With a 26-run victory over Sri Lanka on Monday, England effectively booked their place in the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals thanks to Jos Buttler’s first century of the tournament.
Buttler’s unbeaten 101, his first century in 86 T20 internationals, helped England reach 163 for four after being asked to bat first in Sharjah.
England bowlers led by Adil Rashid then bowled out Sri Lanka for 137 in 19 overs to remain unbeaten in the Super 12 stage and top the group.
Only South Africa and Australia can match their eight points, but England already has the advantage of a significantly higher run rate.
Also Read; PM Imran Disappointed at Spat Between Shoaib Akhtar and Nauman Niaz on Live Television
Buttler smashed six fours and six sixes in his 67-ball knock, putting on 112 with skipper Eoin Morgan, who made 40, to lift England from a 35-3 deficit.
The England opener, who hit an unbeaten 71 in the win over Australia, surpassed his previous T20 best of 83 to take the tournament batting lead with 214 runs.
“I’m really pleased to keep a level head and work through it, back myself to come good at the end and start to target specific bowlers and ends,” Buttler told Sky Sports.
“I felt like I put a lot of my experience to good use,” I remember saying a while ago that if I can combine both aspects of my game, I believe I’ll be in a good position with my T20 batti
Sri Lanka had England on the back foot, but Buttler held firm and took the attack to the opposition, reaching his century on the final ball of the innings with another hit over the fence.
Sri Lanka suffered their third defeat in four matches.
Wanindu Hasaranga took two early wickets, including Jason Roy for nine and Jonny Bairstow, who was caught lbw for naught off the first ball.
Buttler and Morgan, the right-left batting pair, stood firm to grind down the Sri Lankan attack with some sensible batting.
Buttler got to fifty in 45 balls and then switched gears with powerful hits that unsettled the Sri Lankan bowling.
Morgan led the charge with a 36-ball knock that included one four and three sixes before being bowled by Hasaranga, who finished with figures of 3-21.
Fellow spinner Mahesh Theekshana conceded only 13 runs in four overs, but the pace bowlers were hammered, with skipper Dasun Shanaka taking 24 runs in two overs.
Pathum Nissanka was run out for one in the first over, and Sri Lanka lost early wickets in their chase.
Buttler got to fifty in 45 balls and then switched gears with powerful hits that unsettled the Sri Lankan bowling.
Morgan led the charge with a 36-ball knock that included one four and three sixes before being bowled by Hasaranga, who finished with figures of 3-21.
Fellow spinner Mahesh Theekshana conceded only 13 runs in four overs, but the pace bowlers were hammered, with skipper Dasun Shanaka taking 24 runs in two overs.
Pathum Nissanka was run out for one in the first over, and Sri Lanka lost early wickets in their chase.
Leave a Reply