England extended their dominance over Sri Lanka in the T20 format, scripting a comfortable six-wicket win in the second T20I in Cardiff to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series. Despite Sri Lanka enjoying an enterprising start with the bat after losing the toss, Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton combined to stunt their charge, before England romped home with nearly eight overs to spare as Tom Banton struck a rapid half-century.
The start promised much more for Sri Lanka than the 146/9 that they eventually ended with. Pathum Nissanka in particular was at his aggressive best, striking three boundaries off Jofra Archer’s first over before Lahiru Udara, who was on 1 off 9 at one stage, also caught on. The boundaries flowed regularly and Sri Lanka raced to 50 halfway through the fifth over.
It was Dawson’s introduction in the final Powerplay over though that changed the equation significantly. The left-arm spinner struck off successive deliveries to break the game open, slowing Sri Lanka’s scoring rate down in the process. That eventually led to Nissanka’s dismissal for 37, as the opener flat-batted a slower delivery from Overton to mid-on. Overton struck again, cramping Kamindu Mendis for room on the late cut to bowl him, before Dawson removed Dasun Shanaka to leave the visitors in trouble.
A 44-run partnership between skipper Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga put the innings back on track. Ironically, it was Dawson who bore the brunt of it as his final over went for 18 and Sri Lanka suddenly had their eyes set on a score around the 170-mark. But things came apart dramatically in the final three overs – Harry Brook’s move to throw the ball to Adil Rashid paid off as the wrist-spinner induced a false shot off Asalanka. Sonny Baker then produced a stupendous 19th over, sending down a wicket maiden as he dismissed Hasaranga before Archer’s double-strike in the last over meant that Sri Lanka lost four wickets for just seven runs.
England picked up from where they left off with the bat in Southampton. Like Sri Lanka, they too got past fifty halfway through the fifth over as Aneurin Donald took on Dushmantha Chameera, before Jos Buttler reeled four boundaries off a Dilshan Madushanka over, shortly after which he became the first batter to register 15,000 T20 runs. Both openers fell in quick succession inside the Powerplay as Eshan Malinga deceived Donald with a slower one and Chameera bounced Buttler out.
England were in no mood to slow down though, vindicated by Harry Brook smashing Hasaranga for three sixes in an over. Brook fell to an outstanding Malinga catch at deep square leg in an attempt to hit a fourth, but Banton then took over, sticking with the memo of attacking the bowlers. Sri Lanka’s spinners were guilty of bowling too short and Hasaranga in particular endured a torrid time. England raced past 120 at the end of the tenth over, with Banton smashing Malinga too for consecutive sixes.
Jordan Cox fell with England needing ten runs to win, but Banton got to his fastest T20I fifty off 24 balls. That Hasaranga put one down tracing after the ball from mid-on – albeit off a free hit – summed up his and Sri Lanka’s woes on the night as England coasted home.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 145/9 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 37, Charith Asalanka 31; Liam Dawson 3-32, Jamie Overton 2-23) lost to England 146/4 in 12.1 overs (Tom Banton 52*, Jos Buttler 30, Harry Brook 23; Dushmantha Chameera 1-29) by six wickets.
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