Written by Dwayne Ferreira.
England vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I ends in a dominant England win after Sri Lanka make 145/9, handing the hosts an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
CARDIFF – Sri Lanka suffered another convincing defeat against England as the hosts chased down a modest target of 146 with ease in the second T20 International at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, to secure the three-match series with a game to spare.
Sri Lanka managed only 145 for nine from their 20 overs after making a promising start, before England’s bowlers seized control of the innings. England then raced through the chase despite losing four wickets, with Tom Banton providing the decisive acceleration.
The result gives England an unassailable 2–0 lead following their crushing 119-run victory in the opening T20I at Southampton.
Sri Lanka Squander Promising Start
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and elected to field, but Sri Lanka initially appeared determined to respond strongly to their heavy defeat in the series opener.
Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara took Sri Lanka to 56 without loss before the innings dramatically changed.
Liam Dawson struck twice in successive deliveries in the sixth over. Udara was dismissed for 21 from 20 balls, before Kamil Mishara was caught and bowled for a first-ball duck.
Nissanka, who had provided much of Sri Lanka’s early momentum, followed for 37 from 21 deliveries, leaving Sri Lanka 75 for three. His innings included four boundaries and a six.
Kamindu Mendis contributed 12 before Jamie Overton removed him, while former captain Dasun Shanaka managed only four.
Sri Lanka had suddenly slipped from 56 without loss to 95 for five, allowing England to dictate the middle overs.
Asalanka and Hasaranga Attempt Recovery
Captain Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga attempted to rebuild the innings with a sixth-wicket partnership.
Asalanka made 31 from 31 balls, while Hasaranga contributed 27 from 22, including a six, as the pair temporarily steadied Sri Lanka.
However, neither was able to produce the sustained late acceleration Sri Lanka needed.
Asalanka fell to Adil Rashid with the score on 139, before Sonny Baker removed Hasaranga at 141. Jofra Archer then cleaned up the lower order, dismissing Dushmantha Chameera and Tharindu Ratnayake as Sri Lanka finished on 145 for nine.
Dawson was particularly effective, finishing with 3 for 32, while Jamie Overton took 2 for 23. Archer claimed 2 for 34, Baker returned an economical 1 for 15 from four overs, and Rashid took one wicket.
England Attack from the Start
Sri Lanka needed early wickets to have any realistic chance of defending 145, but England immediately attacked the bowling.
Aneurin Donald, playing on his home ground in Cardiff, smashed 21, while Jos Buttler struck 30 as England raced to 51 before losing their first wicket.
Donald was caught by Hasaranga off Eshan Malinga before Dushmantha Chameera removed Buttler shortly afterwards.
Captain Harry Brook then continued England’s aggressive approach.
Fresh from his spectacular unbeaten century in the opening match at Southampton, Brook struck 23, including three sixes, before Wanindu Hasaranga dismissed him with England already well ahead of the required rate.
Banton Finishes Sri Lanka Off
Tom Banton then ensured there would be no Sri Lankan comeback.
The right-hander attacked the bowling relentlessly and raced past fifty, reaching 52 from 24 deliveries as England moved to 141 for four after only 11.5 overs.
At that stage England required just five more runs from 49 deliveries, effectively ending any remaining hopes Sri Lanka had of forcing a series decider.
England subsequently completed the chase comfortably to seal another dominant victory and the series.
For Sri Lanka, the defeat again exposed their difficulty in maintaining momentum through the middle overs. Having reached 56 without loss, the visitors were unable to transform their strong start into a competitive total.
The collapse from 56 without loss to 95 for five proved decisive.
England, meanwhile, once again demonstrated the depth and aggression of their T20 batting order, with Buttler, Donald, Brook and Banton all scoring quickly enough to prevent Sri Lanka from building meaningful pressure.
The teams will meet again in the third and final T20I at Old Trafford in Manchester on September 19, where Sri Lanka will be seeking to avoid a 3–0 series defeat.
Score Summary
Sri Lanka – 145/9 (20 overs)
Pathum Nissanka 37, Charith Asalanka 31, Wanindu Hasaranga 27
Liam Dawson 3/32, Jamie Overton 2/23, Jofra Archer 2/34
England – 146/4 (12.1 overs)
Tom Banton 52*, Jos Buttler 30, Harry Brook 23, Aneurin Donald 21
Result: England won and lead the three-match series 2–0.
