Why 'Cricket Live Score' Trended in India: Tom Banton's Maiden ODI Ton Seals England's 2-1 Series Win Over Sri Lanka

On 27 September 2026, searches for cricket live score spiked sharply in India — Google Trends recorded roughly 5,000 searches in 24 hours, a 700% jump — and the reason was the third and deciding ODI between England and Sri Lanka at the Kia Oval. Indian fans, among the world's most active followers of international cricket, were tracking England vs Sri Lanka as England piled up 355-7 and then bowled Sri Lanka out for 132 to win by 223 runs and take the series 2-1.

Tom Banton's breakthrough hundred

The story of the match was Tom Banton. The 27-year-old opener, once tipped as England's next big thing after his 2019 debut, had spent almost five years out of the 50-over side. On Sunday he finally delivered, reaching his first international century off 95 balls and finishing with 126 from 105 deliveries, including 16 fours and five sixes. According to BBC Sport's match report, he shared a 150-run stand in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook after Ben Duckett was bowled in the second over and Joe Root struggled for 18 off 37.

Brook made 77 off 66 balls, while Jordan Cox — replacing the injured Jos Buttler — added a brisk 76 off 52 on his first ODI appearance in almost two years, lifting England to a total that always looked beyond Sri Lanka on a surface offering bounce and turn.

How the series was decided

The decider had been set up by a split first two games: England won the opening ODI at Chester-le-Street by 89 runs, then lost at Leeds by 16 runs. At the Oval, Sri Lanka's chase never got going. Sonny Baker removed Pathum Nissanka in the second over, and six of England's seven bowlers took wickets, with Liam Dawson returning 3-26 and Gus Atkinson 2-26, as Rediff's report detailed. Captain Kusal Mendis top-scored with 36 as the visitors folded in 29.1 overs — England's biggest ODI win over Sri Lanka.

Why it trended in India

The Google Trends snapshot for India (observed 27 September 2026) listed related queries including 'tom banton', 'ben duckett', 'england vs sri lanka' and even 'england vs india' and 'ind vs eng' — reflecting how Indian users habitually search live scores for major international fixtures, not just matches involving India. Note that Trends data measures search curiosity, not viewership or attendance.

This article is not a live score service; the match concluded on 27 September 2026. For real-time figures during ongoing games, readers should use official live-score providers.