Jos Buttler’s record-setting 402nd England appearance came in a series-sealing victory as captain Harry Brook’s cameo and Tom Banton’s half-century smoked the tourists to a six-wicket win in a rain-trimmed second T20 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.
Buttler’s number of international matches, which comprises Tests, ODIs and T20Is, eclipses the 401 amassed by James Anderson.
The 35-year-old (39 off 29 balls) hit six fours as England successfully chased a revised 168 from 17 overs, having been set 190 for victory before rain stalled their knock at 57-2 after the first 7.2 overs.
Brook – two days after admitting he lied about his scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand late last year to “protect team-mates” – muscled four sixes in a 12-ball 36, while Banton (54no off 33) biffed seven boundaries, and perhaps cemented his spot in the T20 World Cup XI, as England reached their new target with two balls to spare thanks to Sam Curran’s game-ending maximum.
Tom Banton top-scored for England with 54no from 33 balls
Sri Lanka were hampered by a shoulder injury to Eshan Malinga in the first over after the restart, with the seamer not seen again as the away side smashed his team-mates all over the park having required 111 from 58 balls once play resumed.
England won a rain-affected opening game on Friday and the aim now will be to complete a 3-0 sweep with victory in the third and final T20 on Tuesday, also in Pallekele, before beginning their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday February 8.
England pacers pummelled but spinners star
Sri Lanka – co-hosting the T20 World Cup with India – posted 189-5 against England, looting a combined 103 runs from eight overs against the seam of Curran (0-31 from two overs), Jofra Archer (2-42 from four) and Jamie Overton (0-30 from two).
Adil Rashid and his fellow England spinners pegged Sri Lanka back in Pallekele
The hosts found it much tougher against the spin of Will Jacks (1-25), Adil Rashid (1-24) and Liam Dawson (1-32), all of whom bowled their full allocation of four overs.
Pavan Rathnayake (40 off 22) – left out of the opening T20 despite a century in the final one-day international between the sides last week – top-scored, having been dropped on 12 by Banton.
Five of Sri Lanka’s top six cantered past 20 and scored at well over a run-a-ball – the only exception was skipper Dasun Shanaka (1), who fell lbw looking to hack a Rashid googly across the line – but only Rathnayake made it out of the 30s.
Sri Lanka’s Pavan Rathnayake hit 40 off 22 balls, including five sixes
Kusal Mendis (32 off 17) followed openers Pathum Nissanka (34 off 22) and Kamil Mishara (36 off 30) in falling after a rapid start – Nissanka and Mishara blazing 56 for the first wicket inside the powerplay as England’s pacers got pummelled.
Charith Asalanka hit 28 not out off 22 balls after being grassed by Banton at deep square in the final over, with the same batter also reprieved while on 11 in the 17th with Phil Salt unable to keep hold of what would have been a stunning diving grab in the off-side..
England get job done in revised chase
Salt sliced Matheesha Pathirana to slip in the first over of the chase, after Buttler had smoked back-to-back boundaries, while Jaob Bethell – in the news as the Brook-nightclub bouncer incident took a twist – snicked behind in the fifth to depart for 13 off 11 balls.
Banton was at the crease with Buttler when the heavens opened, reverse-sweeping a superb six over backward point early on, and he continued to flourish once the rain relented.
The Somerset man is probably only playing due to Ben Duckett’s finger injury but has now given England plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup campaign.
England in Sri Lanka – results and fixtures
All times UK and Ireland
England’s T20 World Cup fixtures (first round)
All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports
- vs Nepal (Sunday February 8) – Mumbai (9.30am)
- vs West Indies (Wednesday February 11) – Mumbai (1.30pm)
- vs Scotland (Saturday February 14) – Kolkata (9.30am)
- vs Italy (Monday February 16) – Kolkata (9.30am)