England vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I at Cardiff, Jun 23 2021, Sri Lanka tour of England

RESULT
1st T20I (N), Cardiff, June 23, 2021, Sri Lanka tour of England
(17.1/20 ov, T:130) 130/2

England won by 8 wickets (with 17 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
68* (55) & 2 catches
jos-buttler
Match centre 
Scores: @Thilak_Rama | Comms: Alan Gardner
Scorecard summary
Sri Lanka 129/7(20 overs)
2/17 (4)
30 (26)
2/25 (3)
England 130/2(17.1 overs)
68* (55)
1/30 (4)
36 (22)

9.45pm: Right, well, that was straightforward. George's report will be in the slot for you to take on shortly, and we'll be back to do this all again tomorrow. Short turnaround, back at the same ground, and SL will need to try and find an extra 50%. Thanks for your comments tonight, from myself, Valkerie and Thilak. Until the next time, goodbye!

9.35pm: It was a stroll along the Taff in the end for England, as Buttler's unbeaten 68 took them past a below-par total from Sri Lanka. The openers piled in during the Powerplay and there was little chance of the tourists dragging it back without taking early wickets. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga were the bright spots for SL, but it was pretty much a total eclipse for England in Wales tonight.

Here's Sri Lanka captain Kusal Perera: "Disappointed to be on the losing side, but 130 wasn't enough against this England side. Our bowling did a good job, [but] we had a collapse in the middle order. [Turn it around?] Have to discuss that, don't have much time before tomorrow. Mentally they have to prepare for these kinds of wickets, with pace and bounce. [Hasaranga] He's bowling really well these last two three months, at the same time Dasun did a good job in the batting."

England captain Eoin Morgan: "Quite a comprehensive performance from start to finish. The pressure the guys bowled with, created opportunities for us, talked about having plans and we executed them well. Bowlers made us look good today, reduced SL to an under par score. Roy and Buttler laid the platform for us to kick on, thought Jos gave a masterclass today. [Captaincy?] Sometimes you get ahead in the game, try to identify the moments that might creep up and get your best guys in position. [Livingstone] He's our allrounder today, stepped up and taking a wicket that early in a short spell. Legspin and offspin at the same time is a luxury, offers a huge amount in the field as well. Great to have Woakes back in the team, integral in 50-over, the accuracy he offers contributed to taking wickets up front."

Jos Buttler is Man of the Match: [Enjoyed that?] "Very much so, good target to chase. Bowlers did a fantastic job and nice partnership with J-Roy to get us off. Certain times, against not so big a score, you can sit on a few more balls. Benefit of seeing how the wicket played, strong shots on straight boundaries and a lot of twos as well. [Opening partnership] Jason is very intimidating to bowl at, allows you to sit in and get him on strike. [Bowlers] Set the tone with the ball, early wickets get you ahead."

17.1
1
Chameera to Buttler, 1 run

dropped! Missed by the keeper, a thick outside edge as Buttler thrashed at it, Chameera holds his hands to his head - it'll run away behind Perera for a single, and England win by eight wickets

Dushmantha Chameera to bowl (probably) the last over

end of over 1712 runs
ENG: 129/2CRR: 7.58 RRR: 0.33
Jonny Bairstow13 (12b 1x4 1x6)
Jos Buttler67 (54b 8x4 1x6)
Akila Dananjaya 4-0-40-0
Isuru Udana 4-0-30-1
16.6
6
Dananjaya to Bairstow, SIX runs

smoked into the stands at deep midwicket! England are one away... Tossed up and YJB puts a donk on it, front leg planted and slog-sweeping across the line

16.5
Dananjaya to Bairstow, no run

pushed through on the stumps, Bairstow happy to defend

16.4
1
Dananjaya to Buttler, 1 run

another leggie, outside off and Buttler steers through cover point for one more

16.3
1
Dananjaya to Bairstow, 1 run

looped up and prodded into a gap leg side

16.2
Dananjaya to Bairstow, no run

drops short, heading leg side, goes to pull this one and is hit on the thigh

16.1
4
Dananjaya to Bairstow, FOUR runs

reverse-swept, that'll run away! Legbreak from Dananjaya, Bairstow goes with the turn and picks up his first boundary with some neat placement

