Tom Banton's Maiden ODI Century Powers England's Series Win Over Sri Lanka

Tom Banton's Maiden Century at The Oval

On 27 September 2026, Tom Banton scored his first international hundred for England, hitting 126 runs from 105 balls in the third One-Day International against Sri Lanka at The Oval, London. The match was the series decider. The right-handed opener came in after Ben Duckett was bowled early and Joe Root made just 18 from 37 balls. Banton counterattacked against bounce and turn, striking 16 fours and five sixes. He added 150 runs in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook, who made 77, while Jordan Cox contributed 76 from 52 balls. England finished on 355 for 7 from their 50 overs.

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England's Bowling Secures a 223-Run Victory

Sri Lanka could not chase the target and were dismissed for 132 in 29.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson took 3 for 26, and Sonny Baker removed Pathum Nissanka early with a swinging delivery. England's margin of 223 runs was their largest ODI win against Sri Lanka. The result also gave England a fifth consecutive series victory across formats during the 2026 summer, wrapping up a season that included Ben Stokes' retirement and Joe Root's return as Test captain.

Banton's Long Road Back to the England Side

Banton made his England debut in November 2019 and was once viewed as the team's next major white-ball talent. He spent nearly five years out of the ODI squad, appearing only occasionally in T20 cricket. Former England mentor Kevin Pietersen had publicly compared him to himself and warned that Banton was wasting his talent. The opener got this opportunity because Jacob Bethell was injured. England's next assignment is a tri-series in Pakistan starting 20 October 2026, which also features Sri Lanka. In franchise cricket, Banton was acquired by Gujarat Titans ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League, though a finger injury ruled him out of the remainder of that season.

Why the Name Trended in India

Google Trends India recorded about 10,000 approximate searches for "Tom Banton" on 28 September 2026, representing roughly 1,000 per cent growth over the previous 24 hours. Related search terms included "ben duckett," "england vs sri lanka," "ind vs eng," and "live cricket score." Indian fans often follow overseas cricket to track players who may face India in future fixtures. However, the match behind the spike was England versus Sri Lanka, not India versus England; the high interest in "ind vs eng" reflects general curiosity about England matches rather than an India fixture on that date.

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Learn more about Tom Banton's career statistics