Liam Dawson is confident that the "unbelievable" Joe Root will be key for England in their hopes of ending Sri Lanka's unbeaten ODI series streak. 

Root top scored with 75 from 90 deliveries at R. Premadasa Stadium as England levelled the three-match series with a five-wicket triumph last Saturday. 

Sri Lanka won the first contest by 19 runs, with only Ben Duckett (62) scoring more for England than Root (61), who has often thrived against The Lions in the format. 

Indeed, of Root's 7,466 runs he has plundered in ODIs, 1,314 have come against Sri Lanka in 31 matches, more than any other nation he has faced during his career. 

Sri Lanka have not lost a home ODI series in five years, when they were beaten 2-1 by India, with Dawson believing Root can play a key part in Tuesday's contest. 

"Joe's unbelievable, the way he batted the other night showed his class in these conditions when the pitch is turning," England spinner Liam Dawson told reporters. 

"To be that successful and dominate world cricket for the number of years he's played is phenomenal. He's obviously going to go down as one of the greats of the game."

Joe Root top-scores with 75 as ENGLAND WIN!

@IGcom pic.twitter.com/skwvBAuax4

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) January 24, 2026

And Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka did not understate the size of the task ahead of his team. 

"Root has always been a thorn in our flesh, and we have seen how, when we dismiss him early, England struggle," Asalanka conceded. 

"He holds one end up, builds partnerships, and he is England's key. We know that.

"His experience, with over 22,000 international runs, makes him a huge challenge for us, but we are ready for him in the series decider."

England's comfort with spin was underlined in the second ODI, with 40.3 overs bowled by spinners Dawson, Root, Adil Rashid, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell. 

It was the most by any England bowling attack in an ODI. The previous record was 36 overs, back in March 1985 in a 50-over match against Pakistan in Sharjah.

Five different spinners picked up a wicket – the joint-most in an ODI innings by a team and first by England.

The seven wickets which fell to spin was the second most by an England attack in an ODI, bettered only by eight against West Indies in 2014, and Dawson believes that depth could be useful for England at the upcoming T20 World Cup. 

"With the World Cup being in this part of the world, having so many spin options is a good thing for the captain," Dawson said.

"On flatter surfaces, you have to vary your pace and things like that, but in these conditions, you just have to land it in a good spot - and let the pitch do the rest."