PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Tom Banton scored 54 not out off 33 balls as England won the second T20 against Sri Lanka by six wickets, using the DLS method, with two balls to spare on Sunday. This victory secured the series for England.
England now leads 2-0 in the three-match series ahead of the T20 World Cup starting on Saturday.
Banton hit three sixes and four fours, leading England to a successful chase of the revised target of 168 runs in 17 overs, finishing at 173-4 in 16.4 overs. Jos Buttler contributed 39 runs off 29 balls, including six fours.
Sri Lanka, having lost the toss, set a target of 189-5 in their 20 overs, with Pavan Rathnayake the top scorer, making 40 runs off 22 balls.
A brief rain delay led to the match being reduced to 17 overs per side.
Sri Lanka had lost the first match by 11 runs on Friday, also affected by rain, and the final T20 will be held at the same venue on Tuesday.
Sri Lanka’s Strong Start
Pathum Nissanka scored 34 off 22 balls with two sixes, forming a 56-run partnership with Kamil Mishara (36) for the first wicket.
Jofra Archer (2-42) made the breakthrough in the sixth over by bowling Nissanka. Kusal Mendis added another 50 runs off 33 balls alongside Mishara.
Mendis scored 32 off 17 balls, hitting four fours and a six, before Sri Lanka quickly lost three wickets.
Will Jacks dismissed Mishara in the 11th over, and shortly after, Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid took out Mendis and Dasun Shanaka, respectively.
Rathnayake then steadied the innings, scoring 26 runs off 22 balls, and partnered with Charith Asalanka, who finished not out on 28 off 22 balls, to recover from 131-4 with a stand of 56 runs off 36 balls.
England’s Pursuit
England faced a challenging target, having scored only 57-2 in 7.2 overs before rain disrupted the game.
Opener Phil Salt scored just 1, caught off Matheesha Pathirana (2-47), while Jacob Bethell managed 13.
After a 75-minute rain delay, the match resumed with an adjusted target for England.
Buttler supported Banton, who reached his half-century off 29 balls.
The two added 43 runs off 28 balls before Buttler was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage in the 10th over.
Banton then partnered with skipper Harry Brook (36) for 49 runs off just 20 balls, and later 43 runs off 25 balls with Sam Curran (20 not out off 14 balls) to secure the win.
Brook hit four sixes off 12 balls, bringing the target closer before being caught off Pathirana.