England completed a 3-0 sweep of their T20I series against Sri Lanka with an eight-wicket win at Old Trafford on Saturday, September 19, chasing down 125 in just 9.4 overs. Jos Buttler finished unbeaten on 62 from 32 balls as the hosts reached 126-2 with 62 balls to spare.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 124 in 18.5 overs after England’s attack shared the wickets. Sonny Baker took 2-17 from 3.5 overs, Jofra Archer 2-23 and Will Jacks 2-31, with Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton claiming a wicket apiece. Pathum Nissanka top-scored for the visitors with 36 from 24 balls and Kamindu Mendis made 35 from 28.
England were 82-1 at the end of the powerplay as Buttler and Harry Brook put on 85 in 39 deliveries. Brook was run out for 26, but Buttler carried England to the target inside 10 overs. Baker was named Player of the Series after taking six wickets across the three matches at an economy rate of 6.58.
The result extended Sri Lanka’s losing run against England in the format to 15 consecutive matches and returned England to the top of the ICC men’s T20I rankings, replacing India. Buttler had passed 15,000 career T20 runs during the second match of the series in Cardiff.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Hong Kong beat Japan by four wickets in the first T20I at Sano, South Africa Women beat Zimbabwe Women by 14 runs in the fifth T20I in Bulawayo, and Kenya beat Uganda by 39 runs in the Africa Continental Cup final in Kigali.
