England defeat Sri Lanka by six wickets: second men’s cricket T20 international – as it happened

Righto, that’s it from me for now. Simon Burnton’s match report will be on the site and in here shortly, but otherwise, peace out And don’t forget England still have Sam Curran to return. It’s just so hard to keep all their batters quiet, while they also have strike bowlers – Archer and Rashid – and all sorts of options alongside. “A special performance,” says Harry Brook. Sri Lanka got off to a flyer, but the way Dawson reads the game is excellent “awesome bowler”, “great bloke”, “gets the game”. They looked at the stats and saw spin plays a big role on this ground, then went for taller bowlers to hit the deck. He also has praise for Overton, bowling four overs through, and Buttler, but there’s not much to say really – he’s captain of a really, really good side. Asalanka is disappointed. His team made a decent start but then lost wickets at regular intervals but he also acknowledges that England are too good. His team aren’t “up to the mark right now,” he admits. Bowling good lines and good lengths are the secret, he says. He’s more the defensive option in the spin trio, with Jacks and Rashid more likely to attack. He doesn’t mind bowling at Sophia Gardens because you can bowl into the pitch, and at OT he’ll keep bowling defensively to get wickets. Also going on: I hate to say it, because I love Sri Lanka and what they’ve given to this thing of ours, but the sad truth is that, at this point in human history, they’re not in England’s league. In fairness, not many teams are, the strength ind epth in both departments an outrage. The Lankans’ problem is that they lack a matchwinner or two in either department, which is why they’re struggling even to make the contests close, never mind win them, 12th over: England 146-4 (Banton 52, Jacks 3) Malinga begins with a wide, and this is very scrappy now, then Jacks turns into the on-side and England have beaten Sri Lanka 14 times on the spin in T20s. 11th over: England 144-4 (Banton 52, Jacks 2) Chameera returns and cedes a single off each of his first two deliveries, then Banton lifts over the infield towards the pint fence; they run three and that’s his fifty, off 24 balls – the quickest of his five for England. Five required off 51, but Chameera does just enough to make sure they don’t come off his bowling, three dots completing the over … oh, but the last of them is called as a no ball, meaning a free hit with four required for the win, Jacks on strike. Ach, and keen to escape unpunished, this time, Chameera sends down a wide; three required. So he goes again, Jacks reaches for it, and should be caught down the ground … but Hasaranga drops it, though it coujldn’t be out. They run one, which means England need two off 48 deliveries. Cox goes flat to the short long-off boundary, but picks out the man on it – for all the difference it makes, with 10 runs required from 54 deliveries. 11th over: England 136-3 (Banton 48, Cox 12) In comms, Sanga and Nasser agree a bowler shouldn’t have to declare which hand he’s using, and I’m pleased because i was thinking the same but seeking rationale for why I’m a idiot. Anyhow, it’s Hasaranga bowling the next over and after one to Banton, Cox decides he wants in, flowing six over square leg. It’s not often, not often at all, you get a line-up where all of them are outrageous talents and all of them are in outrageous form, but that’s England right now and, after a single and a wide, Banton lashes four low through midwicket the target 11 in 56 deliveries. 10th over: England 122-3 (Banton 42, Cox 5) The extent of this batting order is quite something, Malinga finishing the over with a yorker which Banton digs out off his tootsies for one. 10th over: England 121-3 (Banton 41, Cox 5) Malinga returns but even the original couldn’t rescue this – though the England he played against could definitely ruin it. A single opens the over, then another, before Cox swings a beautiful connection over mid-on, only for the ball to plug. That’s a right nause for the fielder who has to chase it as they run three, then Banton gets low to get at a bouncer, helping it over deep backward square as the commentators duck, the ball crashing into the wall of the indoor school. Gosh, and six more follow, Baton going again but this time down the ground, a second ball into the Taff, and England are charging to the finish line; they take drinks while a new ball is found. In the meantime, with one delivery to come in the over, the requirement is 25 off 61. 