Not this time. Sri Lanka threatened a repeat of Rawalpindi , and a target of 387 in Lahore was within reach. Pavan Rathnayake was the thorn again with another century but, unlike his captain Harry Brook’s last week, Ben Duckett’s epic was not in vain. The left-hander struck 167 before Liam Dawson took four wickets, setting up a consolation 55-run victory for England.

Sri Lanka had already booked their place in Saturday’s tri-series final against Pakistan but looked ready to take this dead rubber, too. With 87 runs required from the last 10 overs, and Rathnayake’s low hands working their magic, the game looked theirs.

But England’s attack kept calm and Dawson, back for his final over, nabbed Rathnayake for 118 as the last five wickets fell in a rush. The win rounded off a bizarre tour for England who lost two seemingly unloseable games. Here, they were grateful for their left-arm spinner’s steel in another run-fest. Four for 49 in a 700-plus game is a special return.

“I wasn’t getting nervy,” said Brook.…