Sri Lanka vs England: Banton Stars in Cardiff T20
England sealed the T20 series against Sri Lanka in Cardiff with a six-wicket win, chasing 146 in 12.1 overs. Tom Banton’s unbeaten 52 off 24 balls led the way…
JAKARTA — Sri Lanka vs England turned into a one-sided contest in Cardiff, where England won by six wickets and sealed the T20 series 2-0 with one match to spare. Tom Banton’s unbeaten 52 from 24 balls carried the hosts to 146-4 in 12.1 overs after Sri Lanka had posted 145-9.
The result extended England’s strong run in the shortest format. It also sharpened the contrast between the two sides: England looked fluent and decisive, while Sri Lanka struggled to turn a bright start into a competitive total.
Sri Lanka vs England ends early
England’s chase never looked troubled for long. Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald opened with a stand of 51 in 4.3 overs before both fell in the space of four balls, but the middle order kept the tempo high and made sure the required rate never became an issue.
Harry Brook added 23 off eight balls and threatened to make the finish even quicker. He hit three sixes in a brief burst before Eshan Malinga pulled off a diving catch to end his innings.
Banton then took over. He struck four sixes in a 24-ball knock and finished not out, making the chase look routine. England reached the target with 7.5 overs left, and the margin underlined how comfortably the home side handled the pressure.
Sri Lanka’s start fades fast
Sri Lanka at least began with some intent. Their openers reached 55-0 inside the first five overs, but the innings stalled once Liam Dawson struck twice in the final over of the powerplay. From there, the innings unravelled.
The tourists slipped to 145-9, with only Pathum Nissanka offering sustained resistance early on. He made 37 from 21 balls. After the powerplay, Sri Lanka lost 9-90 and could manage only 12 runs in the final four overs, a collapse that left them well short of a defendable total.
Dawson finished with 3-32, Jamie Overton took 2-23, and Sonny Baker impressed again with 1-15, including a wicket maiden in the 19th over. England’s bowlers kept the squeeze on throughout, and Sri Lanka never found a recovery.
What the win means
The victory means England have now won 22 of their past 25 completed T20s since the start of last summer, a run that puts real weight behind their status in the format. They remain unbeaten in the shortest format this summer, and the Cardiff result backed up that record with another tidy, clinical chase.
There was also a milestone at the top of England’s innings. Buttler became the first player to reach 15,000 T20 runs before he departed for 30. He and Donald had given England a fast start, and Banton’s finish made sure the innings never slowed down enough to invite doubt.
The series now moves to Old Trafford on Saturday, where the teams will meet for the final match. For Sri Lanka, the challenge is immediate: their openers gave them a platform in Cardiff, but the middle and lower order could not hold it.
England, meanwhile, will take confidence from the numbers. They chased 146 in 12.1 overs, and Banton’s 52 came in a match that ended with the hosts controlling every major phase.
Source: theguardian.com