9th over: England 104-3 (Banton 28, Cox 1) Hasaranga returns and Banton dismisses his first ball, a short googly, back over his head for four. A two follows, then a one and a leg-bye before, after a dot, Banton knucks six over that same wide long-on, deep midwicket area. England need 42 from 66, and they’re playing with such confidence now; they know they’re going to win, it’s just a matter of enjoying that inevitability to the fullest. 8th over: England 90-3 (Banton 15, Cox 1) Rathnayake into the attack and, with two righties batting, he starts lefty. Banton takes his first ball to long-on for two them, after a dot, the bowler switches arm and Banton turns to midwicket for one. Oh man, I’d love to be able to do this, but after Cox takes a further single – it’s left-arm to him – a drag-down right-armer is annihilated over long-on by Banton. If you bowl like that, it doesn’t really matter how you do it, and a single to the last ball means England need 56 from 72. But! Brook goes again, of course he does, but this time Malinga, at deep square, sees the ball zooming past him and says not today, diving improbably to hold a screamer. I can’t believe he’s taken that, even now I’ve seen a replay. 7th over: England 79-2 (Brook 23, Banton 5) That said, England won’t want to lose Brook at this point … but the man himself isn’t that bothered, waiting for Hasaranga before hauling over square-leg for six, the third of the innings; Sri Lanka managed two in their full allocation of overs. Then, after a dot, Brook goes again, moving feet to clear the front pad and schmeissing another six over wide long-on. Goodness me, this is a violation now Brook again waiting, this time feet still, and he dematerialises a third six over midwicket! 6th over: England 50-2 (Brook 5, Banton 4) One brings two, both openers now gone, but can Sri Lanka keep up the pressure? England need 91 off 88 balls, but they’re not going to try getting them in singles … though they do add two, before Banton goes hard at a bouncer, his pull landing safe and they run two more. A further single follows, and that’s the end of the powerplay; England will be satisfied because unlike Sri Lanka, despite being two down, they’ve loads of batting to come. Buttler looks to pull but the ball skids on and he top-edges to short third where the keeper announces it as his and claims. 5th over: England 51-1 (Buttler 30, Brook 4) In comes Malinga and Brook brooks no nonsense, swaying back to ease away four through third man; that is absurd behaviour, a touch-shot like that first up, but it’s also what we’ve become used to with this freakish genius. Ohhh, well bowled, another slower one tossed wide of off, and Donald chases it, flaying high to mid-on where Hasaranga pouches. 5th over: England 51-0 (Buttler 30, Donald 21) At this stage, Sri Lanka were 38-0, and Malinga is next to be ravaged, Buttler now level with Kieron Pollard on 14,999 T20i runs … and he pokes to point for one, going out alone as the highest run-scorer in history. Well batted, Joseph. Donald then goes hard at a slowerb all but hits nothing, before top-edging a bumper between fielders for two. 4th over: England 48-0 (Buttler 29, Donald 19) Hasaranga into the attack; good luck, old mate. His first three balls go for singles, the fourth is a dot … then Buttler goes back to a short one … and devastates it down and out of the ground, splish-splosh into the river. This is some beautiful violence, and a single from the final ball means eight more to the total. 3rd over: England 38-0 (Buttler 21, Donald 17) Buttler waits for one, leaning into it and stroking Madushanka for four inside of mid-on’s dive. Then, the bowler sees Buttler preparing to scoop, pulls back his pace … and is reverse-scooped for four morel the speed of eye, the speed of hand, the speed of thought are frankly indecent. You don’t envy these bowlers, all the less so when Buttler shimmies down and punishes a cover-drive to the fence, in glorious oneness with his game, then cross-bats the next delivery over deep-backward; it looks like another boundary but plugs when it hits the ground, so England make do with two. A dot follows, but it’s brief respite, Buttler making room to slam four more over the top and to wide long-off. Sri Lanka need about 300 fielders here, and that’s 18 from the over, all of them to the most softly-spoken assassin you’ve ever seen. 2nd over: England 20-0 (Buttler 3, Donald 17) Chameera opens from the other end and Donald, having punished him in the warm-up