England secured a hard-fought 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening match of their one-day international series at Chester-le-Street on Tuesday. All-rounder Will Jacks delivered a stellar performance with both bat and ball to extend England's winning streak in white-ball fixtures against the same opponents.

The hosts struggled on a sluggish surface that offered little bounce, resulting in an uncharacteristically conservative innings. Harry Brook anchored the effort with a patient knock of 67, while experienced batsman Joe Root added 44 runs. Despite being bowled out for 265 in 48.1 overs, the total proved sufficient on the difficult pitch.

Notably, the innings marked a rare milestone for the team, as England failed to hit a single six while batting first for the first time since 2019. Captain Brook and coach Brendon McCullum will likely welcome the grit, however, demonstrating that the side can grind out results without relying entirely on massive boundaries.

Sri Lanka showed noticeable improvement in the field but struggled significantly with the bat, ultimately collapsing to 176 all out in 37 overs. Debutant leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage provided a bright spot for the visitors by picking up crucial wickets, including Root and Jos Buttler, during a middle-order wobble that saw England lose four wickets for 29 runs.

Jacks stepped up to stabilize the innings, finishing unbeaten on 46 after showing maturity in the face of disciplined bowling from Asitha Fernando. With Adil Rashid sidelined due to a hand injury, Jacks then delivered a masterclass with his off-spin to dismantle the visiting batting lineup.

He claimed career-best figures of 5-22, securing the finest bowling performance by an English spinner in a one-day international since 1984. His victims included key batsmen Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka, alongside tail-enders, effectively ending any hopes of a successful run chase.

The result gives England a 1-0 lead in the three-match series and marks their tenth consecutive white-ball victory over Sri Lanka in 2026. The teams will travel to Headingley for the second fixture on Thursday, where the hosts will have an opportunity to clinch the series with a match to spare.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.