England captain Harry Brook delivered a scathing assessment of the Colombo pitch after his team's five-wicket ODI win over Sri Lanka. Brook called it "probably the worst" he'd ever played on, a view echoed by Joe Root. The victory, secured by Root's 75, was England's first chase win at the R Premadasa Stadium in 11 ODIs.

England bowled a record 40.3 overs of spin, their most ever in a 50-over match, using six spinners for the first time. The surface heavily dictated play, with Brook noting the need to adapt quickly and rotate strike. The win ended an 11-game ODI drought for the tourists, a crucial morale boost on a difficult tour.

Root's masterful innings under turning conditions earned him high praise from his captain. His ability to pick the Sri Lankan spinners and find gaps was decisive. England will look to build on this levelled series as they continue their white-ball campaign in Asia, with pitch conditions likely to remain a major talking point.