England now head into a winner-takes-all match with immediate selection and fitness questions after Jos Buttler suffered a hamstring injury while taking a run, and Kusal Mendis produced a century to level the ODI series. The result means the contest will be decided at the Oval on Sunday.
The game unfolded on what was described as a beautiful batting surface under a greased light, conditions that encouraged free scoring and put a premium on batting depth. Mendis's hundred proved decisive in swinging the balance of the match and restoring parity in the series, while Buttler's injury left England without their first-choice wicketkeeper at a crucial moment.
Buttler's fitness now alters England's immediate plans. The team faces the prospect of naming either a replacement gloveman or adjusting the XI to cover wicketkeeping duties, decisions that will shape their tactical approach for the decider. Those selection calls hinge on updated medical information on the hamstring, with the final picture likely to emerge in the build-up to Sunday's match.
For Sri Lanka, Mendis's century provides both a tangible match-winning contribution and a psychological lift. Leveling the series hands them momentum heading into the Oval, and places pressure back on England to respond, particularly if they must reconfigure their batting order or fielding setup without Buttler.
Sunday's match will therefore be more than a conventional finale; it will test England's depth and injury management while offering Sri Lanka a chance to capitalise on renewed confidence. Team announcements and fitness updates before the decider will determine whether Buttler can take the field and how England recalibrate their strategy under the Oval lights.
