Will Jacks produced a match-winning all-round display as England defeated Sri Lanka by 89 runs in the first ODI of the series at the Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street on September 22, 2026. Jacks scored 46 not out to help England post 265 and then returned figures of 5 for 22 to bowl Sri Lanka out for 176.
Jacks finished the Sri Lanka innings in emphatic fashion, taking three wickets in four balls to wrap up the tail. His figures of 5 for 22 are the second-best by an England spinner in ODI cricket and also represent the first five-wicket haul by an England spinner against Sri Lanka since Vic Marks in 1983.
Harry Brook top-scored for England with 67, while Sachindu Colombage took three wickets on ODI debut for Sri Lanka, finishing with 3 for 44. Asitha Fernando also claimed 3 for 53. In reply, Janith Wellalage made 45 and Kusal Mendis contributed 42, but no Sri Lanka batter could build a match-winning partnership as Jacks dismantled the middle and lower order.
“I think what we have been doing really well recently is communicating what we think the pitch is like and what we think a good score is. Joe [Root] and Harry [Brook] were saying that 275-280 will be a really good score and when I got out there it felt quite tricky and personally I felt that were aiming for a bit lower and we all know in 50-over cricket you have more time than you think. We were able to catch up in the end,” said Jacks, speaking after the game.
How did Jacks approach his bowling on this pitch?
Jacks had batted on the Chester-le-Street surface before he came on to bowl, which gave him a clear sense of how the pitch was behaving. His 5 for 22 restricted Sri Lanka to 176 in their chase of 266, a margin that confirmed England’s total was competitive despite falling short of the 275-280 target the batting group had discussed. Jacks explained his mindset going into the bowling spell, and also reflected on a lighter moment during his five-wicket haul.
“I think having batted on it and knowing what it was like, I knew I was going to play a decent role. Depending on what time you bowl, it does not really bother me now. Harry like to be as flexible as possible and that is why we are doing well as a team. No matter the time, you just have to do your best. Yeah, they were taking the mickey out of me for lobbing that one up to Asitha Fernando. So, I thought I have to bowl a good one for the 5th one,” Jacks added.
Adil Rashid has been ruled out of the series with a hand injury, which made Jacks’s role as the primary spinner all the more significant for England.
What does this result mean for England’s form and the series ahead?
England’s 89-run victory at Chester-le-Street was their lowest successful defence in four years, yet it was enough to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Under captain Harry Brook and head coach Brendon McCullum, England have now won five of their seven ODIs since the start of 2026.
“I think it was a really good all-round performance from the team. Personally, I was happy with how we finished the innings there. We had a tricky period for 10-15 overs, but we were trying to do things in the right way and get to a good score,” Jacks said.
The second ODI is scheduled for September 24, 2026 at Headingley, with the third and final match set for September 27 at The Oval. Sri Lanka will need to recover quickly if they are to level the series, having been bowled out well short of their target in the opener.
