England secured a Vitality T20 sequence victory over Sri Lanka with a six-wicket win in Cardiff.
After Tuesday’s 119-run victory romp in Southampton, this was one other one-sided contest as England hunted down Sri Lanka’s 145 for 9 in brutal style.
Tom Banton top-scored with an unbeaten 52 from 24 balls – his energy hitting producing two fours and 4 sixes – as England coasted house with 7.5 overs to spare and declare a 14th consecutive T20 win over Sri Lanka.
England now have an unassailable 2-0 lead forward of Saturday’s third rubber at Old Trafford.
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Sri Lanka wrestle after quick begin
Sri Lanka didn’t construct on a flying begin that noticed them attain 56 with out loss within the powerplay.
The innings fell away badly as England obtained on high, with Liam Dawson the choose of the bowlers with three for 32.
Jamie Overton took two for 23, and Sonny Baker’s selection earned him the economical figures of 1 for 15 from his 4 overs.
The suspicion was that Sri Lanka’s whole was nicely beneath par and so it proved as England hit 10 sixes to their opponents’ two.
Openers Aneurin Donald and Jos Buttler placed on a quickfire 50 earlier than the previous chipped Eshan Malinga to mid-on for 21.
PICTURES: David Davies/PA
File-breaker Buttler
Buttler’s cameo noticed change into the primary participant in to achieve 15,000 T20 runs, however he mishit Dushmantha Chameera as his explosive 16-ball effort got here to an finish on 30.
Harry Brook was within the temper to repeat his brutal 114 not out the south coast, dispatching three sixes off Wanindu Hasaranga.
Though Brook departed for 23 to a sprawling catch within the deep and Jordan Cox went for 12, Banton steered England house together with his fifth, and quickest, worldwide T20 fifty.
England made one change to their line-up with Jofra Archer changing Josh Tongue.
It allowed Derbyshire’s Welsh batter Donald to win his second cap on house soil – the primary Glamorgan product to characteristic for England since Simon Jones in 2005.
Ambidextrous spinner Tharindu Rathnayake was handed his first cap by Sri Lanka after their Southampton hiding, which noticed them bowled out for 135 after slumping to 34 for 5 within the powerplay.
Essential introduction
They made a greater fist of it in Cardiff as Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara went on the assault on a wicket that had each tempo and bounce.
Boundaries got here thick and quick as Archer went for 23 runs in two overs and Will Jacks conceded 17 in his first.
The brake was utilized by Dawson as Udara tried to launch him over long-on.
Udara’s shot might need crushed a taller man, however the 6ft 5in Overton took an excellent catch above his head.
Kamil Mishara then despatched his first ball straight again to Dawson, and Asalanka needed to defend a hat-trick ball from the Hampshire spinner.
Sri Lanka had been 56 for 2 on the finish of the powerplay, however it was Dawson’s introduction that proved essential because the scoring charge dipped.
Sri Lanka slide
Nissanka bowed to the stress by pulling Overton to Brook at mid-on, the opener having hit 4 fours and a six in his 21-ball 37.
Sri Lanka’s slide continued as Kamindu Mendis chopped on to Overton for eight.
Dasun Shanaka survived an opportunity on one when the diving Donald spilled the catch within the deep, however the house favorite made no mistake moments later as Dawson claimed his third wicket to depart Sri Lanka 95 for 5.
Asalanka then pressed the accelerator, taking 18 runs from Dawson’s last over to provide Sri Lanka late hope.
However Asalanka went for a run-a-ball 31 by discovering Overton on the long-on boundary off Adil Rashid, and England completed strongly.
Baker grabbed the wicket he deserved as Dawson took a steepling catch to finish the resistance of Hasaranga, who made 27 from 22 balls.
Archer bagged a few wickets within the last over as Sri Lanka’s tail didn’t wag.
READ MORE: Harry Brook smashes stunning century as England hammer Sri Lanka
