Cricket Mar 26, 2026

Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

Jos Buttler's record-setting 402nd England appearance came in a series-sealing victory as captain Harry Brook's cameo and Tom Banton's half-century smoked the tourists to a six-wicket win in a rain-cut second T20 in Sri Lanka.

Buttler's number of international matches, which comprises 57 Tests, 199 ODIs and 146 T20Is, eclipses the 401 amassed by James Anderson.

The 35-year-old (39 off 29 balls) hit six fours as England successfully chased a revised 168 from 17 overs, having been set 190 for victory before rain stalled their knock at 57-2 after the first 7.2 overs.

Brook - - muscled four sixes in a 12-ball 36, while Banton (54no off 33) biffed seven boundaries, and perhaps booked his spot in the T20 World Cup XI, as England reached their target with two balls to spare thanks to Sam Curran's (20no off 14) game-ending maximum.

Sri Lanka were hampered by a shoulder injury to Eshan Malinga in the first over after the restart, with the seamer not seen again as the away side smashed his team-mates all over the park having required 111 from 58 balls once play resumed.

England won a rain-affected opening game on Friday and the aim now will be to complete a 3-0 sweep with victory in the third and final T20 on Tuesday, also in Pallekele, before beginning their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday February 8.

Sri Lanka - co-hosting the T20 World Cup with India - posted 189-5 against England, looting a combined 103 runs from eight overs against the seam of Curran (0-31 from two overs), Jofra Archer (2-42 from four) and Jamie Overton (0-30 from two).

The hosts found it much tougher against the spin of Will Jacks (1-25), Adil Rashid (1-24) and Liam Dawson (1-32), all of whom bowled their full allocation of four overs.

Pavan Rathnayake (40 off 22) - left out of the opening T20 despite a century in the final one-day international between the sides last week - top-scored, having been dropped on 12 by Banton.

Five of Sri Lanka's top six cantered past 20 and scored at well over a run-a-ball - the only exception was skipper Dasun Shanaka (1), who fell lbw looking to hack a Rashid googly across the line - but only Rathnayake made it out of the 30s.

Kusal Mendis (32 off 17) followed openers Pathum Nissanka (34 off 22) and Kamil Mishara (36 off 30) in falling after a rapid start - Nissanka and Mishara blazing 56 for the first wicket inside the powerplay as England's pacers got pummelled.

Charith Asalanka hit 28 not out off 22 balls after being grassed by Banton at deep square in the final over, with the same batter also reprieved while on 11 in the 17th with Phil Salt unable to keep hold of what would have been a stunning diving grab in the off-side.

Salt sliced Matheesha Pathirana (2-47) to slip in the first over of the chase, after Buttler had smoked back-to-back boundaries, while Jacob Bethell (13 off 11) -- snicked Shanaka (1-24) behind in the fifth.

Banton was at the crease with Buttler when the heavens opened, reverse-sweeping a superb six over backward point early on, and he continued to flourish once the rain relented.

The Somerset man is probably only playing due to Ben Duckett's finger injury but has now given England plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup campaign, which you can watch live on Your Site.

Banton and Curran concluded the innings after Buttler was pouched at deep cover off Dunith Wellalage (1-30) and Brook scooped Pathirana into the deep following brief but scintillating knock.

England captain Harry Brook:

"I thought we played outstandingly. We adapted to conditions with the bat exceptionally well and to get over the line and win the series is awesome. The more time we get out in the middle stands us in good stead going into the World Cup.

"The way that Banton played was awesome and we could not ask for anything more. We have got plenty of batting in there and we backed ourselves to chase that any day."

All times UK and Ireland

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Your Site

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

Stuart Broad: Current England squad under Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum 'do not have drinking culture'

Stuart Broad: Current England squad under Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum 'do not have drinking culture'

Former England bowler Stuart Broad says he believes England "do not have a drinking culture," despite a number of high-profile incidents during the si...

The Ashes: Brendon McCullum will not 'completely rip up script' if he is kept as England coach after defeat in Australia

The Ashes: Brendon McCullum will not 'completely rip up script' if he is kept as England coach after defeat in Australia

Under-pressure England head coach Brendon McCullum says he is willing to evolve his methods - but will not "rip up the script completely" if he is all...

The Ashes: Ben Stokes promises to be 'ruthless' in response to England's 4-1 series drubbing in Australia

The Ashes: Ben Stokes promises to be 'ruthless' in response to England's 4-1 series drubbing in Australia

Ben Stokes said he's not afraid to show his "ruthless" side as he looks to lead England's recovery from their 4-1 Ashes drubbing to Australia, adding...

The Ashes: Questions for England after Australia defeat - should Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes stay on and who comes into Test team?

The Ashes: Questions for England after Australia defeat - should Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes stay on and who comes into Test team?

With England left to lick their wounds after yet another Ashes drubbing in Australia, we look at the most pressing questions facing the team as they a...

The Ashes: England cricket player ratings for series after 4-1 defeat to Australia extends wait to regain the urn

The Ashes: England cricket player ratings for series after 4-1 defeat to Australia extends wait to regain the urn

Here is how we rated England's players out of 10 after the 4-1 Ashes series defeat in Australia...Nine wickets across six innings at 27.11; best of 5-...

Michael Atherton: Ashes defeat will 'haunt England for years' - 'they did not give themselves chance to succeed'

Michael Atherton: Ashes defeat will 'haunt England for years' - 'they did not give themselves chance to succeed'

Michael Atherton fears England will be "haunted" by their latest Ashes failure for years to come.England lost the series in just 11 days of cricket af...