Ben Duckett’s half-century was not enough to prevent England Men from slipping to an ultimately narrow 19-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the first ODI in Colombo.

Duckett struck a measured 62 and shared in a partnership worth 117 for the second wicket with Joe Root, but the Three Lions fell just short of the hosts’ 271-6, being bowled out for 252.

Root himself made 61 and Jamie Overton counter-attacked at the very end with 34 from 17 before becoming the last man out, though Pramod Madushan produced a decisive 3/39 for the hosts.

Earlier, Adil Rashid had claimed his own 3/44 from ten overs, but Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 93 proved the crucial contribution in Sri Lanka’s winning total.

Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, and Rehan Ahmed also all collected a scalp each, though the consensus at the halfway mark was that Sri Lanka had compiled an impressive target.

So it proved, as despite Duckett, who reached an eighth ODI half-century in 67 balls, and Root seeing the Three Lions to 129-1 from 27 overs, regular wickets from then on stunted their efforts.

After England had lost their next five wickets for just 36 runs, Ahmed provided some stability before another stutter led to the tourists needing 59 from 26 balls with just one wicket remaining.

Overton and Rashid did give it a good go, putting on 39 for the last, but it proved just beyond them as the former holed out in the final over and England were dismissed for 252.

The second clash of the three-match series, which is seeing all games played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka’s largest city, is set for Saturday.

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