England complete T20 series sweep as spinners shine after batting struggle
Will Jacks claimed three for 14 and Jacob Bethell four for 11 as England recorded their lowest successful defence in T20 cricket.
England beat Sri Lanka by 12 runs in a low-scoring thriller to seal a 3-0 T20 series win in their final match before the World Cup.
Sam Curran’s 58 from 48 balls led England’s recovery from 60 for six to set Sri Lanka 129 to win in Kandy, with Dushmantha Chameera’s five for 24 giving Sri Lanka hope of a consolation win in the series.
But England’s spinners strangled Sri Lanka as Will Jacks claimed three for 14 and Jacob Bethell four for 11 as they recorded their lowest successful defence in T20 cricket.
A clean sweep in the T20 series completes a strong time in Sri Lanka for England, following the 2-1 ODI series win, and sends them into the World Cup with positive momentum.
England fly to Mumbai on Wednesday, where they will face Nepal in their tournament opener on Sunday.
Phil Salt went down with a back spasm in the warm-up, meaning Ben Duckett – who missed the first two matches with a bruised finger – was handed a late start.
The left-hander lasted just one ball, trapped by an in-swinger from Chameera for a duck as Sri Lanka successfully reviewed.
Bethell has looked out-of-touch throughout this T20 series and endured a ragged seven deliveries before swinging horribly at a slower ball from Matheesha Pathirana to be caught behind for three.
The 22-year-old, who it also emerged mid-series is being investigated for his role in the Wellington nightclub incident in October for which Harry Brook was fined, has scored a combined 21 from three matches and could find his World Cup starting spot under threat.
Sunday’s match-winner Tom Banton fell for seven, bowled by Dunith Wellalage after a wild swing, bringing captain Brook to the crease at 28 for three.
Brook, who had managed to successfully sideline his off-field turmoil on this tour, was also undone by Pathirana as he chipped to cover for four.
The slingy seamer, who modelled his action on Sri Lankan great Lasith Malinga, grew up playing at Trinity College here in Kandy.
Buttler lofted a gorgeous six to finish the seventh over but he too was on his way as Maheesh Theekshana bewildered him with a googly and he was bowled for 25, leaving England floundering at 47 for five.
Jacks made three before he was outfoxed by Chameera’s slower ball.
Curran – hat-trick taker in the first T20 – showcased his all-round value in a 47-run stand with Liam Dawson which lifted England past their lowest first-innings T20 total of 101.
Dawson (14) and Overton (2) fell to Chameera in the 18th over and Curran reached his fifty from 44 balls before also departing to the seamer in the final over.
From a bleak position, Curran’s innings lifted England to a competitive 128 for nine.
England have been expensive with the new ball but Luke Wood – in for the rested Jofra Archer – staked his claim by removing Kamil Mishara for a duck.
Jamie Overton’s first over went for 14 before Pathum Nissanka fell to Dawson for a quickfire 23, but Sri Lanka were going well at 62 for two in the ninth over.
A ripping googly from Adil Rashid bowled Pavan Rathnayake for 13 and Kusal Mendis went next ball to Jacks for 26 to change the match.
Dawson was hit for 13 in the 13th over before Jacks trapped Kamindu Mendis and Sri Lanka were five down, needing 39 from 41 balls.
Janith Liyanage was Jacks’ third victim for 17 and Sri Lanka needed 21 from the last 18 balls.
But Bethell ripped Sri Lanka’s hopes away with three wickets – Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka – in the 18th over and dismissed Theekshana to bowl the hosts out with three balls to spare.
