A commanding performance in a rain-affected match secured England a Twenty20 series win against Sri Lanka, taking an unassailable 2-0 lead. The victory was anchored by a blistering cameo from Harry Brook and a composed half-century from Tom Banton.
Chasing a revised target of 168 after a weather interruption, England found themselves needing 87 runs from less than eight overs. Brook entered and decisively shifted the momentum, smashing 36 runs from just 12 deliveries. His assault, featuring three sixes in a single over, rapidly brought the required rate under control.
While Brook provided the fireworks, Tom Banton supplied the steady foundation, finishing unbeaten on 54. His innings strengthened his case for inclusion in the upcoming T20 World Cup squad, marking his third not-out score in a successful chase since his promotion in the order last year. Sam Curran hit the winning runs with two balls to spare, sealing a six-wicket win.
Sri Lanka had posted a competitive total, powered by several contributions including a brisk 40 from Pavan Rathnayake. Their innings, however, lacked a single dominant score, with no batter reaching fifty. England’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson applying key pressure in the middle overs.
The match was not without incident. Sri Lankan seamer Eshan Malinga left the field in distress after just one delivery, clutching his shoulder, which required a hospital visit. Earlier, England veteran Jos Buttler marked a personal milestone, becoming his country’s all-time leading appearance-maker in his 402nd international match.
The series win represents a significant achievement for the touring side, clinching two victories in a week on challenging subcontinental pitches. With one match remaining, England heads into the T20 World Cup having built positive momentum and demonstrated considerable depth in their batting lineup.
