Photo: Collected
The England cricket team have whitewashed Sri Lanka in a three-match T20 series for the third time.
England beat Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the third and final T20 of the series last night. The English had won the first two matches of the series by 119 runs and 6 wickets respectively. As a result, Harry Brook’s team won the three-match series 3-0.
Earlier, England had won three-match series against the Lankans 3-0 in 2021 and in January this year.
Put in to bat first after losing the toss in Manchester, Sri Lanka were in a good position at 107 for 4 in 14 overs. They then lost their last 6 wickets for just 17 runs and were all out for 124 in 18.5 overs.
For Sri Lanka, opener Pathum Nissanka made 36 off 24 balls, Kamindu Mendis 35 off 28 balls and captain Charith Asalanka 16. England’s Sonny Baker, Jofra Archer and Will Jacks took two wickets each.
Chasing the target, England lost their first wicket with 22 on the board. Opener Aneurin Donald was out after scoring 13 off 6 balls.
The other opener Jos Buttler and captain Harry Brook eased England’s path to victory with a partnership of 85 runs off 39 balls for the second wicket. Brook stopped at 33 off 21 balls.
At the other end, Buttler ensured the team’s win by bringing up his 30th half-century in T20s off just 30 balls. This is England’s 15th consecutive win against Sri Lanka in T20s. Pakistan have also won 15 consecutive matches against Zimbabwe. As a result, this record for consecutive wins is now jointly held by England and Pakistan.
Buttler made an unbeaten 62 off 32 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. England’s Baker was player of the match, while Brook of the same team was player of the series with a total of 170 runs.
England and Sri Lanka will begin a three-match ODI series from 22 September.
