England won by eight wickets, won series 3-0
England steamrollered Sri Lanka in the third T20 to complete a 3-0 series clean sweep and return to number one in the world rankings.
asserted
England → win → rankings
Watched by new Test coach Stephen Fleming, England once again outclassed the tourists to conclude a one-sided series played on the fringe of autumn.
asserted
England → watch → autumn
England's pace bowlers were outstanding in dismissing Sri Lanka for a paltry 124, then the home side chased the target in 9.4 overs.
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side → dismiss → overs
Jamie Overton conceded only 15 runs in his four overs, including taking a wicket.
asserted
Overton → concede → wicket
Sonny Baker's improvement continued with 2-17 and Jofra Archer recovered from an expensive start to return 2-23.
asserted
Archer → continue → 2
England's fielding was sharp, best demonstrated by Liam Dawson's direct hit to run out Eshan Malinga.
asserted
fielding → demonstrate → Malinga
The target was never likely to pose a challenge to an England batting line-up that remains powerful despite Phil Salt and Jacob Bethell being absent injured.
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Salt → pose → up
Though opener Aneurin Donald was out for 13, Jos Buttler and Harry Brook strolled the pursuit with a second-wicket stand of 85.
asserted
Buttler → stroll → 85
Brook was run out for 33, leaving Buttler to wrap it up with a six that left him unbeaten on 61.
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that → run → 61
The victory by eight wickets was concluded with 62 balls to spare - the most for England in a home T20 international.
asserted
victory → conclude → international
The success was England's 23rd win in 26 completed T20s since Brook took charge in the summer of 2024.
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Brook → complete → 2024
They have reclaimed their number one ranking from India.
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They → reclaim → India
The next men's T20 World Cup is not until 2028, the same year T20 cricket makes its debut in the Olympics.
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cricket → make → Olympics
England are instead building towards a 50-over World Cup in southern Africa in the autumn of 2027.
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England → build → 2027
Three one-day internationals against the Sri Lankans begin in Durham on Tuesday.
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internationals → begin → Tuesday
On this occasion the spinners took a backseat – Adil Rashid and Dawson sent down only four overs between them.
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Rashid → take → them
Baker endured difficult debuts in all three international formats, yet in this series has started to show his potential.
asserted
Baker → endure → potential
After Archer's first over went for 15, Baker had Lahiru Udara sky to wicketkeeper Buttler.
asserted
Udara → go → Buttler
He later returned to wrap up the innings, taking the final wicket when Dilshan Madushanka skied to Brook.
asserted
Madushanka → return → Brook
When he returned, he got the dangerous Kamindu Mendis to pull to deep mid-wicket for 35.
asserted
Mendis → return → 35
Archer's second wicket was curious – Wanindu Hasaranga out hit-wicket attempting a slog, his bat almost placed on top of the bails.
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bat → hit → bails
Overton was the pick, returning his most economical figures when bowling his full allocation of four in a T20 international.
asserted
Overton → return → international
Though Tom Banton dropped a catch slipping on the greasy outfield, England's fielding was otherwise exceptional.
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fielding → drop → outfield
Brook took a sharp catch at mid-wicket to remove Pathum Nissanka for 36, Rashid was alert enough to run out Charith Asalanka and Dawson's direct hit was the coup de grace.
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hit → take → Asalanka
Donald misses chance before Buttler-Brook show
At the age of 29, Donald has been given an international opportunity in this series as a replacement for Salt.
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Donald → miss → Salt
He has shown only glimpses of his excellent domestic form, returning a high score of 21.
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He → show → 21
On this occasion, he tried to wallop the spin of Tharindu Rathnayake over long-on and was stumped by a distance.
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he → try → distance
In Buttler and Brook, the captains past and present, England have two men in supreme form.
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England → have → form
Such is their quality, the second-wicket pair turned the remainder of the chase into little more than a glorified net.
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pair → turn → net
Sri Lanka were scruffy – they conceded 17 runs in wides.
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they → concede → wides
The hapless nature of the visitors' display was epitomised when Brook should have been caught off Madushanka, only for keeper Kamil Mishara and point fielder Nissanka to look at each other as the ball dropped to the ground.
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ball → epitomise → ground
There was no need for Brook to attempt a single that Hasaranga fielded in his follow-through, the bowler hitting direct with a throw at the non-striker's end.
asserted
bowler → be → end
Buttler won it in the following over, clubbing 18 from four Malinga deliveries, with two maximums hammered over the leg side.
asserted
Buttler → win → side
The Aporia
