Wednesday 16 September 2026 00:47, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Highlights as England thumped Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20 of the three-match series thanks chiefly to Harry Brook’s 42-ball century White-ball captain Brook (114no off 49 balls) – who nailed six boundaries in one over – and predecessor in that role Buttler (80 off 44) plundered 128 from just 60 balls in partnership for England’s second wicket once debutant Aneurin Donald (12 off 5) fell after slamming a six and a four amid a bright but fleeting cameo. Brook and Buttler had combined for a riotous stand of 233 from 103 balls at the same venue in July as England romped to a total of 257-3 against India that secured a 4-0 series sweep, with Buttler tonking a century on that occasion and Brook an unbeaten 95. Latest Sky Sports deals or stream with no contract on NOWIs Harry Brook more talented than Kevin Pietersen?As it happened – England hammer Sri Lanka at Utilita BowlListen to latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player The best of Brook’s sensational 114 not out from just 49 balls in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Southampton Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Brook slammed 30 runs off one over with six successive boundaries off Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage Score summary – England vs Sri Lanka, first T20, Southampton England 254-4 in 20 overs (put in to bat): Harry Brook (114no off 49 balls), Jos Buttler (80 off 44), Will Jacks (21 off 12); Wanindu Hasaranga (1-34) Sri Lanka 135 all out in 19 overs (target 255): Dunith Wellelage (33 off 21 balls), Dasun Shanaka (24 off 14), Eshan Malinga (13no off 5); Sonny Baker (3-12), Jamie Overton (2-20), Liam Dawson (2-23) , Will Jacks (1-21) Full scorecard Watch Thursday’s second T20 in Cardiff live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm (6.30pm first ball). This time around the roles were reversed with Buttler – playing his first innings since the Hundred final at Lord’s on August 16 – missing out on a ton but Brook reaching three figures for the second time in T20 internationals, doing so from just 42 deliveries as he mixed big hits with slick, intense running.No wonder England legend Pietersen, who scored almost 14,000 runs in all international cricket between 2004 and 2014, was smiling throughout.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Speaking ahead of the first T20, Sky Sports’ Eoin Morgan and Kumar Sangakkara looked at what white-ball mentor Kevin Pietersen will bring to the set-up That expression continued as Sri Lanka subsided to 135 all out in 19 overs in reply, to suffer a 13th successive defeat to their opponents in this format, stretching back to 2014, and England made it 21 wins from their last 24 T20Is. The pacey, accurate and economical Sonny Baker bagged 3-12 from four overs, including bowling Kamil Mishara (10) to claim his first white-ball wicket for England, while leg-spin maestro Adil Rashid (1-31) nicked off Dasun Shanaka (24 off 14) with a peach of a delivery having just been belted for back-to-back sixes. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Take a look as Sonny Baker took his first white-ball wicket for England by bowling Sri Lanka’s Kamil Mishara. KP watches on as Brook dazzles at Utilita BowlBrook’s innings was a joy to watch, with his expert ability to pick up length on full display in the 30-run fifth over of the game when he struck Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage for six boundaries in as many deliveries (three sixes, three fours).Brook’s first boundary in that set, a six onto the cushion at long-on, was a little edgy but his next five were sublime – fours over the bowler’s head and down to long-on, a scooped six over fine leg, a maximum over long-off and, finally, a four behind point.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Watch Sky Sports pundit Stuart Broad’s failed attempt to get an interview with Brook at the halfway stage at the Utilita Bowl Only Phil Salt – missing this series due to a quad injury, hence why Derbyshire batter Donald has been handed a chance – has hit a faster T20I hundred for England than Brook, taking 39 balls against South Africa in 2025 when the team amassed 304-2 in Manchester.Former England Test captain Ben Stokes took to social media to say: “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise. You are an absolute freak, Harry. You’re mint to watch.”Stokes would later add: “Bit harsh on KP actually. Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.” , which may be using cookies and other technologies.
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Baker bags first white-ball wickets as Sri Lanka subsideBrook then rotated his bowlers smartly in the second half of the game as Sri Lanka’s monumental task was made practically impossible when they started slowly and then tumbled to 69-5 inside the first 10 overs of a sorry chase, one in which Wellalage (33 off 21) top-scored, crunching four fours and two sixes.Brook’s boys – for whom seamer Jamie Overton (2-20) and spinner Liam Dawson (2-23) shared four wickets – will now hope to wrap up a series win with a game to spare in Cardiff on Thursday (6.30pm start), ahead of the final match at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday (2.30pm start). Both fixtures are live on Sky Sports Cricket. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Aneurin Donald smashed a six on England debut after opening the batting with Jos Buttler Welshman Donald will be looking to make a more sustained impact in the country of his birth in the second T20 – the 29-year-old came through the Glamorgan academy and is the Cardiff county’s first homegrown international since 2005 Ashes hero Simon Jones.After Donald heaved a maximum leg-side and drilled four through extra-cover next ball, he spooned Wellalage down the ground, before watching on as Brook and Buttler made mincemeat of the tourists’ bowling attack – the duo spanking 28 boundaries between them.Brook hoping to learn from ‘hero’ PietersenEngland captain and player of the match Harry Brook on Kevin Pietersen: Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Brook says it was an ‘amazing night’ for England at the Utilita Bowl and that the team put in a ‘near perfect’ performance “[Pietersen] looked at batting slightly differently, in a similar way to me as well. He always wants to put the bowlers under pressure.”He was a phenomenal player.
The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I’m looking forward to conversations about that.”I mentioned to him earlier about trying to help me read surfaces and using my skills to perform on that pitch as well, not just for white-ball cricket, Test cricket as well.”Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career. He’s a hero to a lot of players. We grew up watching him and it’s just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room.”Watch England’s second T20 vs Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm on Thursday (6.30pm first ball). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW.England vs Sri Lanka results and fixturesAll times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky SportsFirst T20 (Utilita Bowl) – England win by 119 runsSecond T20 (Thursday September 17) – Cardiff (6.30pm)Third T20 (Saturday September 19) – Old Trafford (2.30pm)First ODI (Tuesday September 22) – Durham (12.30pm)Second ODI (Thursday September 24) – Headingley (12.30pm)Third ODI (Sunday September 27) – The Kia Oval (10.30am
