Harry Brook’s England go to No.1 after completing T20 series clean sweep over Sri Lanka

By Matt Thacker

September 19, Old Trafford Cricket Ground, Manchester

England 126-2

(Buttler 62*, Brook 33, T Rathnayake 1-28, Hasaranga 0-11) England won by 8 wickets

Sri Lanka 124

(Nissanka 36, Mendis 35, Baker 2-17, Archer 2-23, Jacks 2-31)

Toss: England won the toss and decided to field

Officials: Graham Lloyd, Russell Warren, James Middlebrook, Jeff Crowe, Rob White

England ruthlessly swatted aside Sri Lanka at Old Trafford to record a second T20I whitewash of the summer after the four-nil drubbing of India back in July.

Harry Brook’s increasingly impressive side were simply too hot for the visitors to handle, the quicks hammering away relentlessly again after choosing to bowl first.

The third match in the series followed the pattern of the second, England’s unchanged side coming up against initial resistance from Pathum Nissanka, who took on Sonny Baker and Jofra Archer up front with some clean hitting.

As on Thursday, the innings then subsided, first to the spin of Will Jacks but ultimately to the batters’ inability to cope with the pace, bounce and accuracy of England’s battery of quicks, amongst whom Baker was again outstanding, finishing with 2-17.

Found his groove

Jamie Overton, who seems to have found his groove as the middle overs enforcer, was equally as impressive, with 1-15 from his four.

Over the series, Baker, after a chastening debut last year, bowled 11.5 overs and took 6-44, a hugely encouraging return for England’s promising speedster, particularly when you consider Josh Tongue sat out the last two games.

With Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell also missing from this series, England are building an excellent group of T20 specialists who will believe that they can challenge India on a regular basis to be called the world’s best.

It was perhaps telling that the one bowler who did not take a wicket was Adil Rashid, and England know that if they are to prosper against the very best, replacing their talismanic leggie over time will be key.

Winners are grinners: England celebrate their series win
PICTURES: Alamy

Milestone

During Sri Lanka’s innings Jos Buttler took his 100th T20I catch, meaning he has reached that milestone in all three formats.

When England batted, Nye Donald got off to a blistering start for the third successive match but his knock was once again cut short.

His 46 runs from 24 balls across the series is a decent enough introduction and England got what they asked for from him, a strike rate of almost 200.

His stumping brought in Brook, who disdainfully made his way to 33 from 21 before being brilliantly run out by Hasaranga in his follow through.

Brook ended the series with 170 runs from 78 balls faced with 14 fours and 10 sixes, a stunning return from a captain who is looking more at ease with each passing game.

And after appearing out of sorts before the English summer, Buttler went two better, hitting an unbeaten 61 from 32 balls to give him a series tally of 172 from 92.

He finished the match with two sixes in three balls, the second of which was hit one-handed, as good an illustration as any as to the gulf in class between the two sides.

Sonny shines: England’s Sonny Baker celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Lahiru Udara

Player of the match

England wrapped up their chase in just 9.4 overs.

A shell-shocked Sri Lanka must now lick their wounds and prepare for this week’s one-day series, when captain Kusal Mendis should return after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Baker was named player of the match and said: “My biggest commitment from my first game to this is to be myself.

“I’m a carry-on merchant, being high-energy and allowing myself to do that has been a more accurate reflection of where I’m at.”

Brook picked up the player of the series award and added: “Everybody stepped up in this series, Sonny in the powerplay, Daws, Jos… I could go on.

“We want to be a side that can manufacture a win when conditions aren’t in our favour.

“And I want to play as much cricket as possible for England which is why I don’t play franchise.”

Sri Lanka’s stand-in skipper Charith Asalanka concluded: “It’s an eye-opener for us, comparing ourselves to the best teams in the world.

“These are the best 15 players right now.

“We have to forget everything and prepare for the ODI series – the talent is there.”