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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ali Martin at Headingley

Jos Buttler injury and Kusal Mendis century derail England as Sri Lanka level ODI series

Jos Buttler lies on the ground grimacing in pain during the second ODI against Sri Lanka
England’s Jos Buttler drops to the floor in pain after sustaining an injury against Sri Lanka. Photograph: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com/Shutterstock

A beautiful batting surface and a greased lightning outfield made this second one-day international wildly different from the first 48 hours earlier. Unfortunately for England, on the wrong end of a thriller, the result was wildly different too.

Set 322 to win, and boosted by a rapid-fire 143-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Tom Banton, England had appeared on course to wrap up the series with a match to spare. But Sri Lanka refused to give up, delivering a famous shutout and profiting from an injury to Jos Buttler to win by 16 runs.

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