Harry Brook goes past Jos Buttler; slams fastest ODI century for England vs Sri Lanka

Harry Brook celebrating his century vs Sri Lanka [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/x]

England captain Harry Brook took the attack to hosts Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third ODI match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday, January 27. Batting at number five for England, the attacking right-hander blasted 136* runs off just 66 balls with 11 cracking boundaries and nine huge sixes.

Notching up his third ODI century in the process, the innings also marked Harry Brook’s magnum opus ODI score, bettering his previous highest score of 135 off 101 balls against New Zealand back in October 2025 at Mount Maunganui.

Harry Brook races past Buttler, Kumar Sangakkara for huge ODI record

Harry Brook raced to his third ODI century from just 57 deliveries against Sri Lanka in the series-deciding third ODI on Tuesday, January 27. Through the course of his knock, the 27-year-old also notched up the fastest-ever century in the history of England vs Sri Lanka ODI matches.

Harry Brook bettered his national teammate Jos Buttler’s record by four deliveries, and also blazed past legendary Sri Lanka batter and former cricketer Kumar Sangakkara. Here is a look at three of the fastest ODI centuries recorded in the history of England vs Sri Lanka matches.

Fastest 100s by a batter in England vs Sri Lanka ODI Match (By Balls):

• 57 balls - Harry Brook (England), Colombo (RPS), 2026 (TODAY)*
• 61 balls - Jos Buttler (England), Lord's, 2014
• 70 balls - Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka), Wellington, 2015

Big relief for Harry Brook amid Ashes scrutiny

Harry Brook’s remarkable century occurred just at the right time for the England ODI captain, considering the cricketer has found himself at the receiving end of some intense scrutiny off late. Earlier this month, Brook concluded his 2025-26 Ashes campaign in Australia with just 358 runs from 10 innings at an average of 39.77.

Across five Tests, the cricketer managed to list just two half-centuries as England lost the Ashes 0-4. Apart from England’s Ashes debacle, players like Harry Brook and Ben Duckett among others have also been reprimanded by the ECB for their off-field controversies.

Harry Brook, Joe Root storm England to huge total

With series locked 1-1 going into the third and final ODI in Colombo, England captain Harry Brook won the toss and opted to bat first. His openers Rehan Ahmed (24 off 37) and Ben Duckett (7 off 17) both failed to come to terms with the turning Colombo surface, getting bested by Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva respectively around the first 10 overs of the match.

Joe Root at number three subsequently led England’s counterattacking response by forming a 126-run partnership with Jacob Bethell. While Bethell failed to add to his 65-run knock from 72 balls, Root raged on and shared another quick and unbroken 191-run partnership with captain Harry Brook.

Both Root and Brook clattered remarkable centuries, with the former shaping his ODI hundred number 20 by charting 111* runs off 108 balls. Their twin hundreds helped England mount a monumental 357-3 in 50 overs.