England’s batting lineup put Sri Lanka to the sword to secure a 119-run victory in the opening T20I in Southampton on Tuesday night.
Captain Harry Brook was chief destroyer, blasting a career-high 114 off just 49 balls before the England quicks made early inroads into the Sri Lankans and never looked back.
Chasing 254/4 was never going to be an easy task for the visitors. Paceman Sonny Baker opened with a maiden and went on to claim the wickets of Kamil Mishara and Lahiru Udara, his first two scalps in white-ball cricket. He would go on to take 3/12.
Needing to get a move on, captain Charith Asalanka went for the huge mow across the line and holed out in the deep off Liam Dawson, leaving Sri Lanka flailing at 52/4 in the ninth.
All six England bowlers registered in the wickets column as they struck regularly. For Sri Lanka, No.8 Dunith Wellalage’s 33 from 21 was the only innings worth mentioning
Earlier, England meant business with the bat. Buttler and Aneurin Donald blasted 31 from the opening 13 balls before the latter toed one into the night sky.
But that brought Brook to the crease, and together with Buttler, they feasted on the slow and wayward bowling. The pair bludgeoned 128 runs off the next ten overs.
Buttler finally departed for 80 off 44, but Brook carried on. His imperious unbeaten 114 – his second T20I century – consisted of ten fours and six sixes as he carried his bat to the end.
