Forced to admit he’d not been alone on a night of Halloween shame, Harry Brook made his first outing since all about him to help England to another series win over Sri Lanka.
Between going from 1-0 up into a 2-0 lead, the 26-year-old released a statement, confirming he had lied to protect others.
But he showed his touch of genius by accepting a different kind of responsibility, smashing 36 off 12 deliveries, including four sixes, to alter the momentum of a rain-hit contest in Pallekele.
England were forced to chase 168 from 17 overs after their initial target was reduced by 22 runs following an hour-long stoppage and surged from a position of 57 for two after 7.2 overs despite losing Jos Buttler soon after the resumption on the occasion of him becoming this country’s most capped international with 402 appearances.
A dramatic re-start also saw Sri Lanka bowler Ehsan Malinga pop his left shoulder sending down the first delivery back, forcing the hosts to defend in damp conditions undermanned.
Neither Brook nor Tom Banton, with his first half century in four years, showed mercy, producing some astonishing stroke play whoever was entrusted with the ball.
Harry Brook showed a different kind of responsibility to anchor England to another series victory over Sri Lanka
Banton began life as an opening batsman, featuring there between 2019-22 before re-emerging as a finisher in this format last year.
Now, courtesy of his ability to clear the ropes with both conventional and reverse sweeps, he has emerged as a serious alternative to finger injury victim Ben Duckett at No 4 in the upcoming World Cup.
Add more runs to his unbeaten 54 here on Tuesday and England could make the kind of late call they did in promoting Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter when they became world champions for the first time 16 years ago.
Sri Lanka had surprisingly overlooked Pavan Rathnayake for the start of this series, days after he announced himself on the international stage with a one-day hundred against Harry Brook’s team, but he celebrated his recall by top-scoring again, striking 40 off 22 balls, to build upon a position of 106 for two.
It was an innings of two halves, with England given control by the spin trio of Adil Rashid, Will Jacks and Liam Dawson, who combined for figures of 12-0-81-3.
In contrast, the Sri Lankans belted 103 runs from eight overs of pace, taking advantage of sloppiness in the field, particularly from Banton, who fluffed two straightforward catches.
Rathnayake had 12 off three when he sliced Jamie Overton towards short third man, where Banton got both hands to the ball high above his head, but failed to cling on.
But the life he gave Charith Asalanka on 11, when stationed on the rope at long leg, was more exasperating, particularly for fast bowler Jofra Archer, who had induced a mishit with a back-of-the-hand variation.
Jofra Archer continued his return from injury, taking two wickets for 42 runs
Archer recovered his composure when he returned for the 20th over of the innings, showing how valuable he will be at the death during this month of T20, by conceding just two runs off the bat and limiting Sri Lanka to 189 for five.
Meanwhile, the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup has been thrown into further chaos after Pakistan confirmed they will not fulfil their fixture against India.
As part of an ongoing agreement for the Asian neighbours to face off in global competition on neutral soil, the game was due to be held in Sri Lanka on February 15.
However, the Pakistan government announced on Sunday that its national side – who completed a 3-0 warm-up whitewash over Australia hours earlier – would ‘not take the field’ against India, just over a week after Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament.
Pat Cummins will also be absent after the back injury that restricted Australia’s Test captain to one appearance in the Ashes resurfaced following a rest period.
