A sparkling century from Jason Roy inspired England to a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka last night, as the hosts took unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Surrey opener Roy – on his home ground – smeared 162 from 118 balls with 13 fours and 3 sixes to come within a whisker of topping England's all-time ODI record for an individual score (five runs away from Robin Smith's 167).
Rain had ensured a two-hour delay to the Sri Lankan innings, meaning the game was reduced to 42 overs per-side and England were set a revised target of 308 after the tourists racked up 305/5.
Angelo Mathews steered Sri Lanka to an impressive-looking total with a captain's innings of 69 not out, to add to Dhanushka Gunathilaka's 62, Kusal Mendis' elegant 77 and 63 from the bat of Dinesh Chandimal.
Adil Rashid was again the pick of England's bowlers with 2/57, while David Willey snared 2/58 – before Roy stole the show after the interval.
The 25-year-old was without regular opening partner Alex Hales after the Notts man was struck down with a back injury. And despite losing stand-in opener Moeen Ali for 2, Roy joined forces with Joe Root (65) in a mammoth stand of 149 for the second wicket in super-quick time.
Gunathilaka removed Root shortly after his half-century, but Roy continued to plunder the Sri Lankan bowling to every corner of The Kia Oval, reaching his hundred off just 74 balls.
Roy was evenutally bowled by Nuwan Pradeep for 162 and left the field to a standing ovation after a series-clinching innings that left Jonny Bairstow (29 not out) and Jos Buttler (17 not out) with the simple task of steering England over the victory line.
The win ensures England take the series, with the chance to claim a 3-0 triumph if they can beat Sri Lanka at The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff on Saturday. A limited number of tickets are still available by clicking here.