England win series as Banton delivers on potential

Tom Banton delivered on all of his potential by crashing a brilliant first international century as England wrapped up their summer with an ODI series win over Sri Lanka.

The 27-year-old right-hander was once the rising star of English cricket when handed a debut in 2019 but afterwards fell out of love with the game after losing his way.

After reaching his hundred in 95 balls in the third one-day international at The Oval, he stood with arms wide and looked to the sky - all of that disappointment seemingly behind him.

"My fiance, Lilly, was here and all of her family," Banton said.

"Unfortunately, my mum, dad and brother weren't here because whenever my mum seems to come I don't do that well.

"Bless her, she is not banned from coming, but she avoids coming now."

The opener went on to make 126 from 105 deliveries, perfectly countering tricky early conditions - conditions in which Joe Root struggled uncharacteristically for 18 from 37 balls - and going on to share an increasingly aggressive stand of 150 in 117 balls with captain Harry Brook.

"To score a hundred for England is just the best feeling on earth," Banton said. "I don't think anything is going to beat it."