A clinical performance from all three departments saw England outclass Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup Super 12 clash in Sharjah on Monday to virtually book their semifinals berth with a fourth consecutive win.
The Three Lions were reeling at 35 for the loss of three in the sixth over, but Jos Buttler turned on the style for his maiden T20I hundred to power England to a total of 163. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 137 in reply, as England registered a comprehensive win by 26 runs to further boost their net run rate.
Adjudged man-of-the-match, Buttler slammed six sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 101 from 67 deliveries as he forged a 112-run stand for the fourth wicket with skipper Eoin Morgan – who himself got back among the runs with a 36-ball 40.
In the chase, Wanindu Hasaranga (34) and captain Dasun Shanaka (26) led a Sri Lanka recovery after an early slump but a brilliant fielding performance got rid of the two set batsmen as England knocked the wind out of their sails to become the first team to reach the semi-finals.
Hasaranga and Shanaka added 56 runs on the board after Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s dismissal left Sri Lanka reeling at 76 for the loss of five from 10.5 overs.
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Needing another 35 from 20 deliveries, Hasaranga lofted Liam Livingstone towards the long-off boundary, where Jason Roy caught the ball right on the boundary rope. As he tumbled over the other side of the fence, Roy flicked the ball over to substitute fielder Sam Billings, as the two completed a stunning dismissal to turn the tide of the match.
This was followed by another brilliant bit of fielding from Buttler, whose direct hit from behind the stumps caught Shanaka out of his crease. The remainig batters were quickly returned back to the dugout as Moeen Ali (2/15), Adil Rashid (2/19) and Chris Jordan (2/24) finished with two wickets each.
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Tymal Mills (1/19) was forced off with what seemed like a hamstring issue midway through his second over. Chris Woakes (1/25) and Liam Livingstone (1/34) were also among the wickets.
The win was Eoin Morgan’s 43rd as England captain, taking him above former Afghanistan and India skippers Asghar Afghan and MS Dhoni in the list of most T20I wins as captain.
