England secured a series-levelling victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, winning by 5 wickets. Chasing 282, Jos Buttler's unbeaten 86 guided the tourists home with 19 balls to spare. Dawid Malan's 59 and a crucial 80-run stand with Buttler steadied the chase after early jitters.

The win keeps the three-match series finely poised at 1-1 heading into the final game. Sri Lanka posted 281/7, with Kusal Mendis top-scoring on 74. England's bowlers, led by Mark Wood's 3-34, restricted the hosts after a strong start, a key turnaround from the first ODI defeat.

For England, this performance was vital for confidence after a challenging year. Buttler's form as captain is a major positive. Sri Lanka must now regroup; their middle-order collapse proved costly. The decider in Pallekele becomes a must-win for both sides, with World Cup qualification points on the line.