England crush Sri Lanka to seal T20 series win

Second Vitality T20, Cardiff

Sri Lanka 145-9 (20 overs): Nissanka 37 (21); Dawson 3-32

England 146-4 (12.1 overs): Banton 52* (24); Rathnayake 1-25

England won by six wickets; lead series 2-0

England's impressive T20 form continued as they thrashed Sri Lanka by six wickets in Cardiff to seal the series with a match to spare.

Tom Banton's unbeaten 52 ensured England made light work of chasing a below-par 146, reaching the target in just 12.1 overs.

Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald raced to an opening stand of 51 in 4.3 overs before they both fell in the space of four balls for 30 and 21 respectively, but England's middle order followed suit in their aggression.

Captain Harry Brook needed to score 49 to break Tilak Varma's record of 336 T20 international runs without being dismissed, and he looked on course, whacking three sixes in his 23 off just eight balls, before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Eshan Malinga.

Banton then took on the charge, clubbing four sixes in his 24-ball knock as England remain unbeaten in the shortest format this summer.

Brendon McCullum's side have now won 22 of their past 25 completed T20s since the start of last summer - a win percentage of 88%, with India (73%) the next best among full-member nations.

England's fluency juxtaposed Sri Lanka's innings as the tourist batters struggled again, limping to 145-9 after being bowled out for just 135 in the opener on Tuesday.

There will be added frustration from this innings, though, as their openers started so brightly by reaching 55-0 from the first five overs.

But Liam Dawson took two wickets in the final over of the powerplay to halt their momentum and the middle order failed to recover, losing 9-90 thereafter and adding just 12 from a dire final four overs.

Dawson finished with 3-32 and Jamie Overton 2-23, while Sonny Baker impressed again with his pace and control in a miserly spell of 1-15, including a wicket maiden in the 19th over.

The series concludes at Old Trafford on Saturday and is followed by three one-day internationals.

Dawson and Banton lead England dominance

Though it is proving to be a mismatched series so far, England are building a well-balanced line-up under Brook's leadership and have barely broken sweat in notching a 2-0 lead.

Sri Lanka's explosive start, led by Pathum Nissanka, who top-scored with 37, was the only time England have been on the back foot, but it was the ever-reliable Dawson who dragged it back, having become a mainstay in Brook's T20 line-up.

The two soft dismissals highlighted Sri Lanka's woes - Lahiru Udara was caught at mid-on and Kamil Mishara chipped one straight back to the slow left-arm spinner.

What followed was a series of soft dismissals, most caught trying to find the boundary, as Overton and Baker hammered away at a good length before Archer, who had started expensively, claimed two wickets at the death to revive his own figures.

Sri Lanka managed just two sixes in their innings compared to England's 10, with it being only the seventh time their top five have all hit at least one in T20 internationals.

Newcomer Donald started the carnage, ramping Dushmantha Chameera's first ball over the ropes, before Buttler joined the party and Brook then launched three of his own into the stands.

England's intent was clear from the fact Donald's strike-rate of 161.54 was the lowest of the top five. Spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took most of the damage as he conceded 42 off just three overs, with a couple disappearing out of the ground.

Banton, one of few batters to miss out in England's 254-4 on Tuesday, made the most of his opportunity to produce a fine finish by sweeping and striking firmly down the ground.

England have set themselves up nicely to finish unbeaten in T20s this summer after thrashing India 4-0 earlier in the year.

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