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
England vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I at Cardiff, Jun 23 2021, Sri Lanka tour of England
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."
Dushmantha Chameera to bowl (probably) the last over
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
pushed through on the stumps, Bairstow happy to defend
another leggie, outside off and Buttler steers through cover point for one more
looped up and prodded into a gap leg side
drops short, heading leg side, goes to pull this one and is hit on the thigh
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
England are taking this deeper than I perhaps thought they would. For which Wanindu Hasaranga probably gets most of the credit
punched down to long-on
dug in short, 78mph/126kph and he flinches underneath this one, maybe expecting another slowie
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
pitched up, clipped off the toes through midwicket
back of a length, 80mph/129kph and Bairstow cuts, cut off by the diving Dhananjaya but he gets his first 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)."
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)
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
slightly flatter, outside off and cut away off the back foot
tossed up, comes down and plays it with the pad this time
gives this some air, Buttler is watchfully forward and defends. He's just going to settle for seeing Hasaranga out, it seems
flighted, Buttler comes across and prods square
round the wicket, pitched up in the channel, Bairstow pokes into the covers
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff | |
Toss | Sri Lanka, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2021 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | England led the 3-match series 1-0 |
Match number | T20I 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 days | 23 June 2021 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |