Brook-Buttler onslaught puts England ahead in T20 series
Sri Lanka CricketNews article
Sri Lanka had no answer to a colossal assault from England's batters and suffered a crushing 119-run defeat in the first T20 international at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton. The victory gave hosts England a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka was left to rue his decision to bowl first after England's batters offered the Sri Lankan bowlers no respite and amassed 254 for four from their 20 overs.
Harry Brook led England's assault with an unbeaten 114 from 42 balls. It was his second T20 international century and also his fastest, reaching the milestone from 42 deliveries. His innings featured 11 fours and seven sixes.
Jos Buttler joined Brook in launching a fierce attack on Sri Lanka's bowlers, scoring 80 from 44 balls. His innings included eight fours and four sixes.
A huge 128-run partnership from 60 balls between Brook and Buttler was the chief reason behind England's imposing total. England piled further pressure on Sri Lanka's bowlers by racing to 90 for one in the first six overs alone.
Aneurin Donald, making his T20 international debut, showcased his attacking batting in the very first over. He scored 12 from five balls as England set about scoring rapidly from the outset.
Another moment that made it clear the match was slipping out of Sri Lanka's control came when 30 runs were taken from the fifth over, bowled by Dunith Wellalage. Sri Lanka also paid dearly when Eshan Malinga failed to hold a chance offered by Buttler on 45.
Sri Lanka never managed to build any hope of victory after beginning their reply to England's 254.
Sonny Baker began the innings with a maiden over to put Sri Lanka's batters under pressure and then emerged as England's leading bowler by taking three wickets for 12 runs.
Kamil Mishara and Lahiru Udara both fell to Baker, who also uprooted Maheesh Theekshana's off stump.
Sri Lanka's only fighting innings came from Dunith Wellalage. Batting at number eight, he scored 33 from 21 balls but received insufficient support from the other batters.
All six England bowlers claimed wickets as Sri Lanka were restricted to 135 before the end of the 19th over.
Sri Lanka's bowling plans also raised serious questions during the match. Most notably, Maheesh Theekshana was not given the ball again after being attacked by England's batters in the powerplay, while the overs bowled by Wellalage and Dasun Shanaka proved expensive.
England's batters plundered 16 runs from Wellalage's final over and 19 from the 17th over, bowled by Shanaka. Wellalage's figures of 51 runs conceded from three overs amounted to Sri Lanka's weakest bowling performance of the day.
Chasing a daunting target of 255, Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 135 before the end of the 19th over. England therefore won the match by 119 runs.
England – 254/4 (20 overs) – (Harry Brook 114 not out, Jos Buttler 80, Aneurin Donald 12, Tom Banton 10, Will Jacks 21, Dunith Wellalage 51/1, Dushmantha Chameera 53/1, Eshan Malinga 41/1, Wanindu Hasaranga 34/1)
Sri Lanka – 135 (19 overs) – (Dunith Wellalage 33, Pathum Nissanka 12, Kamil Mishara 10, Lahiru Udara 05, Charith Asalanka 10, Dasun Shanaka 24, Kamindu Mendis 02, Wanindu Hasaranga 04, Maheesh Theekshana 04, Dushmantha Chameera 08, Eshan Malinga 13*, Sonny Baker 12/3, Liam Dawson 23/2, Jamie Overton 20/2, Josh Tongue 25/1, Will Jacks 21/1, Adil Rashid 31/1)
Based on Sri Lanka Cricket reporting