It was a thriller about a Pallekele turner, where the triumph went England’s way. Jacob Bethell’s part-timers turned deadly, his three-wicket over dismantling Sri Lanka’s tail and setting up a 12-run victory in the third and final Twenty20 international.
The tourists defended just 128, their total built mainly by Sam Curran’s 48-ball 58. It proved enough on a worn surface as England’s array of spinners went to work. And although Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are the experienced frontliners, this evening belonged to Bethell and Will Jacks. The left-armer finished with four for 11, the offie with three for 14 from a full allotment.
It was Bethell who completed the job as surprise death bowler, turning the game around in the 18th over before taking the final wicket in the 20th, with Maheesh Theekshana’s genuine plodding providing a top edge to the short third. England go into this week’s World Cup with a whitewash victory.
Ben Duckett was a late inclusion for Phil Salt, who suffered a back spasm during the warm-up, while Luke Wood came on for the rested Jofra Archer. Sri Lanka made three changes with Kamindu Mendis, initially missing from the squad for these T20s, included at No. 5. Dhananjaya de Silva, who batted there on Friday, was left out of their group for the World Cup, which was announced on Monday.
Harry Brook’s decision to bat first marked an early entry for Duckett, who played his first T20I since June. He had been rested for the series against South Africa and New Zealand, missing the start of this one with a bruised finger, with Salt and Jos Buttler re-establishing their painful opening partnership in his absence. However, after all that waiting, the left-hander’s stay lasted one ball, with Dushmantha Chameera’s nipbacker proving fatal.
It was the first of six single-figure dismissals in the England innings as the home side made the breakthrough. Matheesha Pathirana was a sensation to watch early on, with his low arm heat putting away Bethell and Brook in the powerplay. Brook had pounced on the fast bowler for three sixes two nights earlier but was undone by a fine line-up. A delivery traveling at 80mph whizzed past the English captain’s nose before a cutter traveling at 75mph became stuck in the surface. Brook’s jab led to a simple close grab.
Tom Banton was undone by Dunith Wellalage’s loop, Buttler by Theekshana’s turn. Chameera realized that slowing the pace with his leg-cutter was the right call, the key weapon as he advanced to a distance of five wickets. Jacks among them were stunned when England fell to 60 for six.
Chameera was also responsible for Curran, but only after the all-rounder had given England a total to believe in. He came in at 34 for four, pulled hard on the drag-downs and opened at the end; When Chameera put some pace on the ball in the final over, Curran launched to the extra cover rope for four. He used his early arrival to power through to his second T20I half-century, his first since being recalled late last summer. He deserves his place in that top six.
Wood struck in his first over before Pathum Nissanka failed to continue after another explosive start as Sri Lanka finished their powerplay at 46 for two. The question remained as to how the hosts would tackle Rashid as the leg-spinner had caused so much trouble on this tour, which was impossible to figure out at certain points.
Rashid’s leg-break turned big but it was the googly that did it for Pavan Rathnayake, the 23-year-old caught leg-before on 13. Kusal Mendis, playing his 100th T20, top-swept the very next delivery, bowled by Jacks, to make Sri Lanka 62 for four in the ninth over. We had a game.
Kamindu and Janith Liyanage took 13 from Dawson’s third over to take the required tally below six. But the thrifty Jacks slid the ball through to end Kamindu’s innings as the twists and turns continued. Jacks would have had another lbw his way if England had reviewed a call against Wellalage moments later.
The off-spinner had rhythm from all over the wicket, but as England squeezed in from both sides, Bethell’s left-arm spin joined in the fun. Brook had no intention of returning to the pace. Liyanage raced to Bethell in the deep for Jacks’ third. Rashid’s tight six left 21 off the last three overs.
Each run became precious, a boundary to start Bethell’s third as it felt seismic. But Buttler sprang into action on the next delivery, leaping in front of the stumps to take a brilliant low hold. Chameera moved forward moments later, with the ball lobbed to Brook for cover. Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka’s captain and power hitter, moved forward but the turn was too big and Buttler pulled the stump away. There were no more twists.
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