England confirmed a series win over Sri Lanka with victory in the second T20 international on Thursday evening.
With a game still left to play, England secured the series, winning by five wickets in Cardiff.
After a superb bowling performance they had reduced the visitors to 111-7 at the end of their innings.
However an early collapse left Eoin Morgan’s side on the ropes with a relatively small chase, but thanks to Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone, England recovered to seal the victory.
Sam Curran claimed the first wicket in Sri Lanka’s innings as he dismissed Danushka Gunathilaka with a Euro 2020 inspired run out, side footing the ball onto the stumps.
Curran then claimed another victim in the form of Avishka Fernando, as the batter was caught by Livingstone.
Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera provided brief resistance as they put on 50 for the third wicket, but at no decent pace, taking the pair nine overs.
Sri Lanka, becoming only the 16th team in history not to hit a boundary in the six-over powerplay.
Perera then fell to Bradford born spinner Adil Rashid for 21 (25), before top scorer Mendis followed for 39 (39). Mark Wood claiming his wicket.
Next ball Wood struck again, as he dismissed Dickwella for 3 and was unlucky not to claim a hat trick, as his third ball narrowly missed Shanaka’s outside edge and off stump.
Hasaranga was then stumped by Jonny Bairstow off Adil Rashid’s bowling 3 overs later, with Shanaka soon following, as Chris Jordan picked up a deserved wicket.
Bowler Isuru Udana provided a brief attack at the end with 19 from 14 balls, but his side limped to 111 runs after the 20 overs.
Defending a measly total, Sri Lanka got off to a dream start with the ball.
Opener Jonny Bairstow, who has been in great form for Yorkshire, was bowled by Bruno Fernando for a three ball duck.
World number one batsman Dawid Malan fell an over later for 4 runs, trapped LBW by Dushmantha Chameera.
Opener Jason Roy and captain Eoin Morgan soon joined their teammates back in the pavillion as England found themselves 36-4 from 6.3 overs.
Staring at an unlikely defeat, England needed a partnership and found one in the place of Sam Billings and number 6 Liam Livingstone, who opens the batting for Lancashire.
The two played steadily to get their side up to 90, before Billings was bowled by spinner Wanindu Hasaranga.
With the help of potential footy star Sam Curran (16 from 8), Livingstone managed to steer England to victory, chasing down the reduced DLS total of 106, after two overs were lost to rain delay.
Curran hitting a 6 on what would be the final ball as the scores were tied.
The final game in the three-match series takes place at the Ageas Bowl on Saturday.
Feature image: Kent batter Sam Billings – M.o.B 68
