3 hours ago
4
It was a thriller on a Pallekele turner, the triumph going England’s way. Jacob Bethell’s part-timers turned lethal, his three-wicket over dismantling Sri Lanka’s tail to secure a 12-run win in the third and final Twenty20 international.
The tourists defended just 128, their total mainly built by Sam Curran’s 48-ball 58. It proved enough on a worn surface as England’s raft of spinners went to work. And while Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson are the veteran frontliners, this night belonged to Bethell and Will Jacks. The left-armer finished with four for 11, the offie with three for 14 off a full allotment.
It was Bethell who completed the job as a surprise death bowler, turning the game in the 18th over before taking the final wicket in the 20th, Maheesh Theekshana’s whole-hearted slog producing a top edge to short third. England will enter the World Cup this week with a whitewash victory.
Ben Duckett was a late inclusion for Phil Salt, who sustained a back spasm in the warmup, while Luke Wood filled in for the rested Jofra Archer. Sri Lanka made three changes with Kamindu Mendis, initially missing in the squad for these T20s, included at No 5. Dhananjaya de Silva, who batted there on Friday, had been left out of their group for the World Cup, announced on Monday.
Harry Brook’s decision to bat first meant an early entry for Duckett, playing his first T20I since June. He’d been rested for series against South Africa and New Zealand, and missed the start of this one with a bruised finger, Salt and Jos Buttler re-establishing their bruising opening partnership in his absence. After all that waiting, though, the left-hander’s stay lasted one ball, Dushmantha Chameera’s nipbacker proving fatal.
It was the first of six single-figure dismissals in the England innings as the hosts ripped through. Matheesha Pathirana was a particular thrill to watch early on, his low-arm heat dismissing Bethell and Brook inside the powerplay. Brook had tucked into the fast bowler two nights previous for three sixes but was undone by a fine setup. An 88mph delivery zipped past the England captain’s nose before a 79mph cutter got stuck in the surface – Brook’s prod led to a simple grab close by.
Tom Banton was undone by Dunith Wellalage’s loop, Buttler by Theekshana’s turn. Chameera clocked that taking the pace off with his legcutter was the way to go, the key weapon as he advanced to a five-wicket haul, Jacks among those flummoxed as England fell to 60 for six.
Chameera accounted for Curran, too, but only after the all-rounder had given England a total to believe in. Entering at 34 for four, he pulled the drag-downs hard and opened up at the close; when Chameera did put some pace on the ball in the final over, Curran launched for four to the extra cover rope. He used his early arrival to advance to his second T20I half-century, his first since being recalled at the end of last summer. He deserves his place in that top six.
Wood struck in his first over before Pathum Nissanka failed to go on after another explosive start, Sri Lanka finishing their powerplay on 46 for two. The question remained on how the hosts would go against Rashid, the leg-spinner having caused so much bother on this tour, unpickable at certain points.
Rashid’s leg-break spun big but it was the googly that did for Pavan Rathnayake, the 23-year-old trapped leg-before on 13. Kusal Mendis, playing his 100th T20, top-edged a sweep off the very next delivery, bowled by Jacks, leaving Sri Lanka 62 for four in the ninth over. We had a game.
Kamindu and Janith Liyanage took 13 off Dawson’s third over to bring the required rate under six. But the economical Jacks skidded the ball on to end Kamindu’s innings, the twists continuing. Jacks would have had another lbw go his way had England reviewed a call just moments later against Wellalage.
The off-spinner had rhythm from around the wicket, though, as England squeezed from both ends, Bethell’s left-arm spin joining in on the fun. Brook wasn’t going to turn back to pace. Liyanage swept to Bethell in the deep for Jacks’ third. Rashid’s tight six left 21 required from the last three overs.
Every run turned precious, a boundary to begin Bethell’s third over feeling seismic. But Buttler sprung into action with the next delivery, leaping in front of the stumps to take a brilliant low grab. Chameera pushed forward moments later, the ball lobbing to Brook at cover. Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka’s captain and power-hitter, advanced forward but the turn was too great, Buttler pulling off the stumping. There were no more twists to come.
