England vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I: Tom Banton Powers DLS Chase as England Clinch Series

England secured the T20I series in the hills of Pallekele with a game to spare, beating Sri Lanka by six wickets under the DLS method in a rain-hit Eng vs SL 2nd T20I. A calm half-century from Tom Banton and a brutal counterattack from Harry Brook turned a revised chase into a controlled finish.

After choosing to field first, England conceded early momentum as Sri Lanka piled up 189 for 5 from their 20 overs. The home side attacked from the outset, with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis setting the tempo before Pavan Rathnayake’s late burst of 40 off 22 balls lifted the total. Charith Asalanka added late runs as well, but England’s spinners stopped the damage from getting out of hand. Adil Rashid (1/25) tightened the middle phase with smart variations, while Liam Dawson (1/32) kept the scoring in check through his spell. However, Jofra Archer (2/42) was somehow expensive in his spell. 

England’s reply moved briskly before the weather intervened. At 57 for 2 after 7.2 overs, rain forced a break and reshaped the equation. The DLS adjustment reset the target to 168 from 17 overs, leaving the visitors with a steep asking rate on a damp surface.

Jos Buttler struck a fluent 39 to keep the chase on track but fell soon after the restart. That brought Brook and Banton together, and the tone changed immediately. Brook tore into the bowling, blasting 36 from just 12 balls, smashing four sixes and flipping the pressure in a matter of minutes.

While wickets fell around him, Banton held the innings together. He picked gaps, punished errors, and finished unbeaten on 54 off 33 balls. With the target within reach in the final over, Sam Curran closed it out with a six to seal the win and the series.

England now carry a 2-0 lead into the final match of Eng vs SL T20I series, with Sri Lanka left winless despite posting a strong first-innings total.