SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — England captain Harry Brook smashed 10 fours and six sixes in an unbeaten 114 off just 49 balls to set up a dominant 119-run win over Sri Lanka on Tuesday in the first of their three T20 internationals.
England piled up 254-4 after being put into bat in Southampton, and that was mainly down to Brook, who has now scored 288 runs without getting out in the T20 format after unbeaten innings of 79 and 95 against India in July. He was named the Player of the Match for his match-winning innings in the series opener.
Opener Jos Buttler also weighed in with 80 off 44 balls for England. He struck 8 boundaries and 3 maximums in his impressive knock. Buttler and Brook stitched a 128-run partnership for the second wicket. Will Jacks added finishing touches with a 12-ball 21, including 2 sixes.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka, taking 1 wicket for 34 runs from his 4 overs. Although Dushmantha Chameera, Dunith Wellalage and Eshan Malinga picked up one scalp each, they were expensive.
The Sri Lankans attempted the second-highest chase in the history of T20 internationals and didn’t get close. They were dismissed for 135 in 19 overs, with Dunith Wellalage top-scoring with 33 and Sonny Baker having figures of 3-12 off his four overs.
Dasun Shanaka managed 24 off 14 balls, with the help of 2 sixes and 1 four.
Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson got rid of two batters each, while Josh Tongue, Jacks, and Adil Rashid took 1 wicket each.
There will be three ODIs between the teams after the T20 series, which continues on Thursday with the second match in Cardiff.
Brief Scores: England 254 for 4 (Brook 114*, Buttler 80) beat Sri Lanka 135 (Wellalage 33, Baker 3-12) by 119 runs