England secured a dominant victory in the second T20 match against Sri Lanka, played yesterday (01) at Pallakele International Cricket Stadium, to clinch the series with one match still remaining.
Sri Lanka, batting first, posted a total of 189/5 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a steady effort with the bat, they were unable to build partnerships, with key wickets falling at crucial moments.
This set England a target of 190 runs to win. However, rain interruptions during England's chase caused a delay, and the match was reduced to 17 overs per side under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. With the revised target set at 168, England had to score 168 runs within the shortened 17 overs.
Despite losing four wickets, England managed to chase down the revised target with ease, reaching 168/4 in 16.4 overs to seal the victory.
Tom Benton was the standout performer for England, scoring 54 runs off 33 balls, while captain Harry Brook contributed with a quickfire 36 off 12 balls.
This defeat marks Sri Lanka's 10th consecutive loss to England in T20 matches, a significant setback for the Sri Lankan team. England now leads the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, with the final match yet to be played.
