Tom Banton's 126 Powers England to ODI Series Win Over Sri Lanka

Tom Banton scored 126 off 105 balls, his first century in international cricket, as England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs in the third one-day international at The Oval on Sunday, sealing the series, according to BBC Sport.

England posted 355-7 in 50 overs, with captain Harry Brook adding 77 and Jordan Cox — playing in place of the injured Jos Buttler — scoring 76 off 52 balls, the BBC reported. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 132 in 29.1 overs, with Kusal Mendis top-scoring at 35 and England spinner Liam Dawson taking 3-26, according to the scorecard cited by BBC Sport. The 223-run margin was England's largest one-day international win over Sri Lanka, the BBC said.

How Many Runs Did Tom Banton Score?

Banton, 27, reached his hundred in 95 balls before finishing on 126 from 105 deliveries, the BBC reported. It was his first century at international level since making his England debut in 2019 at age 20.

"To score a hundred for England is just the best feeling on earth," Banton said, according to BBC Sport. "I don't think anything is going to beat it."

How Did England Reach 355-7?

Banton and Brook put together a stand of 150 runs in 117 balls after early conditions troubled the top order — Joe Root scored 18 off 37 balls over the same span, the BBC reported. Cox's 76 came off 52 balls, lifting the total to 355-7 by the innings' close, according to the scorecard.

Why Did Sri Lanka Collapse to 132?

Chasing 356 to win, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 132 in 29.1 overs. Mendis made 35 before Dawson's 3-26 helped close out the innings, the BBC reported. The Oval surface offered bounce for pace bowlers and turn for spinners, conditions the BBC said worked against the tourists' batting lineup.

What Does the Win Mean for England's Summer?

The victory gave England a fifth successive series win across formats this summer, a stretch that also included the end of Ben Stokes' "Bazball" era, Stokes' retirement, and Root's return as Test captain, according to BBC Sport.

For Banton, the innings closed a personal comeback. After his 2019 debut, he went nearly five years without regular international selection before returning to form this year. He said his fiancee, Lilly, and her family were at The Oval to watch, though his own family stayed away.

"My mum, dad and brother weren't here because whenever my mum seems to come I don't do that well," Banton said, according to the BBC. "Bless her, she is not banned from coming, but she avoids coming now."