Will Jacks starred with both bat and ball as England overwhelmed Sri Lanka by 89 runs in the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. His quickfire 46 not out helped guide England to a competitive 265 all out after they lost momentum following the exit of captain Harry Brook for 67. Off-spinner Jacks then took a fine 5-22 in seven overs, including three dismissals in what became the final over. The tourists were bowled out for 176 with 13 overs to spare as England went 1-0 up in this three-match series following a 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the preceding T20 campaign.
“Their batters started really well, and that is how they got their score…
“I think our middle order is struggling with their batting,” said Kusal Mendis.
We needed more boundaries and earlier.”
“I think I am getting used to this role now. Jacks’s treble strike then ended the match. It is more about playing the situation and playing what is out there,” said player-of-the-match Jacks after a win which followed seventh-placed England’s 2-1 series success at home to top-ranked India in July. Brook, meanwhile was heartened by another encouraging performance ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa. Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis fell in similar fashion when he too was lbw attempting to sweep Jacks for 42 off 60 balls, with his side faltering at 105-6.
“It wasn’t the easiest of surfaces, but we want to be a team that can adapt to conditions as well as possible and manufacture wins where the conditions aren’t quite in our favour,” said Brook. Turning to the “outstanding” Jacks, he said: “The way he’s come in in this middle order and played this role in the middle order, taking a heavy part of the bowling on; he has been an awesome player to have in the side.
