England completed a 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in Manchester with a ruthless chase of a 125-run target in only 9.4 overs, a result that also sent them back to the top of the T20I rankings.
Having already sealed the series with two one-sided wins, England won the toss and chose to bowl. Sonny Baker got things going by removing Lahiru Udara early with a top-edged pull that flew straight to the keeper. Will Jacks then struck twice inside the Powerplay, one of them thanks to a sharp catch by Harry Brook diving at short mid-wicket to send back Pathum Nissanka for 36.
Kamindu Mendis looked comfortable, striking three fours and two sixes on his way to 35, but he found little support as wickets kept tumbling around him. Charith Asalanka was run out in a mix-up with Mendis, and Eshan Malinga suffered the same fate later in the innings. Wanindu Hasaranga went one better and got himself out without any help from the fielders, losing control of his bat mid-shot and knocking his own bails off for a hit-wicket.
Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for just 17 runs and were bowled out for 124 in 18.5 overs, with Jamie Overton the pick of the bowlers for 1 for 15 and Baker, Jofra Archer and Jacks sharing two wickets apiece.
Come the chase, Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald put on a brisk 22-run opening stand before Donald was stumped charging down the pitch for 13. Buttler then combined with Brook to add 85 runs for the second wicket off only 38 balls, adding 82 runs in the Powerplay and effectively putting the chase to bed inside the first six overs.
Brook eventually fell for 33, run out going for a single that was never really there, but by that stage the game was already decided. Buttler finished unbeaten on 62 off just 32 balls, closing out the match with a six to bring up the victory with 62 balls remaining, the joint fastest chase of a 120+ target in T20Is.
The win took England to 15 straight T20I victories over Sri Lanka, a run that now matches the record for the most consecutive wins by a full member side over a single opponent.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 124 all out in 18.5 overs (Pathum Nissanka 36, Kamindu Mendis 35; Sonny Baker 2/17, Jofra Archer 2/23, Will Jacks 2/31) lost to England 126/2 in 9.4 overs (Jos Buttler 62*, Harry Brook 33; Tharindu Ratnayake 1/28) by 8 wickets.
Leave a Reply