Player of the Match
Player of the Match

9.45pm: Right, well, that was straightforward. George's report will be in the slot for you to take on shortly, and we'll be back to do this all again tomorrow. Short turnaround, back at the same ground, and SL will need to try and find an extra 50%. Thanks for your comments tonight, from myself, Valkerie and Thilak. Until the next time, goodbye!

9.35pm: It was a stroll along the Taff in the end for England, as Buttler's unbeaten 68 took them past a below-par total from Sri Lanka. The openers piled in during the Powerplay and there was little chance of the tourists dragging it back without taking early wickets. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga were the bright spots for SL, but it was pretty much a total eclipse for England in Wales tonight.

Here's Sri Lanka captain Kusal Perera: "Disappointed to be on the losing side, but 130 wasn't enough against this England side. Our bowling did a good job, [but] we had a collapse in the middle order. [Turn it around?] Have to discuss that, don't have much time before tomorrow. Mentally they have to prepare for these kinds of wickets, with pace and bounce. [Hasaranga] He's bowling really well these last two three months, at the same time Dasun did a good job in the batting."

England captain Eoin Morgan: "Quite a comprehensive performance from start to finish. The pressure the guys bowled with, created opportunities for us, talked about having plans and we executed them well. Bowlers made us look good today, reduced SL to an under par score. Roy and Buttler laid the platform for us to kick on, thought Jos gave a masterclass today. [Captaincy?] Sometimes you get ahead in the game, try to identify the moments that might creep up and get your best guys in position. [Livingstone] He's our allrounder today, stepped up and taking a wicket that early in a short spell. Legspin and offspin at the same time is a luxury, offers a huge amount in the field as well. Great to have Woakes back in the team, integral in 50-over, the accuracy he offers contributed to taking wickets up front."

Jos Buttler is Man of the Match: [Enjoyed that?] "Very much so, good target to chase. Bowlers did a fantastic job and nice partnership with J-Roy to get us off. Certain times, against not so big a score, you can sit on a few more balls. Benefit of seeing how the wicket played, strong shots on straight boundaries and a lot of twos as well. [Opening partnership] Jason is very intimidating to bowl at, allows you to sit in and get him on strike. [Bowlers] Set the tone with the ball, early wickets get you ahead."

17.1
1
Chameera to Buttler, 1 run, dropped! Missed by the keeper, a thick outside edge as Buttler thrashed at it, Chameera holds his hands to his head - it'll run away behind Perera for a single, and England win by eight wickets

Dushmantha Chameera to bowl (probably) the last over

END OF OVER:
17 | 12 Runs | ENG: 129/2 (1 run required from 18 balls, RR: 7.58, RRR: 0.33)

  • Jonny Bairstow13 (12b)
  • Jos Buttler67 (54b)
  • Akila Dananjaya4-0-40-0
  • Isuru Udana4-0-30-1
16.6
6
Dananjaya to Bairstow, SIX, smoked into the stands at deep midwicket! England are one away... Tossed up and YJB puts a donk on it, front leg planted and slog-sweeping across the line
16.5
0
Dananjaya to Bairstow, no run, pushed through on the stumps, Bairstow happy to defend
16.4
1
Dananjaya to Buttler, 1 run, another leggie, outside off and Buttler steers through cover point for one more
16.3
1
Dananjaya to Bairstow, 1 run, looped up and prodded into a gap leg side
16.2
0
Dananjaya to Bairstow, no run, drops short, heading leg side, goes to pull this one and is hit on the thigh
16.1
4
Dananjaya to Bairstow, FOUR, reverse-swept, that'll run away! Legbreak from Dananjaya, Bairstow goes with the turn and picks up his first boundary with some neat placement

Four overs to go, 13 needed. Akila Dananjaya to finish his allocation

END OF OVER:
16 | 4 Runs | ENG: 117/2 (13 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.31, RRR: 3.25)

  • Jonny Bairstow2 (7b)
  • Jos Buttler66 (53b)
  • Isuru Udana4-0-30-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-12-0

England are taking this deeper than I perhaps thought they would. For which Wanindu Hasaranga probably gets most of the credit

15.6
1
Udana to Bairstow, 1 run, punched down to long-on

Sri Lanka in England 2021 News

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st80JJ RoyJC Buttler
2nd32DJ MalanJC Buttler
3rd18JM BairstowJC Buttler