England Women break records for 3-0 series sweep

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The top order collectively fired to power England to 204/2, the highest T20I total posted in Sri Lanka and the visitors' second-highest ever after their 250/3 against South Africa last year. The hosts barely managed half of it, ending with 108/6.

Danielle Wyatt and Amy Jones, the openers, set the tone early, sharing a 96-run stand for the first wicket on Thursday, 28 March. Wyatt was the first to fall, soon after notching up her fifty, when she was caught off Oshadi Ranasinghe’s right-arm medium pace for 51 off 33 balls.

Jones followed her partner 16 balls later, for a 38-ball 57 – her fourth half-century in six matches across formats – again to Ranasinghe. But instead of bringing respite to Sri Lanka, the dismissals brought more runs for England, as they plundered 88 runs in their last seven overs.

Tammy Beaumont finished the series without having been dismissed even once, making 42 unbeaten runs off 25 balls. Natalie Sciver, who remained unbeaten on 49 off 24 balls, with 10 fours, also stayed not out through the series.

Ranasinghe, who was Sri Lanka’s only wicket-taker, was also the most economical bowler, giving away 28 runs in four overs.

Sri Lanka lost Umesha Thimashini in the seventh ball of the chase. No. 3 Hansima Karunaratne tried to build the innings and stayed unbeaten on 44. But she found no support as England’s bowlers relentlessly chipped away. A 36-run stand for the sixth wicket between Karunaratne and wicket-keeper Dilani Manodara ended up being the highest of the innings.

England’s bowlers were good all around. Kate Cross was the most successful among them, with 2/20 in four overs. Freya Davies continued to impress in her debut series, finishing with 1/12 in her quota, while Heather Knight picked up 1/13 in three.