England thrash Sri Lanka to get Super 8s campaign off to flying start
England launched their T20 World Cup Super 8s campaign with an emphatic 51-run triumph over Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts crumbled spectacularly while pursuing a modest target of 147, dismissed for just 95 in 16.4 overs.
Part-time off-spinner Will Jacks proved the chief destroyer, claiming three wickets for 22 runs.
His devastating spell included consecutive dismissals in the fourth over, catching and bowling Kusal Mendis before having Pavan Rathnayake caught at cover by Tom Banton.
England’s bowlers were in terrific form as they ripped Sri Lanka apart
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Sri Lanka’s chase fell apart during the powerplay, where they slumped to 34 for five.
The defeat extended their woeful record against England to twelve successive T20 international losses, three of which occurred at this very ground during a bilateral series earlier this month.
Phil Salt stood alone as England’s batting saviour, compiling a vital 62 from 40 deliveries in sweltering conditions.
The opener reached his eighth T20 international half-century from 36 balls, striking six boundaries and two maximums before holing out in the deep off Dunith Wellalage.
His innings proved crucial on a sluggish surface that offered considerable assistance to the Sri Lankan spinners.
Jos Buttler’s torrid run of form continued in deeply concerning fashion.
Sri Lanka’s collapse gave way to a good win for England
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The veteran was trapped lbw attempting a reverse sweep against Wellalage, departing for a laboured seven from 14 balls.
This marked his third consecutive single-figure score at the tournament, following knocks of three against both Scotland and Italy.
Buttler has now gone without an international fifty since September.
Sri Lanka’s innings unravelled with alarming speed once Jofra Archer removed the dangerous Pathum Nissanka for nine in the opening over.
Nissanka had been in magnificent touch, having struck a 52-ball century against Australia at the same venue on Monday before adding a fifty versus Zimbabwe in Colombo on Thursday.
His departure triggered a catastrophic collapse that saw the hosts lose five wickets inside the powerplay.
Kamil Mishara contributed just six before falling to Archer, while Wellalage managed only ten before Jacks claimed his scalp.
The match produced one moment of genuine fielding brilliance when Dasun Shanaka, who top-scored with a battling 30 from 24 balls, was dismissed via a spectacular relay catch on the boundary.
Harry Brook was in dire need of a big win for England
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Jacks and Banton combined superbly to complete the dismissal.
England’s victory propelled them to the summit of Group 2, aided by the washout between Pakistan and New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday.
Harry Brook’s side now face Pakistan in Pallekele on Tuesday before travelling to Colombo for their encounter with New Zealand on Friday.
The triumph represented England’s first victory over a Test-playing nation at this tournament, having lost to West Indies in the group stage whilst securing narrow wins against Associate sides Nepal, Scotland and Italy.
Will Jacks was named Player of the Match
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Jacks, named Player of the Match, reflected on his match-winning contribution: “I love responsibility with the ball. It encourages me to get into the game and perform better.”
He added: “We know if we play with freedom and unity that more often than not we’ll be in the right position.”
