Jos Buttler Blitzes Sri Lanka! England Seal 3-0 T20I Sweep With 8-Wicket Rout
England completed a clean sweep over Sri Lanka with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the third T20I at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.
After restricting Sri Lanka to 124 all out in 18.5 overs, England raced to 126/2 in only 9.4 overs to win with 62 balls remaining and finish the three-match series 3-0.
Sri Lanka
18.5 overs
England
9.4 overs
Sri Lanka Collapse After Promising Start
England won the toss and elected to field, and Sri Lanka initially made a brisk start. Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara put together 22 runs before Sonny Baker removed Udara in the third over.
Nissanka remained Sri Lanka's leading scorer with 36 from 24 balls, including two fours and three sixes. Kamindu Mendis added 35 from 28 balls, with three fours and two sixes, but Sri Lanka struggled to build sustained partnerships after the opening phase.
England's Bowlers Keep Sri Lanka Under Pressure
England's attack maintained pressure throughout the innings. Sonny Baker and Will Jacks took two wickets apiece, while Jofra Archer also claimed two wickets.
Jamie Overton was particularly economical, finishing with 1/15 from four overs. Liam Dawson took one wicket, while Adil Rashid went wicketless but completed his two-over spell for 21 runs.
| England Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonny Baker | 3.5 | 17 | 2 | 4.43 |
| Jofra Archer | 3 | 23 | 2 | 7.66 |
| Will Jacks | 4 | 31 | 2 | 7.75 |
| Liam Dawson | 2 | 17 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Jamie Overton | 4 | 15 | 1 | 3.75 |
| Adil Rashid | 2 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 |
Jos Buttler Turns the Chase Into a Rout
England's response was devastatingly quick. Aneurin Donald made 13 from six balls before falling at 22/1, but Jos Buttler immediately took control of the chase.
Buttler smashed an unbeaten 62 from 32 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 193.75. His innings ensured England never allowed the required rate to become an issue.
Buttler reached his half-century in just 30 balls according to the live match report, before finishing the contest in style with a one-handed six.
Harry Brook Adds Another Quickfire Contribution
Harry Brook continued his productive series with another brisk contribution at No. 3. The England captain scored 33 from 21 balls, hitting three fours and a six.
Brook's innings ended at 107/2 when he was run out by Wanindu Hasaranga, but by then England required only 18 runs to complete the victory.
Tom Banton joined Buttler for the final moments of the chase and England reached 126/2 after only 9.4 overs.
England Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jos Buttler* | 62 | 32 | 7 | 2 |
| Aneurin Donald | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Harry Brook | 33 | 21 | 3 | 1 |
| Tom Banton* | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
England total: 126/2 in 9.4 overs.
Sri Lanka Batting Scorecard
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | 36 | 24 | 2 | 3 |
| Lahiru Udara | 10 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Kamil Mishara | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Charith Asalanka | 16 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Kamindu Mendis | 35 | 28 | 3 | 2 |
| Dasun Shanaka | 12 | 13 | 0 | 1 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Tharindu Rathnayake | 3 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Eshan Malinga | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Nuwan Thushara* | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
England Complete a 3-0 Clean Sweep
The victory completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep for England. They had already won the opening match in Southampton by 119 runs before chasing down 146 in Cardiff to win the second T20I by six wickets.
The third match was even more decisive. England bowled Sri Lanka out for 124 before needing fewer than 10 overs to finish the chase.
What Stood Out From the 3rd T20I?
1. Buttler's explosive chase: The England opener's unbeaten 62 from 32 balls turned the chase into a one-sided contest.
2. England's bowling depth: Baker, Archer and Jacks all claimed two wickets, while Overton's economical four-over spell helped keep Sri Lanka under control.
3. Sri Lanka's middle-order resistance: Nissanka and Mendis both passed 35, but Sri Lanka could not turn those contributions into a competitive total.
4. Another clinical chase: England needed only 9.4 overs to score 126 and completed the victory with 62 balls still unused.