Cricket Feb 04, 2026

Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

Jos Buttler's record-setting 402nd England appearance came in a series-sealing victory as captain Harry Brook's cameo and Tom Banton's half-century smoked the tourists to a six-wicket win in a rain-cut second T20 in Sri Lanka.

Buttler's number of international matches, which comprises 57 Tests, 199 ODIs and 146 T20Is, eclipses the 401 amassed by James Anderson.

The 35-year-old (39 off 29 balls) hit six fours as England successfully chased a revised 168 from 17 overs, having been set 190 for victory before rain stalled their knock at 57-2 after the first 7.2 overs.

Brook - - muscled four sixes in a 12-ball 36, while Banton (54no off 33) biffed seven boundaries, and perhaps booked his spot in the T20 World Cup XI, as England reached their target with two balls to spare thanks to Sam Curran's (20no off 14) game-ending maximum.

Sri Lanka were hampered by a shoulder injury to Eshan Malinga in the first over after the restart, with the seamer not seen again as the away side smashed his team-mates all over the park having required 111 from 58 balls once play resumed.

England won a rain-affected opening game on Friday and the aim now will be to complete a 3-0 sweep with victory in the third and final T20 on Tuesday, also in Pallekele, before beginning their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday February 8.

Sri Lanka - co-hosting the T20 World Cup with India - posted 189-5 against England, looting a combined 103 runs from eight overs against the seam of Curran (0-31 from two overs), Jofra Archer (2-42 from four) and Jamie Overton (0-30 from two).

The hosts found it much tougher against the spin of Will Jacks (1-25), Adil Rashid (1-24) and Liam Dawson (1-32), all of whom bowled their full allocation of four overs.

Pavan Rathnayake (40 off 22) - left out of the opening T20 despite a century in the final one-day international between the sides last week - top-scored, having been dropped on 12 by Banton.

Five of Sri Lanka's top six cantered past 20 and scored at well over a run-a-ball - the only exception was skipper Dasun Shanaka (1), who fell lbw looking to hack a Rashid googly across the line - but only Rathnayake made it out of the 30s.

Kusal Mendis (32 off 17) followed openers Pathum Nissanka (34 off 22) and Kamil Mishara (36 off 30) in falling after a rapid start - Nissanka and Mishara blazing 56 for the first wicket inside the powerplay as England's pacers got pummelled.

Charith Asalanka hit 28 not out off 22 balls after being grassed by Banton at deep square in the final over, with the same batter also reprieved while on 11 in the 17th with Phil Salt unable to keep hold of what would have been a stunning diving grab in the off-side.

Salt sliced Matheesha Pathirana (2-47) to slip in the first over of the chase, after Buttler had smoked back-to-back boundaries, while Jacob Bethell (13 off 11) -- snicked Shanaka (1-24) behind in the fifth.

Banton was at the crease with Buttler when the heavens opened, reverse-sweeping a superb six over backward point early on, and he continued to flourish once the rain relented.

The Somerset man is probably only playing due to Ben Duckett's finger injury but has now given England plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup campaign, which you can watch live on Your Site.

Banton and Curran concluded the innings after Buttler was pouched at deep cover off Dunith Wellalage (1-30) and Brook scooped Pathirana into the deep following brief but scintillating knock.

England captain Harry Brook:

"I thought we played outstandingly. We adapted to conditions with the bat exceptionally well and to get over the line and win the series is awesome. The more time we get out in the middle stands us in good stead going into the World Cup.

"The way that Banton played was awesome and we could not ask for anything more. We have got plenty of batting in there and we backed ourselves to chase that any day."

All times UK and Ireland

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