(ESPNCRICINFO) – Harry Brook led from the front with his second and fastest T20I century as England sent Sri Lanka swirling down the Utilita Bowl with victory by 119 runs in the first T20I.
The limited-overs skipper’s 42-ball effort – quicker than every Englishman bar Phil Salt’s 39-baller almost a year ago to the day against South Africa – took England to 254 for 4, compelling former Test captain Ben Stokes to wax lyrical on social media.
Stokes’ post sounded as confused as Sri Lanka’s bowling plans. But the underlying sentiment was that Brook’s unbeaten 114 showed he possesses more genius than Kevin Pietersen.
It is a sketchy claim. But perhaps tonight, England’s new mentor will happily cede to the 27-year-old after his third white-ball century of the year, and second in T20Is after his maiden effort against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup. In reply, Sri Lanka mustered just 21 more than Brook’s new career-best between them, bowled out for 135 with an over to spare.
England’s first innings fell three runs short of the total they made in their last T20I against India, on this very ground. The similarities between this evening and that July afternoon included the opposition skipper – on this occasion, Charith Asalanka – inserting England after winning the toss.
Shreyas Iyer had made that mistake two months earlier, and likewise, he was also made to pay by Brook and Jos Buttler, who this time had to settle for 80 from 44 deliveries, rather than consecutive hundreds.
Captain and former captain combined in a stand of 128 from 60 deliveries, the first part of which included England’s second-highest powerplay of 90 for 1. That was kicked off by a breezy 12 from 5 for debutant Aneurin Donald, who became the first Glamorgan product to feature for England since Simon Jones in 2005.
Things were getting away from Sri Lanka as early as the fifth over when Dunith Wellalage was taken for 30 by Brook. And when Buttler was dropped on 45 three overs later, by Eshan Malinga – over-running a sliced heave down the ground at long off – it was clear, not even a quarter of the way through, that this match was only going one way.
England’s superior power and fitness was never going to be matched. More impressive than their total of 19 fours and 12 sixes were the number of twos. Brook did most of the running; nine of his own along with 12 for his three partners.
Sri Lanka’s chase began with a maiden, bowled by Sonny Baker, who went on to take 3 for 12. After struggling on debut across all three formats – including a Test bow earlier this summer against New Zealand – the 23-year-old polished his overall numbers with his first limited-overs dismissals at his home ground.
The Hampshire quick got off the mark with a 90mph rasper that beat opener Kamil Mishara, before adding Lahiru Udara four deliveries later when the right-hander’s attempted scoop found Adil Rashid at short backward square. A return from the Pavilion End then saw a 92mph delivery nip away and knock back Theekshana’s off stump.
All six of England’s bowlers registered in the wicket column, feasting on a line-up that – barring Wellalage’s 33 from 21 at No.8 – were all utterly woeful.
