on a slow start and followed an impressive run in the Test side against Pakistan.

Sonny Baker, recalled for his second ODI in place of Josh Tongue, nicked off Pathum Nissanka with a quick, swinging and rising delivery two balls into the second over, after which Sri Lanka did not recover. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson also repaid the faith for his inclusion over Rehan Ahmed with figures of 3-26.

This summer has provided so many issues for England, including the end of Brendon McCullum's reign as Test coach.

Still his ODI side now has momentum - a third series win a row - as it builds towards next year's World Cup. Series in Pakistan, Australia and South Africa are to come this winter.