England complete T20 series sweep vs Sri Lanka to cap ideal World Cup build-up
England completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep over Sri Lanka with a 12-run victory in the third and final match at Pallekele, rounding off their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on a high.
Defending a modest total on a turning surface, England produced a disciplined bowling performance to dismiss Sri Lanka for 116, with their spinners accounting for nine of the ten wickets to fall.
Asked to bat first after winning the toss, England found themselves in early trouble on a slow pitch at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium. Ben Duckett was trapped lbw for a golden duck by Dushmantha Chameera, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook were all dismissed for single figures as the visitors slumped to 60 for 6.
Sam Curran steadied the innings with a career-best 58, dragging England to 128 for 9 with a defiant knock down the order. Sri Lanka’s bowlers made full use of the conditions, with Chameera finishing with 5 for 24 and removing Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.
England struck early with the ball as Luke Wood removed Kamil Mishara for a duck in the first over, before Liam Dawson had Pathum Nissanka caught at cover for 23. Adil Rashid bowled Pavan Rathnayake as the hosts struggled to build momentum.
Sri Lanka appeared well-placed at 90 for 4, but a decisive spell from Will Jacks turned the contest. Jacks dismissed Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage to rip through the middle order, before Bethell took control late in the innings.
The left-arm spinner claimed three wickets in the 18th over, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka, and returned to remove Maheesh Theekshana to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 11. Jacks ended with 3 for 14 as Sri Lanka were bowled out with three balls remaining.
“The way the spinners bowled, 16 overs against Sri Lanka in their own conditions was an awesome effort,” Brook said. “We’ve shown we can adapt to surfaces, and that’s something we can take into the World Cup.”
The victory marked England’s lowest successful defense in men’s T20 internationals and confirmed a comprehensive series clean sweep.
England, twice world champions in the format, will begin their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal on Sunday, 8 February, while Sri Lanka face Ireland later the same day.
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