game, steps away to off, then flips over his own head for six; pressure for the bowler. More pressure! Donald cuffs over a head again, this time Chameera’s, and though he doesn’t get all of it, he gets enough, given the short boundary, to add four; that’s 10 off two … soon 14 off three, again not middled but muscled through midwicket for four more. In the field, Asalanka is already chasing the ball with his placings, Donald then stepping away and missing before helping a ball around the corner to fine leg and running one; Buttler dabs the final delivery into the off-side for one more, and that’s 16 off the over. 1st over: England 4-0 (Buttler 2, Donald 2) Madushanka has the ball and Buttler dabs his loosener into the ground for one; he’s finding some bounce, his second ball contacting Donald’s splice, before a cut to backward point adds another single and sets him away. Buttler then turns into the on-side, coming down the track, before Shanaka turns none into one, shying at the stumps for no reason and ceding buzzers. Out come Buttler and Donald, the Welshman playing on his home ground. What a moment this is for him and his family; can he honour it with a telling contribution? Things changed when Liam Dawson came on in the fifth over; the two wickets he took changed the flow and from there, his teammates capitalised. We’ll see how the reply goes, but England are a decent outfit these days and it’s unfortunate for them that there’s no World Cup until 2028. A decent job from England, the bowlers bowling well and Harry Brook managing them with enterprise and intelligence. Sri Lanka started well, but once they started losing wickets, they just didn’t have the ability to get going again. It’ll take an almighty effort from the tourists to save themselves from here. Mid-on is up, a good call from the captain, who’s there to benefit when Ratnayake picks him out. 20th over: Sri Lanka 149-8 (Ratnayake 4, Malinga 0) Malinga tries a run-down but misses and Buttler first misfields then misses with his shy; he won’t be happy with that. Next, when Ratnayake flays high, Baker is too slow to run in, unable to dive into the catch; one ball to go. Full, straight, and far too good for Chammera, who loses his middle peg. From 55-0 to 142-8, and this is another disappointing knock from the tourists. 20th over: Sri Lanka 142-7 (Ratnayake 1, Chameera 0) Archer begins with a dot, then Rathnayake just about forces a yorker to third man for one. 19th over: Sri Lanka 141-7 (Ratnayake 1, Chameera 0) Baker is taking his chance superbly, sending down two dots before Chameera slices to Jacks on the 45 … the ball bouncing just shy of fingers sliding underneath it. Another dot follows, and Baker finishes with a wicket maiden and 1-15 off his four. That’s terrific work, the challenge laid down in the fight for places, and Sri Lanka badly need to go big off Archer’s final over. Hasaranga goes hard at more of the same, sending the ball an epoch into the air at cover. It’s up for a while but Dawson takes responsibility for a minger, shooing away his teammates to hold a decent catch on the fall. 19th over: Sri Lanka 141-6 (Hasaranga 27, Ratnayake 1) Baker, who’s been excellent, continues, and the Lankans have struggled with his pace-off back-of-a-length balls; Hasaranga misses the first of them. 18th over: Sri Lanka 141-6 (Hasaranga 27, Ratnayake 1) Two dots, the ambidextrous Rathnayake trying to switch-hit his second ball and barely tickling it. Hasaranga then cuts to Archer at point and runs; had Archer not misfielded, the run out was on. Instead, they run one, the final delivery also costs just one, and Sri Lanka need to assault these last two overs need to set something challenging. Even on this ground, Rashid is the man you want at the death and Asalanka, looking to hit over the top, doesn’t get enough of him, offering up to Overton coming in from long-off. 18th over: Sri Lanka 138-5 (Asalanka 31, Hasaranga 26) Rashid returns and his first ball costs one. 17th over: Sri Lanka 138-5 (Asalanka 31, Hasaranga 25) Baker returns and after ceding a single, tries a slower one at cost of a leg-bye. Hasaranga then middles a drive so runs, but he’s picked out Dawson at mid-off and here comes the shy, gone by aeons if it hits … it misses. Asalanka then goes after a cutter and doesn’t get anywhere near enough of it, a top-edge dropping shot of deep backward square. Baker then slips in his delivery stride – he’s fine – then Hasaranga flays and manages to land the ball between two converging fielders. That yields just one, then a dot completes the over, Asalanka unloading the suitcase at a quick one that bounces, hammering fresh air into oblivion. Good over, five from it. 16th over: Sri Lanka 133-5 (Asalanka 30, Hasaranga 22) Dawson returns and Asalanka has waiting long enough, playing the anchor because he’s had to, but now he goes down on one knee to flay four through square-leg. He goes again next ball too, but this time picks out Cox at midwicket and they run one; no matter. Hasaranga skips down towards leg, opening the space to free his arms and swing six to long-on, Banton running around the fence unable to do anything. This is more like it, is this, the next ba walloped over the bowler’s bonce and down the ground for four; the comeback is decent, two singles – no, a single and a two because Cox misfields – completing an over that yields 18. Sri Lanka needed that, but they also need another like it, and another. 15th over: Sri Lanka 115-5 (Asalanka 23, Hasaranga 11) Now Archer returns; there’s not much respite out there. But after two dots, Hasaranga uses the pace to uppercut over the man at 45 for four, then forces uppishly down the ground for two more; two singles follow, making it eight off the over, and even another 60 or 70 from here wouldn’t feel like enough on a good pitch. 14th over: Sri Lanka 107-5 (Asalanka 22, Hasaranga 4) On the one hand, Sri Lanka badly need to up the tempo but, on the other, they need to see out the 20 overs. Three singles start the returning Rashid’s second over, a wide and three further singles following. We’ll see how it goes, but with England’s firepower, it’s hard not to see them making light work of whatever target they’re set from here. 13th over: Sri Lanka 101-5 (Asalanka 20, Hasaranga 1) Asalanka top-edges a pull … but it eludes the diving Donald, dropping short of him and running away for four. Two dots follow, then a turn into the leg-side for one, then another dot then a bump down the ground for a further single. Overton finishes with 2-23 off his four overs. 12th over: Sri Lanka 95-5 (Asalanka 15, Hasaranga 0) Another good over from Dawson, four runs and a wicket from it. Shanaka heaves high and there’s plenty of time for Donald, underneath it, to swallow the vomit up his insides as he contemplates a second drop of the over. But, on the run, he hangs on, just about, trapping ball between thumbs for relief and redemption all mixed. This match is running away from Sri Lanka now. 12th over: Sri Lanka 95-4 (Asalanka 15, Shanaka 4) Dawson back into the attack and his first ball sits up, so Shanakaflays into the on side, Donald is running in … and he misjudges the flight so has to dive forward … grassing a chance he made harder than it needed to be. They run two, and two singles follow. 11th over: Sri Lanka 91-4 (Asalanka 14, Shanaka 1) A wide welcomes Shanaka to the crease, then he bumps to midwicket and is off the mark with a single. Slower-ball cutter cramps Mendis who thinks he’s got room. He doesn’t, and his run-down runs into his off-stump. Wickets are coming quickly now. 11th over: Sri Lanka 89-3 (Asalanka 14, Mendis 12) Overton resumes and Asalanka hauls him wide of mid-off for one, then Mendis slashes a short one, both feet off the ground, to the fence for four. 10th over: Sri Lanka 84-3 (Asalanka 13, Mendis 8) Just what Sri Lanka need, Rashid into the attack. His first three balls go for one, but then Mendis lowers on to one knee and watches the ball well, a step ands a reverse turning the delivery into a half-volley for four. Next, a well-run two, then a drive down the ground that Overton cuts off on the fence; they run two more, making it nine from the over; that’s drinks. 9th over: Sri Lanka 75-6 (Asalanka 12, Mendis 0) Brook was behind that dismissal, instructing Oberton not to bowl full, thereby inciting the batter to take him on down the ground. He did, but he couldn’t. Already, and after a decent start, you fear for Sri Lanka. Another cross-seamer is flung into the turf and, when it sits up, Nissanaka is on it too early, cross-batting tamely to Brook at mid-on. 9th over: Sri Lanka 75-2 (Nissanka 37, Asalanka 12) Overton continues and Asalanka yanks him for one to deep backward square; four more singles follow and, in comms, Nasser chastises the batters for overhitting instead of using the pace, while Sanga praises the cross-seam bowling. 8th over: Sri Lanka 70-2 (Nissanka 35, Asalanka 9) Teams often leave out spinners at this venue but Dawson has already justified his inclusion and he continues well ceding four ones from four balls. But, under pressure to score, Asalanka backs away then drills four through cover, saving the over which is completed with a further single. 