Dawid Malan (76 of 48 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (51 of 43) share a century-long starting position when England hit 180-6 first; Sri Lanka collapses to 91 in response, with David Willey leading 3-27
England inflicted another tough defeat on Sri Lanka, winning the third T20 international at the Ageas Bowl by 89 runs to close out a 3-0 sweep series.
Dawid Malan (76 of 48 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (51 of 43) both shot fifty while sharing a century-old starting bleacher, and while England’s innings staggered a bit to the end, their 180-6 total turned out to be out. of the scope of the visitors.
Dushmantha Chameera (4-17) claimed career-best T20 figures as England lost five wickets for 19 races within four of their last five overs. But Sri Lanka never threatened in response, collapsed to 91 and a cover-up series.
Tourists managed to win the draw for the third time in a row, and this time they chose to pitch first. But there was no change in fortunes as England’s new opening society, with Jos Buttler ruled out of the series and Jason Roy resting with a tight hamstring, took to flying.
Malan hit the first six of innings, in the fourth plus, with a wonderfully timed clip of Binura Fernando on deep medium ground. Isuru Udana’s rebellious fifth, which included eight runs given to widths, then went to 17.
The 50 partnership between Malan and Bairstow emerged shortly after the conclusion of the six-over power game, while the latter moved into his own personal half-century, with 41 balls, in the 10th.
Bairstow came close to being caught in the middle of the deep wicket for the first time by Wanindu Hasaranga, who initially did brilliantly to prevent the ball from going through six, only to later drop a platform of a relayed catch to himself. The Yorkshire man then crashed four through the blankets to mark his seventh T20I fifty.
Bairstow didn’t stick around much longer, brought down by Udana in the 12th, but Malan followed him into his own half century, with just 30 deliveries, shortly after and then released his arms in the 15th, crushing Hasaranga by the third and fourth. six of his excellent entries.
But then, just as England seemed poised to post a score of over 200, they suffered a mini collapse in the next four overs, with Fernando picking up Liam Livingstone (14) caught in cover first, and Chameera claiming Sam Billings (2 ) and Eoin Morgan (1) in one more, and then Malan and Moeen Ali (7) in the next.
However, another costly Udana to finish innings undid the hard work of the previous four overs a bit, with 17 scored, bringing England to 180. And that was well out of reach for Sri Lanka.
Accused of lacking a bit of intent at times during the series’ first two T20s, the away side was guilty of overcorrecting in this game, with their batters spinning wildly and missing numerous deliveries and their reckless abandonment resulting in many layoffs. .
After punching the first ball of the innings through the covers for four, Danushka Gunathilaka (4) fell to David Willey’s second, floating to one and hitting Malan on the second slide.
Chris Woakes (1-9) picked up Kusal Perera (3) cheaply, and then Kusal Mendis was guilty of similarly getting carried away as Gunathilaka. Having crushed Willey for six straight on the ground, he built up a slight lead on his next ball from behind.
Oshada Fernando showed sparkles before falling 19 to Sam Curran (2-14), who also featured Niroshan Dickwella (7), on either side of a run by Dasun Shanaka (7).
Malan pocketed another on slips to fire Hasaranga (1) after Chris Jordan (1-13) found his lead, while Willey (3-27) came back to claim his third as Udana’s day ended with a duck. .
Morgan pitched his closers exclusively to turn to turn at 17, and it was Livingstone and Moeen who finally cleared the tail to secure an emphatic third series win for England.
Watch the first one-day international match of the three-game series between England and Sri Lanka, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Tuesday.
