Image Courtesy- NDTV Sports
In the opener T-20 match of Sri Lanka tour of England, on Wednesday, A half-century from wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler and a quick 36 by his opening partner Jason Roy helped the world’s top-ranked T-20 team to beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
Chasing a small target of 130 for victory on Wednesday evening, Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 68 led the way in Cardiff as England reached its target of 130 with 17 balls left. with Jonny Bairstow unbeaten on 13.
5⃣0⃣ for @josbuttler! 👏
Scorecard/clips: https://t.co/fNJnBg7MLk#ENGvSL @IGCom pic.twitter.com/UvDcsjf83z
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 23, 2021
Opener Jason Roy departed for 36 runs off 22 balls to an outstanding catch by Danushka Gunathilaka, who dived to his left to catch the ball, off the bowling of Dushmantha Chameera in the 10th over – but England was already in complete control by that time.
Dawid Malan who came to bat at no. 3 was bowled by Isuru Udana for just seven but Bairstow, who played a massive six into the stands off Akila Dananjaya to level the scores and England won the match by eight wickets.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, Shanaka who came to bat at seven scored a half-century for the team, and the captain Kusal Perera who came to bat at no.3 scored the second-highest for the team (30 runs in 26 balls) with one six and one four. Sri Lanka batsman couldn’t survive to English bowling attack and scored a total of 129 runs for the fall of seven wickets.
The second T20 will take place at the same venue on Thursday before the final T20 game in Southampton on Saturday, followed by the three one-day internationals starting on June 29.