Tom Banton scored an unbeaten 52 off 24 balls to guide England to a six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on 17 September 2026.
England chased Sri Lanka’s score of 145 for 9 in just 12.1 overs to secure an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match T20 International series. The victory marks England’s 14th consecutive T20 win over Sri Lanka. England needed only 73 balls to reach 146 for 4, finishing the match with 47 balls remaining.
Early Collapse Stops Sri Lanka
England captain Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bowl. Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara started aggressively against England’s opening bowlers. Nissanka hit four fours and one six, scoring 37 runs from 21 balls. Udara added 21 runs from 20 balls as the opening pair reached 55 runs without loss in five overs.
Sri Lanka reached 56 for 2 at the end of the six-over powerplay. Dawson broke the opening partnership. On the very next ball, Kamil Mishara hit a return catch straight back to Dawson for a first-ball duck. Dawson almost took a hat-trick, but Asalanka defended the third delivery.
Overton then removed Nissanka and struck again when Kamindu Mendis chopped a ball onto his own stumps for eight runs. Aneurin Donald dropped Dasun Shanaka on one run in the deep, but Donald caught Shanaka shortly afterwards off Dawson’s bowling. Shanaka’s dismissal left Sri Lanka struggling at 95 for 5.
SUGGESTED READ: Harry Brook’s Fastest T20I Century Powers England to 119-Run Win Over Sri Lanka
Dawson and Overton Lead Bowling Attack
Asalanka scored 31 runs off 31 balls. Asalanka hit 18 runs off Dawson’s final over, but Adil Rashid later dismissed the Sri Lankan captain. Wanindu Hasaranga contributed 27 runs from 22 balls beforeSonny Baker dismissed him.
Fast bowler Jofra Archer returned to England’s team in place of Josh Tongue. Archer conceded 23 runs in his first two overs but took two wickets in the final over of the innings. Sri Lanka lost four wickets for just seven runs across their last three overs. Baker took one wicket for 15 from four overs, including a wicket maiden. Overton took 2 for 23, while Dawson finished as England’s top bowler with 3 for 32 from his four overs.
ALSO READ: England Lions Beat Sri Lanka by Nine Wickets in Rain-Affected T20 Warm-Up
Banton and Brook Secure Rapid Chase
England openers Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald put on a 50-run partnership in fewer than five overs. Donald, playing his second international match on home soil in Wales, scored 21 runs. Eshan Malinga ended Donald’s innings when Donald chipped a ball to Hasaranga at mid-on.
Buttler hit 30 runs from 16 balls before missing a delivery from Dushmantha Chameera. During this innings, Buttler became the first player in cricket history to reach 15,000 runs in T20 cricket. England reached 55 runs for 2 after five overs.
Harry Brook joined Tom Banton at the crease with England at 79 for 3 inside the powerplay. Brook scored 23 runs from 11 balls, hitting three consecutive sixes off Hasaranga in one over. Brook attempted a fourth six, but Malinga caught him in the deep with a diving catch. The score brought Brook’s total to 311 runs across his last four T20 International innings.
Jordan Cox made 12 runs before Banton hit two fours and four sixes during his unbeaten 52 from 24 balls. He reached his fifth T20 International half-century in 24 balls, marking the fastest fifty of his international career. Banton sealed the win in 12.1 overs as England reached 146 for 4.
For more Sports news, updates, and match highlights, follow JeetWin Sports
