PALLEKELE, FEB 22: Dunith Wellalage took three wickets as Sri Lanka held England to 146-9 in their Super Eights clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Batting first, England got off to a poor start, losing wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler early to Dunith Wellalage after scoring seven off 14 deliveries.
England felt early pressure, losing their second wicket before the powerplay when Jacob Bethell was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana for three off four deliveries, leaving the team at 32-2 in 5.1 overs.
Tom Banton was the next to go, run out by skipper Dasun Shanaka for six off seven deliveries, adding to England’s struggles.
Phil Salt found form, piling on runs alongside skipper Harry Brook, helping push the total past the 50-run mark.
However, the Three Lions were four down when Brook became Wellalage’s second victim, dismissed for 14 off seven deliveries, including one four, leaving the team at 68-4 in 10 overs.
Salt continued scoring from one end while Sam Curran joined him, adding runs in partnership, with Salt reaching his eighth T20I fifty.
The stand ended when Curran was dismissed for 11 off 11 deliveries, including one six, by Dushmantha Chameera.
Wickets fell in quick succession for England, as they were six down at 106 when Wellalage removed set batter Phil Salt, who played an exceptional innings of 62 off 40 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes.
Theekshana struck again to dismiss Liam Dawson for six off 11 deliveries, leaving England at 124-7 in 17.1 overs.
Will Jacks came to the crease and began adding crucial runs, but his innings ended when Dilshan Madushanka dismissed him for 21 off 14 balls, including four boundaries. In the same over, Madushanka struck again, dismissing Jofra Archer for a first-ball duck.
England concluded their innings with Rashid unbeaten on 1 off one delivery, while Reece Overton contributed 10 runs, including one six.
Playing XIs:
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka.
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
