Sri Lanka etched their name into the history books with an astonishing display of batting brilliance in Rawalpindi, hunting down a mammoth target of 430 to defeat England by two wickets with just a ball to spare.

The record-breaking pursuit stands as the second-highest successful run chase in the history of ODI cricket, trailing only behind South Africa's legendary 434-run chase against Australia back in 2006.

The performance provides a big boost to Sri Lanka as they gear up for next year's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup.

The foundation for the monumental chase was laid by a magnificent 130 off 106 balls from Pavan Rathnayake, whose composure under extreme scoreboard pressure anchored the innings.

Supported by Avishka Fernando's aggressive 97 off 83 deliveries at the top and explosive cameos through the middle overs, Sri Lanka kept the required run rate within touching distance despite losing wickets.

England's bowling attack was subjected to a ferocious onslaught, with Sam Curran conceding 103 runs in his nine overs and Josh Tongue going for 79 runs in exchange for three wickets.

Dasun Shanaka also delivered a breathtaking cameo of 97 from just 50 balls, featuring eight towering sixes, to completely shift the game in Sri Lanka's favour before the lower order scrambled home in a frantic final-over finish.

Earlier in the day, England had posted a colossal 429/4, powered by a record-breaking double century from Harry Brook.

Brook put on a masterclass of modern ODI batting, smashing an unbeaten 202 from 116 balls with 21 fours and 10 sixes.

The England skipper found stellar support from Will Jacks, who blazed 66 off 30 balls, Tom Banton, who contributed a composed 50 off 51 deliveries and Joe Root, who scored 69 off 66 balls.

Despite suffering heavy punishment, Sri Lanka's bowlers managed brief moments of control, but England's total looked more than enough to put the game out of reach.

However, the Sri Lankan batters continued the run-scoring fest, offering full value for strokeplay and clinching a monumental win.

The victory adds an unforgettable chapter to this fierce rivalry, giving Sri Lanka a historic triumph in the tri-series.

The stunning result means England have work to do, having lost both of their matches so far, with Pakistan top of the table, thanks to their two wins. 

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have opened their account with this magnificent win, leaving the tri-series nicely poised before the final stretch of games.