SL vs ENG 2nd T20I Highlights: England win by 6 wickets

England chase down the DLS-adjusted target of 168 in emphatic fashion, finishing on 173/4 to register a six-wicket victory in the rain-shortened 17-over contest and seal the series with a game to spare.

Tom Banton seals the moment in style, bringing up a brilliant fifty under pressure. Shanaka serves it up full and Banton takes it on, whipping a gorgeous drive to the right of long-on. Pure timing, no fuss.

It’s been an excellent knock at a crucial stage, guiding England to the brink of victory in this rain-shortened chase.

England are right back on top of the chase with just 19 runs needed off 18 balls in this 17-over contest, chasing a DLS-adjusted target of 168.

Tom Banton has played a superb hand, moving to 45 off 27, timing the ball sweetly and picking his moments to attack. Sam Curran has joined him with intent, scoring 6 off 4, including a boundary to ease the pressure.

Matheesha Pathirana delivers another big blow, bringing an end to Harry Brook’s explosive cameo. He shortens the length and cleverly takes the pace off, catching Brook 36 (12) in two minds as he looks to muscle it away.

Brook mistimes the shot and the ball hangs in the air, allowing Wanindu Hasaranga to settle under it and take a fine catch. A massive wicket at a crucial stage of the chase.

ENG 130/4 after 12.3 overs.

The equation tightens with 75 needed from 42 balls.

Tom Banton continues to take on the bowlers, moving to 30 off 17, while Harry Brook gets off the mark quickly with 5 off just 2 balls, ensuring there’s no lull after Jos Buttler’s dismissal.

Huge moment in the chase as Dunith Wellalage strikes, and Jos Buttler 39 (29) has to walk back. Buttler goes for the big slog, looking to clear the ropes, but ends up getting a thick leading edge that flies towards deep backward point.

Pavan Rathnayake sprints across to his left and produces a brilliant full-length dive, plucking the ball inches above the turf.

England 81/3 after 9.1 overs.

All the covers are off and the outfield looks good as preparations near completion. The match will likely be reduced to a 17-over contest, with England handed a DLS-adjusted target of 168.

The players are set to return, with play scheduled to resume at 22:40 local time. That leaves England needing 111 runs from 58 balls, setting up a high-octane finish.

The rain has eased and there is a positive buzz around the ground. The groundstaff are working overtime, mopping up water from the covers and ensuring the playing surface is ready. The umpires stride out for an inspection, suggesting a restart could be on the cards soon.

Rain has brought an abrupt halt to proceedings with England at 57/2 after 7.2 overs, still needing 133 runs off 76 balls at a required run rate of 10.5.

Jos Buttler has looked in decent touch, scoring 30 off 23 with five boundaries, while Tom Banton is at the crease on 9 off 8, having struck a six. Sri Lanka have made early inroads, keeping England on the back foot despite a steady partnership developing.

Matheesha Pathirana makes an immediate impact, removing Phil Salt at the end of the first over. He rolls his fingers over a 129 kph delivery, full and wide outside off. Salt crouches to play the late slice, but the ball dips late, takes the toe-end of the bat and loops straight to short third man. A simple catch for Kamil Mishara and Sri Lanka draw first blood in the chase.

ENG 10/1 after 1st over.

Sri Lanka finish strongly to post a competitive 189/5, maintaining an impressive run rate of 9.45.

Charith Asalanka played a calm yet effective role in the death overs, staying unbeaten on 28 off 22, finding the boundary four times to ensure Sri Lanka didn’t lose momentum after the middle-over wickets. Janith Liyanage faced just one delivery, scoring 1 off 1, as Sri Lanka pushed hard till the final ball.

Despite England pulling things back briefly through spin in the middle overs, Sri Lanka’s aggressive top-order display laid a solid foundation for a strong total.

Sri Lanka reach 139/4 after 15 overs, with the run rate dipping slightly to 9.27 following a cluster of wickets in the middle phase. England’s spinners have managed to slow things down just when Sri Lanka looked set for a big surge.

Charith Asalanka is still finding his feet at the crease, on 2 off 5, while Pavan Rathnayake has brought much-needed impetus, blasting his way to 21 off just 10 balls, including a six and two boundaries.

With five overs left and wickets in hand, Sri Lanka will be eyeing a strong finish, while England look to keep the death overs as tight as possible.

Adil Rashid finally gets his reward, trapping Dasun Shanaka 1(6) LBW with a sharp googly. It pitches outside off and turns back in aggressively. Shanaka rocks onto the back foot looking to pull, but the ball stays low and thuds into the back leg.

Shanaka opts for the review, but it’s a poor one, ball tracking shows it crashing into the inside of leg stump with three reds.

SL 131/4 after 13.4 overs.

A massive breakthrough for England as Liam Dawson removes Kusal Mendis 32 (17). Dawson keeps it on a good length on middle and leg, tempting Mendis into the sweep. The batter mistimes it, top-edges the ball and it balloons to short fine leg, where Adil Rashid makes no mistake.

England finally pull things back in the middle overs with this key strike.

SL 128/3 after 12.2 overs.

Will Jacks delivers a timely breakthrough for England, capping off a tight over with a crucial dismissal. Bowling full from around the wicket, he denies Kamil Mishara 36 (30) the length needed to get under the shot. Mishara goes for elevation but fails to clear long-on, where Jamie Overton takes a safe catch.

It’s a much-needed strike for England, especially with runs flowing from the other end.

Sri Lanka 106/2 after 11 overs.

Sri Lanka cross the 100-run mark at the halfway stage, maintaining a strong scoring rate of 10.2 after England opted to bowl first.

Kamil Mishara continues to anchor the innings smartly, moving to 34 off 26, rotating strike efficiently while picking his boundary options. Kusal Mendis, meanwhile, is in an attacking mood, smashing his way to 23 off 12, with four crisp boundaries putting pressure back on England’s bowlers.

With wickets in hand and momentum on their side, Sri Lanka are well placed to launch into the middle-overs acceleration as England look for a breakthrough to halt the flow.

Jofra Archer gets the crucial breakthrough for England. Pathum Nissanka 34 (22) looks to cut hard, but the delivery isn’t short or wide enough. He gets a thick under-edge and the ball drags back onto the stumps. A sharp end to a promising knock that had set the tempo early. Archer delivers when it matters. SL 56/1 after 5.3 overs.

Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

England have won the toss and have opted to field first.

Hello and welcome to the live coverage of Sri Lanka vs England 2nd T20I.