By Srian Obeyesekere
England won a cliff hanger yesterday with two balls to spare with six wickets intact chasing a rain hit revised DNS 16-over 168 target but not before overcoming early 2 for 38 snd 3 for 81 setbacks before overcoming Sri Lanka’s challenging 189 for 5 off 20 overs on the pure ferocious stroke play of Skipper Harry Brook’s 4 sixer spree 36 off 12 balls and Tom Benton 54 off 33 (4×4, 3×3) making the ultimate offsetting difference between the two sides after opting to field first on the toss to pocket the 3-match T20 I series by two wins on the trot yesterday at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium.
The triumph was a standout run up by Harry Brook’s led England to this February 7th ICC Men’s 10th edition T20 Cricket World Cup in two cornered India and Sri Lanka, the co-hosts.
Sri Lanka got off to a sound 56 for 1 start in the power play within 5.3 overs with Pathum Nissanka 34 off 22 balls and Kamil Mishara 36 off 30 leading the way. The partnership was broken by pacer Jofra Archet who bowled Nissanka, but Kusal Mendis joined Mishara in taking the score past hundred into the eleventh over when the latter was dismissed caught by Jamie Overton off Will Jacks – 106/3. It brought Pavan Rathnayake to the middle, the throb of local fans as he went on to hold the Lankan innings together after Mendis had gone for a 17 ball 32 top edging Liam Dawson to Rashid with the score on 128 after 12.2 as Sri Lanka lost skipper Dasun Shanaka in quick succession for 1 in going on to add an invaluable 56 for the fifth wicket together with Charith Asalanka who was unbeaten on 28 off 22 with Janith Liyanage on 1.
England did not have the best of starts losing two early wickets for 38 after 4.3 overs as Phil Salt fell with the score 10 to Matheesha Pathirana who started the innings first over having him caught by Mishara for 01 to the last ball. Skipper Shanaka who opened the attack with Pathirana, removed Jacob Bethell for 13 caught behind by Mendis, but Tom Benton joined Joss Buttler adding 43 for the third wicket staying to the end as Buttler was third out for 39 caught by a diving Rathnayake at deep point off Dunith Wellalage having added 43 for the third wicket with him in a recovery from 81 for 3 into 9.1. Harry Brook whose whirlwind 36 off 12 sped England closer snapped up by Wanindu Hasaranga to give Pathirana his second wicket but not before unleashing a bout of fury of a boundary and three consecutive sixes off Pathirana. From there it was all Benton who found an able ally in Sam Curran’s 20 off 12 in an unfinished 38 fifth wicket bonding off off 25.
England 173 for 4 (Banton 54*, Buttler 39, Brook 36) beat Sri Lanka 189 for 5 (Rathnayake 40, Mishara 36, Nissanka 34, Mendis 32, Archer 2-42) by six wickets (DLS method)
