What happened
On October 22, 2026, Pavan Rathnayake struck a half-century for Sri Lanka against England in the 3rd ODI Tri-Series match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, carving cuts to the off side off Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton.
Why it matters
It keeps Sri Lanka alive in a group where England and Pakistan have also played; the loser of this fixture exits the group with the Lahore final coming on October 31.
Remember this
Two cuts off the off side and one fifty later, Sri Lanka's tournament still has a shot.
What the moment captured
The shot comes out of the same innings in which Sri Lanka posted a competitive total in Rawalpindi; the photo documents Rathnayake's fluent cuts to the off side off England's seam attack.
- Boundary cut off Josh Tongue in the 39.2nd over.
- Drive off Jamie Overton in the 36.3rd over.
- Match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Oct 22, 2026.
More context & who is affected
Sri Lanka's batter Pavan Rathnayake kept the momentum alive in Rawalpindi on Thursday by carving cuts to the off side against England, in the 3rd match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026-27.
He arrived already in form after a 79 off 74 against Pakistan in Match 1, and struck cuts off Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton in Sri Lanka's innings on a competitive total.
Both teams entered the fixture winless after defeats to Pakistan - England by 87 runs, Sri Lanka by 37 - so the result in Lahore on October 31 hinges on this contest.
- Rathnayake vs Pakistan (Match 1)
- 79 off 74 Six fours and one six in his tournament opener - a strike rate of 106.76.Cricinfo (ESPNcricinfo)
- Tri-Series table before Match 3
- PAK 2W / SL 0W / ENG 0W Pakistan is unbeaten at two wins; Sri Lanka and England enter this match on zero wins apiece.News18
Cricket Fans
Sri Lankan and English cricket fans get another day-night watch slot as both teams bid for the final berth.
Cricket Fans · Odi Tri Series Followers
Pakistan is already unbeaten at two wins; Sri Lanka and England enter this match on zero wins apiece with the Lahore final on October 31.
Reporting fromCricinfo (ESPNcricinfo) ↗News18 ↗
Sources & verification2 sources · 4 claims
These are the records behind this briefing. Linked reporting is not the same as independent confirmation.
- Cricinfo (ESPNcricinfo)ReportingPublished Oct 22, 2026 · Accessed Oct 22, 2026
- News18ReportingPublished Oct 22, 2026 · Accessed Oct 22, 2026
Claims and linked sources
Pavan Rathnayake reached fifty for Sri Lanka against England in the 3rd ODI Tri-Series match at Rawalpindi on October 22, 2026.
It was the 3rd day-night match at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on October 22, 2026; Kusal Mendis won the toss and chose to field.
Rathnayake arrived in form after 79 off 74 balls against Pakistan in Match 1, making him the tournament's second-highest run-scorer at that point.
England and Sri Lanka both entered the fixture winless - down to Pakistan by 87 runs and 37 runs respectively - with Pakistan already 2 wins up.