All-rounder Jacks stars as England beat Sri Lanka in 1st ODI
All-rounder 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 take the hosts 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 the final over for his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs.
Sri Lanka were dismissed for 176 with 13 overs to spare as England went 1-0 up in this three-match series.
The tourists made a positive start to their pursuit of a target of 266.
But after Josh Tongue had Pathum Nissanka caught behind for 27 to leave Sri Lanka 48-2, the innings stalled, with Pavan Rathnayake taking 23 balls for a 13 that ended when he caught low down at cover by Tom Banton off Jamie Overton.
And 84-3 then became 85-4 when Jacks had Charith Asalanka lbw missing a sweep.
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.
Jacks's treble strike then ended the match.
Dunith Wellalage tried to revive the innings with 45 until he skyed Jacks to mid-on.
Two balls later, Jacks dismissed Asitha Fernando for nought before producing his best delivery of the over to clean bowl last man Dilshan Madushanka for a golden duck with a classic off-break.
Earlier, leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage took an impressive 3-44 on his Sri Lanka debut, including the prize wickets of Joe Root and Jos Buttler.
England, despite a tricky pitch on which the ball was not coming onto the bat, were on course for a large total at 182-3 in the 32nd over after Brook won the toss.
Sri Lanka, however, then took three quick wickets to reduce them to 199-6.
But Jacks's 47-ball innings, featuring four consecutive fours off Dushmantha Chameera, bolstered England's total, albeit they failed to bat out their full 50 overs.
Test skipper Root and Brook had previously shared a third-wicket partnership of 68.
Root, however, was eventually dismissed for the first time in five ODI innings -- a sequence spanning 404 runs -- when he was bowled playing back for 44 to Colombage.
But Brook continued his fine form from the T20 series with a 49-ball fifty including six fours.
Brook carved seamer Chameera straight to deep cover before Colombage had the dangerous Buttler lbw for 31.
The second game of the series takes place at Headingley on Thursday.
B.Cote--SMC