Sam Curran took a hat-trick as England started their T20 World Cup preparations by easing to an 11-run victory on the DLS methodology within the series-opener in opposition to Sri Lanka.
Curran turned solely the second England bowler to take a global T20 hat-trick, after Chris Jordan, as he blew away Sri Lanka’s lower-order to assist restrict the hosts to 133 all out.
Adil Rashid had earlier bamboozled the Sri Lankan batters in Kandy as he claimed three for 19 from his 4 overs in a surprising show which decimated the hosts’ innings.
Phil Salt made probably the most of two lives to guide England’s chase with 46 earlier than rain introduced an early finish to proceedings with England on 125 for 4 – 11 forward on the DLS methodology.
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Rain
Harry Brook’s facet start their bid for a 3rd World T20 crown in opposition to Nepal in Mumbai on February 8.
If England progress, as they need to, from their group containing West Indies, Scotland, Nepal and Italy, their Tremendous 8 matches can be held in Sri Lanka – each right here in Kandy and in Colombo, the place they clinched the ODI sequence earlier this week.
This three-match sequence, subsequently, is necessary preparation heading right into a event England have aspirations of contending to win.
Pre-match rain, described as “unseasonal” by the locals, on the Pallekele Worldwide Stadium reduce the match right down to 17 overs-a-side.
(Eranga Jayawardena/AP)
Return
England received the toss and requested Sri Lanka to bat.
Jofra Archer was again in an England shirt after his shock inclusion, having initially been slated to return on the World Cup following a facet pressure which curtailed his Ashes sequence.
He introduced his return with an 86mph yorker and virtually had a wicket in his first over, however Kamil Mishara was dropped by Liam Dawson.
Dawson grabbed Mishara off Jamie Overton within the following over, however Sri Lanka began nicely by reaching 51 for one from the truncated 5.1-over powerplay.
(AP Photograph/Eranga Jayawardena)
Curran’s victims
Kusal Mendis smashed 20 from the seventh over bowled by Curran – whose first two overs went for 35 –, however England took 5 wickets in as many overs as Sri Lanka slipped from 76 for one to 98 for six.
Pathum Nissanka fell to Adil Rashid and Charith Asalanka was beautifully caught by Jacob Bethell off Dawson.
Spinners Rashid and Dawson bowled fantastically, the previous dismissing Mendis for 37 earlier than Dawson trapped Janith Liyanage for one and Rashid baffled Dhananjaya de Silva as he skied one to depart for 11.
Dasun Shanaka smashed 20, however he was the primary of Curran’s victims earlier than the left-armer had Maheesh Theekshana caught after which scattered Eshan Malinga’s stumps to clinch his hat-trick.
Report-equalling
Set 134 to win, opener Jos Buttler strode to the crease for a record-equalling England look.
The 35-year-old drew degree with James Anderson’s 401 matches in all codecs and is ready to maneuver out on his personal in Sunday’s encounter.
His opening accomplice Phil Salt is the second-ranked T20 batter on this planet and confirmed why as he launched the primary ball of the chase for six and the subsequent two for 4.
Buttler joined the occasion with 4 boundaries in a row off Malinga, however the seamer bowled him with a slower ball for 17.
(AP Photograph/Eranga Jayawardena)
Motoring
Jacob Bethell fell for 9 and Mishara then crucially dropped Salt on 17.
Tom Banton acquired England motoring once more by smashing Wanindu Hasaranga for 2 sixes within the eighth over earlier than Salt was dropped once more on 27.
Asalanka brilliantly caught Banton for 29 to go away England 87 for 3 to carry Brook to the crease – contemporary from his 136 from 66 balls in Tuesday’s third ODI.
Salt kicked England in direction of victory however fell wanting an eighth T20 fifty as he was lastly caught off Shanaka earlier than the rain returned.
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