Muscat, Nov 1
Jos Buttler’s scintillating hundred powered England to a 26-run victory over Sri Lanka in their Group I match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021, in Sharjah on Monday.
Buttler’s (101, 67b, 6x4, 6x6) frenetic knock was the cornerstone of the England innings from a stage where they looked to be headed towards a 130-140 total.
Adil Rashid (2/19), Moeen Ali (2/15) and Chris Jordan (2/24) were among the wickets for England
LANKA START POORLY
Sri Lanka got off to the worst possible start losing the wicket of Pathum Nissanka for a run out. Star batsman Charith Asalanka (21, 16b, 3x4, 1x6) played a cameo of an innings before holing out to Moeen Ali off Adil Rashid.
The Lankans were in a spot of bother at 24/2 and needed someone to do a rebuilding act.
Instead, further misery came their way when frontline batter Kusal Perera was out to Rashid caught by Eoin Morgan going for a big one in the first ball after powerplay.
Avishka Fernando perished in the ninth over after Chris Jordan had him plumb in front to leave Sri Lanka in deep trouble at 57/4.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa had given the Lankan innings some momentum with a couple of sixes and boundaries but eventually was out to Chris Woakes after being caught at long on by Jason Roy.
Then came a 53-run partnership between Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka that brightened Sri Lanka’s chances. However, Hasaranga and Shanaka lost their wickets in quick succession as the Lankans stared down the barrel.
BUTTLER SHOW
England struggled with their batting in the first 10 overs of the game. They reached 47/3 with Jos Buttler on 24 and Eoin Morgan on six with strike rates of 80 and 40 respectively.
The Sri Lankan bowlers had tied them up into a knot after picking up three early wickets. Jason Roy was the first to go after he was clean bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva for 9.
Dawid Malan was castled by Dushmantha Chameera after scoring just six runs while Jonny Bairstow was out lbw to Hasaranga for a golden duck.
It was the 11th over where England decided to break free as Buttler slammed Lahiru Kumara for a boundary and therefafter 12 runs came in the over.
Buttler was unstoppable as he carted Chamika Karunaratne for a six and a four in the 13th over as England started to get a move on. The England wicket-keeper batsman reached his half-century and stepped on the pedal as he blasted Kumara for three sixes in the 15th over.
Buttler’s strike had gone up to 125 and England were on course to get 140 and maybe 150 as well as Morgan started showing aggressive intent too.
Buttler was absolutely taking the England bowlers apart as he smashed Dasun Shanaka for three boundaries and eventually brought up the first hundred of the World Cup.
England set Sri Lanka a target of 164 for victory.
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