Tom Banton Blitzes Sri Lanka! England Chase 146 in 12.1 Overs to Seal T20I Series
England have done it again. After destroying Sri Lanka in the opening T20I, Harry Brook's side produced another clinical performance in Cardiff to win the second match by six wickets.
Sri Lanka managed 145/9 after being asked to bat first, but England made the target look considerably smaller than it appeared on paper. The hosts raced to 146/4 in just 12.1 overs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Sri Lanka Start Fast — Then Lose Their Way
Sri Lanka looked dangerous early in the innings. Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara provided the visitors with an aggressive start as they reached 55 without loss inside the opening five overs.
Nissanka was particularly fluent, eventually scoring 37, while Udara contributed 21. The opening stand gave Sri Lanka an excellent platform after England chose to field.
But Liam Dawson's introduction changed the rhythm of the innings. England began finding regular breakthroughs and Sri Lanka's scoring rate slowed sharply.
Kamil Mishara fell without scoring, while Kamindu Mendis made 12. Captain Charith Asalanka added 31 and Wanindu Hasaranga made 27, but Sri Lanka could not convert their promising start into a major total.
England's Bowlers Pull Sri Lanka Back
England's bowling performance was built around pressure rather than one huge individual spell.
Sonny Baker was outstanding once again, finishing with 1/15 from four overs. His economical spell helped prevent Sri Lanka from accelerating during the closing stages.
Jofra Archer struck twice late in the innings, including the dismissal of Pavan Rathnayake, while England's other bowlers continued to chip away at the Sri Lankan batting order.
By the final stages, Sri Lanka had lost too many wickets to launch the kind of finish they needed.
| England Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sonny Baker | 4 | 15 | 1 |
| Jofra Archer | 4 | — | 2 |
| Liam Dawson | — | — | 2 |
| Adil Rashid | — | — | 1 |
Sri Lanka eventually finished on 145/9, leaving England needing 146 to win the match and seal the series.
England's Chase Goes Into Overdrive
England did not waste time trying to grind out the chase.
Aneurin Donald produced another lively contribution on his home ground in Cardiff, scoring 21 before being dismissed. Jos Buttler then added 30, giving England a strong platform during the powerplay.
Harry Brook again provided a burst of power. The England captain hit 23 before falling, following his spectacular unbeaten century in the opening T20I.
The real acceleration came from Tom Banton, who attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers and reached his fifty in just 24 balls according to the live score record.
England Finish With 47 Balls to Spare
England reached the target at 146/4 after 12.1 overs, completing the chase with 47 balls remaining.
That finish tells the story of England's dominance. Sri Lanka had managed to post a competitive-looking total, but England's batting depth made the target disappear remarkably quickly.
The victory also confirmed that England's first-match demolition was no one-off. They have now won both games of the series and cannot lose the T20I series.
Harry Brook's England Go 2-0 Up
Brook's side now hold an unassailable 2-0 series lead. England had already won the opening T20I in Southampton by 119 runs, powered by Brook's unbeaten 114.
This time, England showed a different side of their T20 game. Rather than relying on one enormous batting total, they restricted Sri Lanka and then attacked the chase from the beginning.
The series finale will now take place at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on September 19.
England vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I: Key Metrics
| Metric | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 146/4 | 145/9 |
| Overs | 12.1 | 20.0 |
| Result | England won by 6 wickets | |
| Series | England lead 2-0 | |
| Top Sri Lanka scorer | Pathum Nissanka — 37 | |
| England chase highlight | Tom Banton — 52 off 24 balls | |
Final Takeaway
England have now turned the Sri Lanka series into a statement of their white-ball depth. They won the opener by 119 runs and followed it with a six-wicket victory in Cardiff.
Sri Lanka's 145/9 was not enough once England's batting order started attacking. Banton's rapid scoring, supported by contributions from Donald, Buttler and Brook, made the chase look almost effortless.
With the series already secured at 2-0, the final T20I at Old Trafford will give England the opportunity to complete a clean sweep.