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Sri Lanka vs England: Jos Buttler breaks appearance record as Harry Brook and Tom Banton seal T20 series win

Tom Banton’s 54no off 33 balls and Harry Brook’s 12-ball 36 help England to revised target of 168 after rain; tourists looking to wrap up 3-0 sweep on Tuesday ahead of T20 World Cup opener against Nepal on February 8; England spinners star in Pallekele but seamers collared

England's Jos Buttler, T20 international cricket (Associated Press)
Image: England's Jos Buttler was on the winning side on his record-breaking 402nd appearance for England

Jos Buttler's record-setting 402nd England appearance came in a series-sealing victory as captain Harry Brook's cameo and Tom Banton's half-century smoked the tourists to a six-wicket win in a rain-trimmed second T20 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele.

Buttler's number of international matches, which comprises Tests, ODIs and T20Is, eclipses the 401 amassed by James Anderson.

The 35-year-old (39 off 29 balls) hit six fours as England successfully chased a revised 168 from 17 overs, having been set 190 for victory before rain stalled their knock at 57-2 after the first 7.2 overs.

Brook - two days after admitting he lied about his scuffle with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand late last year to "protect team-mates" - muscled four sixes in a 12-ball 36, while Banton (54no off 33) biffed seven boundaries, and perhaps cemented his spot in the T20 World Cup XI, as England reached their target with two balls to spare thanks to Sam Curran's (20no off 14) game-ending maximum.

Score summary - Sri Lanka vs England, second T20, Pallekele

Sri Lanka 189-5 in 20 overs (put in to bat): Pavan Rathnayake (40 off 22 balls), Kamil Mishara (36 off 30), Pathum Nissanka (34 off 22), Kusal Mendis (32 off 17); Jofra Archer (2-42), Will Jacks (1-24), Adil Rashid (1-25)

England 173-4 in 16.4 overs (target 168 in 17 overs): Tom Banton (54no off 33 balls), Jos Buttler (39 off 29), Harry Brook (36 off 12), Sam Curran (20no off 14); Matheesha Pathirana (2-47)

England's Tom Banton, T20 cricket (Associated Press)
Image: Tom Banton top-scored for England with 54no from 33 balls

Sri Lanka were hampered by a shoulder injury to Eshan Malinga in the first over after the restart, with the seamer not seen again as the away side smashed his team-mates all over the park having required 111 from 58 balls once play resumed.

England won a rain-affected opening game on Friday and the aim now will be to complete a 3-0 sweep with victory in the third and final T20 on Tuesday, also in Pallekele, before beginning their T20 World Cup campaign against Nepal in Mumbai on Sunday February 8.

England pacers pummelled but spinners star

Sri Lanka - co-hosting the T20 World Cup with India - posted 189-5 against England, looting a combined 103 runs from eight overs against the seam of Curran (0-31 from two overs), Jofra Archer (2-42 from four) and Jamie Overton (0-30 from two).

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England's Adil Rashid (R) celebrates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dhananjaya de Silva (L) during the first Twenty20 international cricket match between Sri Lanka and England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on January 30, 2026. (Photo by Ishara S. KODIKARA / AFP)
Image: Adil Rashid and his fellow England spinners pegged Sri Lanka back in Pallekele

The hosts found it much tougher against the spin of Will Jacks (1-25), Adil Rashid (1-24) and Liam Dawson (1-32), all of whom bowled their full allocation of four overs.

Pavan Rathnayake (40 off 22) - left out of the opening T20 despite a century in the final one-day international between the sides last week - top-scored, having been dropped on 12 by Banton.

Five of Sri Lanka's top six cantered past 20 and scored at well over a run-a-ball - the only exception was skipper Dasun Shanaka (1), who fell lbw looking to hack a Rashid googly across the line - but only Rathnayake made it out of the 30s.

Sri Lanka's Pavan Rathnayake, T20 international cricket (Associated Press)
Image: Sri Lanka's Pavan Rathnayake hit 40 off 22 balls, including five sixes

Kusal Mendis (32 off 17) followed openers Pathum Nissanka (34 off 22) and Kamil Mishara (36 off 30) in falling after a rapid start - Nissanka and Mishara blazing 56 for the first wicket inside the powerplay as England's pacers got pummelled.

Charith Asalanka hit 28 not out off 22 balls after being grassed by Banton at deep square in the final over, with the same batter also reprieved while on 11 in the 17th with Phil Salt unable to keep hold of what would have been a stunning diving grab in the off-side..

England get job done in revised chase

Salt sliced Matheesha Pathirana (2-47) to slip in the first over of the chase, after Buttler had smoked back-to-back boundaries, while Jacob Bethell (13 off 11) - in the news as the Brook-bouncer incident took a twist - snicked Shanaka (1-24) behind in the fifth.

England's Phil Salt, T20 cricket (Associated Press)
Image: England's Phil Salt was out for one on Sunday

Banton was at the crease with Buttler when the heavens opened, reverse-sweeping a superb six over backward point early on, and he continued to flourish once the rain relented.

The Somerset man is probably only playing due to Ben Duckett's finger injury but has now given England plenty to ponder ahead of the World Cup campaign, which you can watch live on Sky Sports.

Banton and Curran concluded the innings after Buttler was pouched at deep cover off Dunith Wellalage (1-30) and Brook scooped Pathirana into the deep following a scintillating knock.

Banton determined to 'take chance'

Player of the Match, Tom Banton (54no off 33 balls)

"Most of my career I have been opening but I have got a new role with England which is really exciting.

"I think in the middle order you have got to give yourself a chance, assess the wicket.

"I just want to play all formats and take my chance when I get it."

Brook pleased ahead of T20 World Cup

England captain Harry Brook:

"I thought we played outstandingly. We adapted to conditions with the bat exceptionally well and to get over the line and win the series is awesome. The more time we get out in the middle stands us in good stead going into the World Cup.

"The way that Banton played was awesome and we could not ask for anything more. We have got plenty of batting in there and we backed ourselves to chase that any day."

England captain Harry Brook, T20 cricket (Associated Press)
Image: England captain Harry Brook crunched four sixes and two fours in the second T20

England in Sri Lanka - results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland

England's T20 World Cup fixtures (first round)

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

  • vs Nepal (Sunday February 8) - Mumbai (9.30am)
  • vs West Indies (Wednesday February 11) - Mumbai (1.30pm)
  • vs Scotland (Saturday February 14) - Kolkata (9.30am)
  • vs Italy (Monday February 16) - Kolkata (9.30am)