KANDY: England posted a below-par 146 for 9 in their 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl in the Super Eights clash at Pallekele on Sunday.
Phil Salt held the innings together with a gritty 62, reaching his fifty off 36 balls, as England stumbled to 37 for 2 in the powerplay and never fully recovered, struggling to rotate strike against Sri Lanka’s disciplined spin and sharp infield work.
Jos Buttler was pinned lbw for 7 by left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, and Jacob Bethell fell cheaply for 3, caught off Dilshan Madushanka, leaving England wobbling early. Salt rebuilt with Tom Banton (6), but Banton was run out as Sri Lanka tightened the screws through the middle overs.
Captain Harry Brook, playing on his birthday, briefly counter-punched for 14 before Wellalage struck again, and Sam Curran’s attempt to lift the tempo ended with a catch on the rope for 15 as Dushmantha Chameera mixed pace and short balls smartly.
England’s lower order scrapped late runs — they struck 11 fours and four sixes overall — but regular wickets meant they could not build a decisive finish, managing only 32 runs in the final phase.
