England clinch T20I series against Sri Lanka
After winning the first game, England were ahead 1-0 in the three-match series. It was Sri Lanka who won the toss and decided to bat first in Cardiff.
There you have it, @englandcricket have won by five wickets and taken the series win! 👏
— ICC (@ICC) June 24, 2021
A solid effort by the @OfficialSLC bowlers. A dream start for the young team but it wasn't quite enough to stop the English side.#ENGvSL | https://t.co/slrIAyhMgu pic.twitter.com/ukMkrvYonP
It was a perfect start for England as Danushka Gunathilaka (3) was run out by Sam Curran.
And one quickly became two following a short ball, which saw Avishka Fernando (6) sky one to Liam Livingstone.
It was now up to Kusal Perera (21) and Kusal Mendis (39) to build a strong partnership. A sigh of relief was had as they brought their partnership up to 50, but this was short-lived. Perera looked to play a reverse sweep off the bowling of Adil Rashid (2/24) but instead found Eoin Morgan.
Mark Wood then claimed back-to-back wickets of Mendis and Niroshan Dickwella to give England the edge.
Sri Lanka finished on 111/7 in their 20 overs.
That's the end of the innings and Sri Lanka have struggled to get off to a good start with England refusing to give them anything.
— ICC (@ICC) June 24, 2021
It's 111/7 with England's innings up next. Can Sri Lanka's bowlers work some magic?#ENGvSL | https://t.co/f3lqSDUJUi pic.twitter.com/tE8c7xvYd5
The visitors then came out strong with Bairstow (0) departing for a duck off Binura Fernando's second ball.
It was another quick wicket for Sri Lanka when Dawid Malan (4) was LBW off the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera (1/29) as England were left stuttering on 8/2.
Sri Lanka's bowlers continued to threaten and were rewarded with the wickets of Morgan (11) and Jason Roy (17).
Rain started to fall and play was stopped and when it resumed England needed 43 runs off 48 balls.
Liam Livingstone (29*) and Sam Billings (24) brought England within touching distance before Sam Curran (16*) clinched the match with a six.