England meet Sri Lanka in Rawalpindi with both sides chasing a first tri-series win

England and Sri Lanka, each beaten by Pakistan in their opening match, meet in Rawalpindi on Thursday with the loser left just two games to rescue their tri-series

The third match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series pairs the two sides still waiting for a win, at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, where the hosts have already collected both results on offer.

England were beaten by 87 runs on Tuesday, bowled out for 215 in 38.4 overs chasing 303. Sri Lanka had lost the opener on Sunday by 37 runs, dismissed for 268 in pursuit of 306.

Each team has two league matches left after Thursday, both of them in Lahore, before the top two meet in the final at the end of the month.

England lose their way after a good start

Tom Banton and Ben Duckett put on 91 for the first wicket in reply to Pakistan's 302 for 9, and England lost their last ten wickets while adding 124.

Banton made 57 and Duckett 45, with Sam Curran's 27 the next best score. Harry Brook was bowled for 5 by a ball that turned past his outside edge.

The bowler was Arafat Minhas, the 21-year-old left-arm spinner, who finished with 6-40 in his fifth ODI and ended the innings with a direct-hit run-out. He had earlier made 59 from 58 balls to lift Pakistan past 300.

Brook points to the partnerships

"At the halfway stage, we were pretty happy with it. I thought we kept them just below par," Brook said afterwards, before turning to the chase.

"The story of the innings was just not enough partnerships really, and losing wickets in clumps," the England captain said. Of Minhas, he added: "He was a standout performer by a mile."

Brook described the defeat as England's most convincing since last year, but said the squad would be ready for Thursday: "We won't go down without a fight, to be honest. We'll always be there and thereabouts."

Sri Lanka's late slide in the opener

Sri Lanka's own defeat followed a similar shape. Chasing 306 after Salman Agha's 107 from 90 balls, they were well placed while Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage added 119 for the fifth wicket.

Rathnayake made 79 and Liyanage 60. Once both had gone, Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for 15 runs, Dasun Shanaka's 28 the only contribution of substance from the lower order.

The bowling gave them more encouragement. Eshan Malinga took a career-best 4-46 and Asitha Fernando 3-59, and Pakistan were dismissed with a ball of their innings unused.

Two squads short of first-choice names

England are without Jos Buttler, who injured a hamstring during the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka, and Jofra Archer, who has been rested for the tour.

Adil Rashid is back after a hand injury and Curran after a groin problem, while Mason Crane has a maiden ODI call-up eight years on from his only Test. James Coles and Henry Crocombe are the other uncapped players in the 16.

Sri Lanka, led by Kusal Mendis, left out former captain Charith Asalanka and are missing the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Opener Pathum Nissanka was ruled out on 15 October with a left hamstring injury picked up in England, with Lahiru Udara called up in his place.

What Thursday is worth

Pakistan have won both their matches and sit clear at the top, leaving England and Sri Lanka to contest second place and the other place in the final.

England return to Pakistan on 25 October in Lahore and play Sri Lanka again there on 29 October. The tournament, which runs to 31 October, is being used by all three sides as preparation for next year's World Cup.

The third match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series starts at 12pm local time at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday.

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