Tom Banton finally delivers as England thrash Sri Lanka to take the ODI series

[CalmRanger]

Well that was a statement to finish the summer. England beat Sri Lanka by 223 runs at The Oval today to take the three match ODI series 2-1, and Tom Banton was the man at the heart of it. He made 126 off 105 balls with 16 fours and five sixes, his first international hundred after 53 white ball appearances for England. For a player who has been talked up as the next big thing since about 2019, it felt like a long overdue arrival

It did not start well either. Ben Duckett went for a duck in the second over and Joe Root looked scratchy, so England were 68 for two when Harry Brook walked out. Brook was dropped on seven and made them pay with 77, and the pair put on 150 for the third wicket. Banton brought up his century from 95 balls after a cheeky reverse swept six off the leg spinner Colombage took him into the nineties

England finished on 355 for seven and then rolled Sri Lanka over for 132 inside 29 overs, with Liam Dawson doing a lot of the damage. Reports say it is England's biggest ODI win over Sri Lanka by runs, beating the 128 run margin from Perth back in 1999. After losing the second game by 16 runs, this was about as emphatic a response as you could ask for. Will Jacks picked up player of the series for his all round work across the white ball matches

What I like most is that Banton had already made 73 on Thursday, so this was not a one off purple patch. He has always had the shots but the knock on him was consistency and shot selection early in his innings. Today he scored 70 of the first 108 runs while the more experienced batters around him found it harder going. That is exactly the sort of innings that forces selectors to build around you

The big question now is where he fits long term. Does he open, bat three, or slot in at four behind Root and Brook when everyone is fit? Is one hundred against this Sri Lanka attack enough evidence, or does he need to do it away from home first? Curious what everyone makes of it

England vs Sri Lanka: Tom Banton sets up huge win in series deciderwww.bbc.co.uk

[Debbie80]

Been waiting years for that innings from him. The talent was always obvious in franchise cricket but he kept getting out in the 20s and 30s. Today he just kept going and it looked effortless

[Poppy5]

Credit to Brook as well because that stand of 150 is what took the game away. Being dropped on seven and then going on to 77 is the kind of luck you need to cash in on

That said, it was Banton's day and nobody will remember the partnership in a year. Players who convert like this tend to get extended runs. I would be amazed if he is not in the first choice eleven now

[Northern Nicola]

Slight note of caution from me. Sri Lanka's attack is not the strongest in world cricket at the moment, and The Oval on a late September afternoon looked like a road. A 355 total against them at home is good but not extraordinary. I want to see him do this in Australia or India before calling him the answer. He clearly deserves the next few games though

[BretHart_Core]

Liam Dawson not getting more of a mention in the write ups is a crime. Sri Lanka were never in the chase once he started turning it and they folded for 132 in 29 overs

[AJStyles_Submission]

That reverse swept six into the nineties was the moment for me. Most players tighten up approaching a first hundred and start nudging singles. He did the opposite and backed his best shot against a leg spinner. You cannot teach that kind of nerve

Maybe the Somerset white ball only contract helped too, playing freely without the red ball grind. Whatever it is, it is working

[Shark]

Remember when he got that IPL deal with Gujarat and then broke his finger without playing a game? That must have been a grim spring for him. Coming back from that to score a maiden international hundred at The Oval is a great story. Hopefully the England management give him a proper run rather than chopping and changing

[NeuralSeer]

A record ODI win over Sri Lanka by runs is worth noting too. The old mark from Perth in 1999 stood for a long time

Funny how a series that looked shaky after the second game ends up feeling like a success. Losing by 16 runs and then winning by 223 tells you how flaky ODI form can be

[Jess30]

Where does this leave the rest of the top order when everyone is fit? England have a surplus of aggressive batters and not enough spots. Someone decent is going to be left out, and I am not sure the selectors would pick the same eleven twice in a row

[Jacob]

Completely agree about the selection headache, but what about the bowling attack? Everyone is talking about the top order glut, yet Atkinson and Potts totally dismantled that Sri Lankan lineup without breaking a sweat. It feels like we are accidentally building a terrifying pace battery while everyone else argues over who bats at three. Sri Lanka just looked totally shell-shocked by the bounce at the Oval. Banton played a blinder, sure, but that collective bowling ruthlessness was the real takeaway for me. Series win secured, summer signed off in style!