Sri Lanka vs England: Joe Root and Harry Brook take the tourists to win ODI series

The two centuries could not have been more different.

Root all the touches and timing, getting the rhythm of his innings right, low and slow.

He set the platform from which England could rise, and soar – again and again – as Brook did.

For a team that has struggled so much in this format of late, this was something approaching a perfectly constructed 50-run affair with two Yorkshire men leading the way.

In most of the innings, batting looked difficult. Patience was the name of the game for England after Ben Duckett and Rehan Ahmed lost theirs, but Root put in a brilliant performance at it.

There was no sense of panic in his flawless strike. There were 58 singles in his innings where he rotated the bat at will, found gaps, manipulated the pitch – these are not the exciting things but they are the bedrock of what makes Root great.

Sri Lanka were unable to put him under any pressure as he scored freely off the front foot, back foot and either side of the wicket, with nine boundaries and a six in his 108-ball knock.

This meant Brock was free to take his time and adapt to the conditions at the start before moving quickly through the gears.

He compiled a half-century off 40 balls with a six, inside out at extra cover. After seventeen births, he was celebrating his century.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers had no answer as Brook seamlessly switched between dancing down the track and going deep into the crease.

Whichever option he chose, the ball always flew into – or over – the boundary.

In all, Brock hit 11 fours and nine sixes in a timely reminder of his superior natural talent.

After the last of those maximums flew over the rope, Brook and Root walked out together, the job well done and the series win well within their reach.