Will Jacks and Jofra Archer excel with ball as England secure T20 World Cup win over Sri Lanka

Will Jacks and Jofra Archer discussed England’s batting cracks in the T20 World Cup as they continued their stranglehold on Sri Lanka at Pallekele during a brilliant bowling display.

After making it through the first group stage, England captain Harry Brook wanted his side to turn over a new leaf in the Super 8s, but they could only make 146 for nine, supported by opener Phil Salt’s 62.

Jacks was the only other English batsman to pass 20 with 21, but he claimed three for 22 with the ball, while Archer collected two top-order wickets, as Sri Lanka collapsed in the powerplay to lose by 51 runs.

Jacks, given a rare opportunity with the new ball, exploited the grip in the surface that allowed spin colleagues Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid to also flourish, taking two wickets each as Sri Lanka were all out for 95 in 16.4 overs.

For exclusive stories and all the detailed cricket news you need, subscribe to The Cricket Paper website, digital edition or newspaper from just 14p per day.

FOLLOW OUR LIVE SCORE CENTER FOR T20 WORLD CUP UPDATES

Questions remain

This was England’s twelfth consecutive T20 win over Sri Lanka after winning 3-0 at the same venue last month, and although they made a big leap towards the semi-finals, some questions remain.

Their top score was again largely disappointing as they slumped to 68 for four off 10 overs after Brook lost at the toss after eight successive wins, with Jos Buttler’s meager run continuing as he made a torturous seven off 14 balls, his third successive single-figure score.

His opening partner had failed to get out of the powerplay in this tournament, but he supported England’s innings with a mature innings before running out of strength towards the end of his knock and looking as if he was suffering from cramp.

All at sea

While Salt set the tone for a score of substance by hitting an early six, Buttler was all at sea against pace and then spin and was put out of his misery when he missed a reverse sweep off the slow left-armer Wellalage, not even bothering to review the lbw verdict.

Bethell’s hack-off mystery spinner Theekshana skewed his lead to Madushanka, while Banton took Dasun Shanaka’s delivery from middle and lost the battle after a direct hit despite a desperate dive.

Brook was a livewire, but was beaten on the inside edge by Wellalage and given a leg-before.

The England captain was earlier welcomed with a 90mph whiff by Dushmantha Chameera, whose slower 75mph ball was mistimed to Kamil Mishara in the deep.

Drastically unraveled

With Salt still there, England had hope, but he looked increasingly tired, and despite pulling Chameera over the rope, an attempt to do so at Wellalage found only the safe hands of Dushan Hemantha.

Jacks bailed England out of trouble against Italy last time out and he flickered in here without much lower-order support, seemingly leaving Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat for their chase under lights.

But after Pathum Nissanka, whose unbeaten century effectively knocked Australia out, struck Archer against Jamie Overton on the leg-side rope, Sri Lanka’s top order drastically unraveled, leaving them 34 to five after the powerplay, with Jacks leading the way as he shared the new ball duties.

Writing on the wall

Jacks had two in two when Kusal Mendis pushed limply back to the off-spinner and Pavan Rathnayake inexplicably pounced on his first ball and mowed up to Banton before Archer found Mishara’s edge, with Overton taking a lovely low catch inside the ring.

Jacks had his third when Dunith Wellalage charged at Brook, who took a fine catch over his head, and from there England never looked back.

Kamindu Mendis presented Dawson with a simple catch-and-bowl opportunity, while Hemantha knocked the bails off with his bat off Overton.

Shanaka made 30 but the writing was on the wall long before he cleared Rashid, with Banton taking the relay catch after Jacks handed him to the rope.

Rashid completed proceedings by bowling Madushanka and England can now almost book a place in the last four on Tuesday if they beat Pakistan at this venue.

READ MORE: Cricket Analysis: Do ICC tournaments lack a certain element of excitement?