One-day international tri-series, Lahore
England 386-5 (50 overs): Duckett 167 (132); Asitha 2-63
Sri Lanka 331 (45.1 overs): Rathnayake 118 (77); Dawson 4-49
England won by 55 runs
Scorecard
Ben Duckett's sublime century and four wickets for Liam Dawson earned England a consolation win over Sri Lanka in their final match of the tri-series.
Duckett struck a majestic 167 from 132 balls as England racked up 386-5 in Lahore, which set up a tantalising chase after Sri Lanka's astonishing pursuit of 430 in their previous encounter a week ago.
In another high-scoring match with very little contest between bat and ball, the chase followed a similar trajectory, as Sri Lanka kept themselves within touching distance of the run-rate throughout and needed 87 off the final 10 overs.
But England's bowlers held their nerve on this occasion, closing out a 55-run win as the brilliant Pavan Rathnayake's 118 off just 77 balls was in vain for Sri Lanka.
Rathnayake, who made 130 in last week's carnage, set the platform alongside Kusal Mendis' 89 but Sri Lanka lost their last five wickets for just 16 runs, with Dawson claiming the key scalp of Rathnayake in the 45th over as they were all out for 331.
It meant Duckett's second consecutive century eclipsed Rathnayake's effort, as England's opener capitalised on a batting-friendly surface and a tiring Sri Lanka attack.
The opening partnership between Duckett and Tom Banton impressed again as the pair added 163 together before the latter frustratingly dragged on to his stumps for a fine 74.
Duckett kicked on to his highest ODI score and though England fell short of the 400 mark, contributions of 44 from Harry Brook, 30 from Will Jacks and a quickfire 43 off 27 from Jordan Cox ensured they still posted a commanding total.
Such is the power of England's middle order that Root was not required to bat.
It was far from ideal for Sri Lanka's bowlers to toil in the heat as they face Pakistan in the tri-series final on Sunday, while England travel to Australia for three ODIs and five T20s in November.
While Duckett's 105 against Pakistan held a poor England innings together, here he was ruthless.
With very little swing or seam movement on offer, Duckett was able to back himself to flay anything wide of the off stump and timed the ball exquisitely off his pads when Sri Lanka were forced to bowl straighter.
They attempted to test with the short ball, too, but he was particularly prolific against it as the seamers lacked the pace to really trouble him.
It was also an impressive display of fitness from a player who has spoken about how hard he has worked at that part of his game, eventually falling in the 42nd over from a miscued ramp as the fatigue appeared to take its toll.
Duckett seems to relish opening with Banton: the pair have stands of 143, 6, 91, 74, 4 and 163 in their past six outings together. That, and Banton's form, has given England's selectors an intriguing conundrum for when Jacob Bethell returns from injury in Australia.
Bethell previously occupied the opening slot alongside Duckett but Banton, with five scores of fifty plus in his past six knocks, looks likely to have nailed down his place on this tour, despite some frustration that he could not kick on to three figures when conditions were so favourable.
"You want options, and guys to push their case when they get their opportunities," England coach Brendon McCullum told Sky Sports after the game.
"They're good problems for us to have. We will learn more about that in Australia, but we will always do what's right for the team depending on conditions and the opposition."
Bethell's versatility could potentially see him find a place in the middle order, but it is a promising indication of England's impressive white-ball depth that it is unclear who he could replace from Root, Brook and Jacks, with Jordan Cox needed as keeper in Jos Buttler's injury absence.
The tri-series has exposed some of England's inexperienced bowling, particularly in the middle overs, and with Jamie Overton missing out to Sonny Baker it looked like England were going to rue the omission of leg-spinner Adil Rashid again.
The experienced Dawson saved their blushes though, starting with the crucial wicket of opener Avishka Fernando, who picked out Jacks on the boundary to break a second-wicket stand of 82. Dawson then pinned the explosive Dasun Shanaka lbw for four after Root surprisingly had Mendis caught down the leg side.
Rathnayake raced to a 70-ball century to keep Sri Lanka in contention, and a fifth-wicket stand of 72 off just 38 balls with the explosive Janith Liyanage had England twitching before the latter fell to Baker for 27 off 17.
Dawson then added Rathnayake and Asitha Fernando to his tally when the run-rate spiralled in the closing stages, while Sam Curran and Baker also executed well at the death to recover from their expensive starts early in the innings.
The question surrounding England's second spinner remains, however, as part-timers Jacks and Root conceded 71 off seven combined overs which could have given Brook a headache had Sri Lanka's run chase progressed deeper.
"Leg-spin hasn't played too much of a role and we want to be a team who can adapt to different conditions and be quite malleable with our selections," McCullum added.
"Liam Dawson is an experienced and highly competitive player who's put his hand up here and unfortunately for Rash here, the conditions probably haven't really favoured him."