Four overs to go, 13 needed. Akila Dananjaya to finish his allocation

end of over 164 runs
ENG: 117/2CRR: 7.31 RRR: 3.25
Jonny Bairstow2 (7b)
Jos Buttler66 (53b 8x4 1x6)
Isuru Udana 4-0-30-1
Wanindu Hasaranga 4-0-12-0

England are taking this deeper than I perhaps thought they would. For which Wanindu Hasaranga probably gets most of the credit

15.6
1
Udana to Bairstow, 1 run

punched down to long-on

15.5
Udana to Bairstow, no run

dug in short, 78mph/126kph and he flinches underneath this one, maybe expecting another slowie

15.4
Udana to Bairstow, no run

slower bumper, Bairstow swings for it outside off and fails to connect

"Can someone show some love to Hasaranga, he's bowled quite well and deserves a mention." More than "quite", I'd say, Ahmed. But this is no sort of total to defend

15.3
1
Udana to Buttler, 1 run

pitched up, clipped off the toes through midwicket

15.2
1
Udana to Bairstow, 1 run

back of a length, 80mph/129kph and Bairstow cuts, cut off by the diving Dhananjaya but he gets his first run

15.1
1
Udana to Buttler, 1 run

flat delivery, Buttler goes back and pulls around the corner

Some top statting, as ever, from Hypocaust: "Jos Buttler now has the most 50 scores as opener in men's T20Is for England (9 in 20 innings), overtaking Alex Hales (who has 8 in 55 innings)."

end of over 151 run
ENG: 113/2CRR: 7.53 RRR: 3.40
Jonny Bairstow0 (3b)
Jos Buttler64 (51b 8x4 1x6)
Wanindu Hasaranga 4-0-12-0
Isuru Udana 3-0-26-1
14.6
Hasaranga to Bairstow, no run

floated up and YJB respectfully pats it away... just one off the over, fine figures for Hasaranga, though it looks like being for naught (as well as nought)

14.5
Hasaranga to Bairstow, no run

ooh, nearly plays on! Hasaranga drops to his knees... skidding on outside off and Bairstow could only toe-end it down past the stumps

"George: I don't think DJ Malan takes requests," chuckles Simon

14.4
1
Hasaranga to Buttler, 1 run

slightly flatter, outside off and cut away off the back foot

14.3
Hasaranga to Buttler, no run

tossed up, comes down and plays it with the pad this time

14.2
Hasaranga to Buttler, no run

gives this some air, Buttler is watchfully forward and defends. He's just going to settle for seeing Hasaranga out, it seems

14.1
Hasaranga to Buttler, no run

flighted, Buttler comes across and prods square

end of over 147 runs • 1 wicket
ENG: 112/2CRR: 8.00 RRR: 3.00
Jonny Bairstow0 (1b)
Jos Buttler63 (47b 8x4 1x6)
Isuru Udana 3-0-26-1
Wanindu Hasaranga 3-0-11-0
13.6
Udana to Bairstow, no run

round the wicket, pitched up in the channel, Bairstow pokes into the covers

Best performances - batters
Spike Graph
Wagon Zone
JC Buttler
68 runs (55)
8 fours1 six
Productive shot
on drive
14 runs
0 four1 six
Control
89%
MD Shanaka
50 runs (44)
3 fours2 sixes
Productive shot
flick
13 runs
1 four0 six
Control
64%
Best performances - bowlers
AU Rashid
O
4
M
0
R
17
W
2
ECO
4.25
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
SM Curran
O
3
M
0
R
25
W
2
ECO
8.33
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
Match details
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
TossSri Lanka, elected to bat first
Series
Season2021
Player Of The Match
Series resultEngland led the 3-match series 1-0
Match numberT20I no. 1165
Hours of play (local time)18.30 start, First Session 18.30-20.00, Interval 20.00-20.20, Second Session 20.20-21.50
Match days23 June 2021 - night (20-over match)
Umpires
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee