Seven wickets for part-time spinners Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks sent England into this week’s T20 World Cup with a spring in their step after a 12-run win over Sri Lanka described by captain Harry Brook as ‘awesome’.
The Sri Lankans were cruising at 90 for four after 13 overs in pursuit of a modest total of 128 for nine, but the Pallekele pitch – used for the third time in five days – was turning lavishly, and the last six tumbled for 26 to ensure a 3–0 whitewash for England ahead of Sunday’s World Cup opener against Nepal in Mumbai.
And the heroics of Bethell, who took the last four Sri Lankan wickets for two runs in eight balls, and Jacks, with a career-best three for 14, built on Sam Curran’s battling half-century from the wreckage of 60 for six. Rightly, Curran was named player of the match, as well as player of the series.
Having won his third consecutive toss, Brook changed the formula that had led to victory in the first two games and chose to bat, preferring to set his team a different pre-World Cup challenge with the series already in the bag.
And while the tone was set for a stuttering batting performance by a golden duck for Ben Duckett, playing because Phil Salt had suffered back spasms, the bowlers triumphantly answered Brook’s call. Never before have England successfully defended such a low T20 total.
If the Test team spent the Ashes tour fighting off accusations they were ill-prepared, there can be no such complaints now. Six white-ball matches in Asian conditions have brought five wins and a sense that England are ready to mount a challenge in the subcontinent.
Jacob Bethell took the last four Sri Lanka wickets to help England to a superb victory
Harry Brook described the win as ‘awesome’ after a difficult week for the England captain
Their four group games will take place in India, where the pitches should be more conducive to batting, but some of the Super Eight fixtures are scheduled for Sri Lanka, and England will be more than happy to return.
‘That was awesome,’ said Brook, who has finished a difficult few weeks on a high. ‘It’s one of the most fun wins I’ve ever had. We’ve shown we can adapt to surfaces. The way Sam batted and got us to a decent total, and the way the boys bowled – nearly 16 overs of spin against Sri Lanka in their own conditions.’
As much as anything, the combined haul of seven for 25 from Bethell and Jacks vindicated England’s policy of stuffing their side with all-rounders, with a seventh-wicket stand of 47 between Curran and Liam Dawson crucial to their recovery.
And the manner in which the two part-timers outshone Dawson and Adil Rashid, England’s two frontline spinners – the sixth and seventh bowlers used by Brook – suggests impressive depth in an area of the game that has not traditionally been a strength.
Jacks had bowled only eight overs in the T20 internationals before this tour, including a disastrous one costing 22 against Australia at the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados. Bethell, meanwhile, had taken only four wickets in 22 previous matches.
But England fielded like tigers, with Jos Buttler taking a stunning catch as he ran round from behind the stumps after the ball ballooned off Dunith Wellalage’s front pad as he swept Bethell.
Meanwhile, England are through to Friday’s Under-19 World Cup final in Harare after a brilliant century from their captain, Somerset’s Thomas Rew, inspired them to a 27-run win over Australia in Bulawayo. Rew’s 107-ball 110 was the cornerstone of England’s total of 277 for seven, before they were made to sweat by a stunning 85-ball century from Australia captain Oliver Peake.
