Brook's unbeaten 114 drives England to 119-run T20 win over Sri Lanka
England beat Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20 in Southampton after piling up 254-4 in their 20 overs. Harry Brook led the charge with 114 not out from 49 balls. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 135 in reply, according to BBC Sport.
In T20 cricket, each team bats once for a maximum of 20 overs, which is 120 balls. A score of 254-4 means England scored 254 runs and lost four wickets in that time. Since 10 wickets ends an innings, losing only four shows how long the batting line-up held firm and how quickly the runs kept coming.
Brook and Jos Buttler turned a good start into a huge total with a partnership of 128 runs. A partnership is simply the runs two batters add together before one of them is out or the innings ends. This one gave England complete control through the middle of the innings. It lifted the total from competitive to daunting.
Brook was still there at the end of the first innings. Not out means a batter has not been dismissed when the innings closes. He finished on 114 not out, with 10 fours and six sixes. The hitting was clean.
A four is scored when the ball reaches the boundary after bouncing, worth four runs. A six clears the boundary on the full, worth six runs. Brook found both regularly. Bowlers had no place to hide.
Buttler played his part with pace and placement. He scored 80 from 44 balls. That kept pressure on Sri Lanka at the other end. They could not tie down both batters at once.
England's first-innings total of 254 meant Sri Lanka needed 255 to win. In a short chase, the required scoring rate rises fast if wickets fall early. Sri Lanka never got close.
They were dismissed for 135 in 19 overs, an over short of their full allocation. Dunith Wellalage made 33 from 21 balls. Sonny Baker led the England attack with 3 wickets for 12 runs, a tight and incisive spell.
For fans, this means a fast start and a one-sided night. England batted deep into the innings and then bowled with discipline. Sri Lanka will need an answer with bat and ball next time out.
