England Beat Sri Lanka by 5 Wickets as Buttler Shines, Series Levelled

England won by 5 wickets in a strong performance and kept the series alive by making it 1–1. Their bowlers did well in the first innings after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, and Jos Buttler then finished the job with the bat. There were no half centuries in the Lankan innings with Charith Asalanka (45) and Dhananjaya de Silva (40) adding 56 runs for the 4th wicket. Couple of wickets each for Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton and Joe Root held the hosts down to 219 in 49.3 overs.

Rehan Ahmed was pushed up at the batting order opening with Ben Duckett but added just 13 off 18 deliveries before he was cleaned up by de Silva. Duckett and Root then added 68 runs for the 2nd wicket, Jeffrey Vandersay bowling Duckett with a terrific leggie for 39.

Buttler’s Finishing Touch Keeps England Alive, Series Level at 1–1

Jacob Bethell soon departed for 6 but Root found an able partner in skipper Harry Brook (42 off 75). Root brought up yet another half century batting at a quick pace and added 81 runs for the 4th wicket with Brook.

Asitha Fernando trapped the English top scorer on a yorker, a review was taken but umpire's call meant Root had to walk back. Jeffret Vandersay then trapped Brook in the 43rd over. Jos Buttler at number 6 played a whirlwind knock of 33 in 21 deliveries and remained unbeaten with 3 fours and a maximum.

Vandersay was the pick of the bowlers with 2/45, Dhananjaya de Silva also picked up 2/37. Asitha Fernando got a key breakthrough in form of Root pulling the game towards the hosts before Buttler did what he did. Skipper Asalanka also played a good hand with the ball allowing just 27 runs in his 8 overs.