7th over: Sri Lanka 61-2 (Nissanka 32, Asalanka 2) Overton into the attack and beginning with a dot and a wide, then Nissanka knocks to mid-on and runs, Brook missing with his shy. Banton then does well to save a singe in the covers, then three singles close out a decent Overton over, five from it. England have applied the brakes. 6th over: Sri Lanka 56-2 (Nissanka 31, Asalanka 0) Asalanka knocks the hat-trick ball into the on side, then wears the final delivery of a brilliant over on the pad. One run, two wickets, and England really needed that to close ou the powerplay. Mishara, who swapped places with Udara, gets a golden, looking to go at Dawson and instead tamely delivering a leading edge straight back into his hands. He’s on a hatty… Udara goes over the top of mid-on but doesn’t get enough of it, Overton timing his jump perfectly, floating up like a lumbering salmon to claim a two-hander above his head. Terrific grab and one England needed badly. 6th over: Sri Lanka 56-0 (Nissanka 31, Udara 21) Brook tries the experience of Dawson to stem the flow; his first two balls yield one. 5th over: Sri Lanka 55-0 (Nissanka 30, Udara 21) Jacks replaces Baker and immediately, Nissanka takes advantage of those aforementioned straight boundaries, tickling him back over his heed for six. Two through mid-on follow, then it’s down on one knee to haul a sweep to the fence at fine leg; pressure on the bowler, who gets away with a dog next up, Nissanka opting to force down the ground for one, rather than get greedy and mete out the treatment it deserves. Udara, though, brooks no such nicety, fetching a slog-sweep from outside off and adding four over midwicket. That’s 17 off the over and Sri Lanka are flying. 4th over: Sri Lanka 38-0 (Nissanka 17, Udara 17) One off the first two deliveries of Archer’s second over, then he extracts decent bounce, Udara missing his heave. So the bowler charges in again … only for an inside-edge to race away for four then, following another dot, a whack over midwicket adds four more. Nine off the over, meaning 23 off Archer’s first two, and this is good from the Lankans. 3rd over: Sri Lanka 29-0 (Nissanka 16, Udara 9) Udara is struggling to pick the swing, heaving at one he thought would shape in but moves away. The next delivery is worn on the pad but was going down, then proper leg-side muck hits the pad and runs away for four. So Baker goes short … and Udara waits for it, helping it around the corner via pull for four more, before ending another good over, 12 off it, with a square-drive to the fence. This is now a decent start. 2nd over: Sri Lanka 17-0 (Nissanka 16, Udara 1) Archer, playing his 50th T20i, opens from t’other end, and after a full inswinging dot, Nissanka has a hoik, gloving around the corner fine for four. Next ball, though, a much better shot, pronging down the track to clout four more through backward point. A single follows, the Udara backs away and slices another behind square, then Nissanka wanders over towards off, goes down on one knee, and flips a third four over his shoulder. Faourteen off the over, and Sri Lanka are in business. 1st over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Nissanka 3, Udara 0) The Lankans are under pressure here; how do they set a competitive total without taking the kind of risks that could see them skittled? Nissanka turns Baker’s loosener into the on side for two, then opens the face to earn one. The third ball bounces a bit more, hitting the back pad, then a leading edge – Baker, having bowled inswing, changes to outswing And foxes Udara – narrowly eludes the bowler’s dive on the follow-through. That’s a good opening over, just three from it. Baker has the cherry. Will he put it on top of a pie? Out come our teams… Also going on: Aneurin Donald, who on Tuesday became the first Glamorgan player to represent England in 20 years, fulfils another ambition tonight, playing on his home ground. At 29, he sounds pretty sensible and reflective – he understands what’s happeing to him, telling Eoin Morgan his parents were more emotional than he was an his mates are already asking him for stash. He plays a relatively unique way, he says – we’ll forgive him the tautology – but at the minute, he feels the harder he swings, the better he gets. After a run of serious injuries, he realised that he was always pretty good at the see ball, hit ball philosophy – a phrase beloved of Kevin Pietersen, who inspired him in 2005 and presented him with his cap – and all his family and friends are in to see him. Imagine what a feeling that must be, oof madone It’s stopped raining, the square now uncovered. We’ll start on time at half past the hour. The square is covered. Hopefully not for long. Tim Southee, England bowling coach, says Brook’s a pleasure to watch but the other guys are also doing well. On Sonny Baker, he says he was really good the other night and will grow following his performance. He’s got good pace, good change of pace and a good yorker, but what was most impressive was his control. He’s a very skilful bowler with a great attitude, He turns up every training and game-day with a smile on his face, eager to improve, and he’s a pleasure to have around. There’s lots of talent in the country and they’re trying to develop different skills and players, namechecking Henry Crocombe, who might get a go in the ODIs and, er, then my daughter knocks at the door having failed to take her key, again, so I miss the rest. England: 1 Jos Buttler (wk), 2 Aneruin Donald, 3 Harry Brook (capt), 4 Tom Banton, 5 Jordan Cox, 6 Will Jacks, 7 Jamie Overton, 8 Liam Dawson, 9 Jofra Archer, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Sonny Baker. Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Lahiru Udana, 3 Kamil Mishara (wk), 4 Kamindu Mendis, 5 Charith Asalanka (capt), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Tharindu Ratnayake, 9 Dilshan Madushanka, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Eshan Malinga. Brook is 288 not out, in terms of the last time he was dismissed in this format. He’s an absolute joke, good enough to go down as one of the best we’ve ever seen if he keeps focused and working hard. Er, it’s raining. Hopefully not for long, but it’s coming down more heavily than is optimal. Asalanka would’ve fielded too and leaves out two spinners, the short straight boundaries at Sophia Gardens the reason why. Dilshan Madushanka comes in for Maheesh Theekshana, while Tharindu Ratnayake, the ambidextrous spinner, replaces Dunith Wellalage. They fancy chasing tonight. Brook says his team are consistent in an inconsistent game and are enjoying it. Him moving to number three was Baz’s call, he says, but he’s enjoying batting in the powerplay, has managed a few out of the middle, and the team now want to take the no 1 in the world spot off India. In terms of the teams, there’s one change, Jofra Archer in for Josh Tongue. Gosh, but Nasser has on what might be termed a big coat, the first sighting of the winter. The weather forecast is decent enough, and the toss is imminent. Last time out: Also going on: As human beings, we’re conditioned by the world we’ve built to always want more – a sense that sport exacerbates. When we come across brilliance and genius, much as we enjoy it, we also feel as though we own it such, when – in our opinion – it lets us and itself down, we frequently find ourselves castigating the exact stuff that facilitates it. In some ways this makes perfect sense – with great power comes great responsibility. But in other ways, it makes none whatsoever, our attention focused on an individual pulling their weight while, around them, others, often those sat in the big chairs, do not. Take Harry Brook, for example, a once-in-a-lifetime cricketer whose wonders in an England shirt compare favourably, not only with his contemporaries, but with anyone ever to have worn it – or any other. Of course he brings some of this on himself – he portrays something of a dufus and doesn’t always make good decisions, especially problematic in a leader. Except in sport, there’s no better leadership than that done from the front, and no one could argue such example is not being set. Brook’s century on Tuesday evening was as ludicrously destructive as we’ve come to expect from him, yet another knock only he could play. That, though, was then, and, conversely, this is now; he’ll know as well as anyone that expectations have increased, because he inhabits the same world that we do, while also possessing the manic mentality that drives an elite sportsperson. Whatever is expected of him, he expects of himself to incomparable degree; those of us lucky enough to be watching need to remember that the thrill is as much in the anticipation as the execution, taking joy in that which we have, rather than affront at that which we do not. Let’s see what, he England and Sri Lanka have for us this evening. Play: 6.30pm BST