England 254 for 4 (Brook 114*, Buttler 80) beat Sri Lanka 135 (Wellalage 33, Baker 3-12) by 119 runs
Harry Brook produced a stunning unbeaten 114 as England overwhelmed Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20I at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton on September 15.
England posted 254 for four from their 20 overs before bowling out Sri Lanka for 135 in 19 overs, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.
Brook’s 42-ball century was the second and fastest T20I hundred of his career, surpassed among Englishmen only by Phil Salt’s 39-ball effort against South Africa almost a year earlier. The England limited-overs captain finished with 114 not out from 48 deliveries, striking 11 fours and seven sixes.
The innings was Brook’s third white-ball century of the year and followed his maiden T20I hundred against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup. Former England Test captain Ben Stokes was among those to praise the performance on social media.
Brook’s assault was built around a remarkable partnership with Jos Buttler, who continued his excellent form in Southampton with 80 from 44 balls. The pair added 128 from just 60 deliveries, taking England through a powerplay that yielded 90 for one, their second-highest in T20Is.
Buttler struck eight fours and four sixes, and survived a dropped chance on 45 when Eshan Malinga overran a sliced shot at long-off. By then, Sri Lanka’s bowlers were struggling to contain England’s power and the match was rapidly slipping away.
England’s innings included 19 fours and 12 sixes, while their running between the wickets added further pressure. Brook contributed nine twos, with his partners adding 12 more as England maintained an exceptional tempo throughout the innings.
Aneurin Donald also made an explosive start to his international career. The 29-year-old, making his England debut after Phil Salt’s injury, smashed 12 from five balls in the opening over. He became the first Glamorgan product to play for England since Simon Jones in 2005.
Donald had been identified by head coach Brendon McCullum as a potential replacement after scoring 31 from eight balls for England Lions against Sri Lanka in the warm-up. His brief contribution helped set the tone for England’s imposing total.
Sri Lanka’s chase began with a maiden from Sonny Baker, who went on to claim outstanding figures of three for 12. The Hampshire fast bowler took his first limited-overs wickets for England at his home ground.
Baker dismissed Kamil Mishara with a 90mph delivery that beat the opener, before Lahiru Udara fell four balls later when his attempted scoop found Adil Rashid at short backward square. Theekshana was Baker’s third victim, bowled by a 92mph delivery that nipped away and struck the off stump.
All six England bowlers took at least one wicket as Sri Lanka’s chase collapsed. Dunith Wellalage offered some resistance with 33 from 21 balls, but the visitors were dismissed with six deliveries remaining.
Buttler’s latest innings continued his remarkable revival in Southampton. Following his 131 against India at the same venue, he has now scored 211 runs across his last two T20I innings there, compared with 212 runs in his first 14 innings of the format at the start of the year.
England’s commanding victory leaves Sri Lanka with plenty to address ahead of the next match, while Brook’s extraordinary innings has set the standard for the remainder of the series
