1st ODI: Joe Root, bowlers star as England beat Sri Lanka to take 1-0 series lead after early wobble

Joe Root came up with a masterful knock of 79* to help England gun down the 186-run target in just 34.5 overs and take a 1-0 series lead over Sri Lanka in Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. Earlier, England were largely disciplined with the ball, Chris Woakes and David Willey came up with heroic performances to bowl out Sri Lanka for a paltry 185 in just the 43rd over.

England go 1-0 up in the series

An unbeaten 79 from Joe Root helps them register a five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.#ENGvSL | https://t.co/zb9rXOGY4Q pic.twitter.com/OUSioBWOew

— ICC (@ICC) June 29, 2021

Chasing a target of 186, England opener Jonny Bairstow made a fast start as England reached 50 inside five overs but soon lost his opening partner Liam Livingstone, who clipped a Chamika Karunaratne delivery straight to mid-on.

Bairstow fell seven runs short of a half-century after he was bowled by Binura Fernando, and the hosts were soon reduced to 80-4 as Dushmantha Chameera removed skipper Eoin Morgan (6) and Sam Billings (3) cheaply.

Root and all-rounder Moeen Ali (28) stitched together a patient 91-run partnership to steady the ship.

Chameera returned to dismiss Ali but Root finished with an unbeaten 79, and along with Sam Curran, ensured there were no further hiccups as England clinched victory in the 35th over.

“Delighted. The way the guys started and persisted throughout was really good to see. They kept creating chances right through and full credit to them (bowlers). We have our lead bowlers at mid-on or mid-off and they communicate with whoever is bowling which is the key,” England captain Eoin Morgan said in the post-match presentation ceremony.

“He (Root) is one of the best in the world in most situations, he showed us today that if you do the basics right it is easy to score. There are a lot of people (in contention for the T20 WC), you can’t rule Root out. The schedule has not allowed him to play a lot of T20 games,” Morgan added.