Captain Harry Brook smashed a sensational 42-ball century as England launched their Vitality T20 series against Sri Lanka with a dominant 119-run win in Southampton.
Brook finished unbeaten on 114 from 49 deliveries in a total of 254 for four after sharing a 128-run second-wicket partnership with Jos Buttler and tormenting the tourists’ bowlers with 10 fours and six sixes.
The 27-year-old’s century was his first in 18 international innings in all formats – since the World Cup win against Pakistan in February – and England’s joint second-fastest in T20.
Opener Buttler crunched 80 off 44 balls before Hampshire bowler Sonny Baker took three wickets for 12 runs on his home ground as Sri Lanka were restricted to 135 all out at the Utilita Bowl.
Tuesday evening’s emphatic victory gave Kevin Pietersen a winning start to his return to the England setup in a mentoring role with the white-ball side.
Brendon McCullum’s side were back in T20 action following an impressive 4-0 series win over world champions India in July.
The hosts were put into bat on a glorious evening in Hampshire, with debutant Aneurin Donald partnering Buttler at the top of the order.
Donald hit a six and a four from his third and fourth balls in international cricket before Buttler smashed four consecutive fours off Dushmantha Chameera to leave England 31 without loss after just two overs.
Donald’s aggressive cameo ended on 12 at the start of the third over when he toe-ended the left-arm spin of Dunith Wellalage down the ground and was caught by Dasun Shanaka.
England’s momentum briefly stalled but they reached 90 for one by the end of the powerplay, thanks largely to the brilliance of Brook. The skipper made 30 in the fifth over alone, clubbing three sixes and three fours off Wellalage.
With former captain Pietersen and head coach McCullum sitting side by side on the balcony, the hosts were flying.
Buttler hit an enormous six and, after being dropped by Eshan Malinga next ball, brought up his 50 off 29 balls at the start of the ninth over.
England reached 134 for one at the halfway stage of the innings. Brook then moved on to 50 from 20 balls from the penultimate delivery of the next over before Buttler slogged another six to push the total past 150.
Sri Lanka’s last T20 win over their opponents was more than 12 years ago.
On a tired pitch, the Lions finally made a further breakthrough at the start of the 12th over when Wellalage took a simple catch at deep cover after the impressive Buttler hoicked a delivery from Wanindu Hasaranga.
Tom Banton was then caught just in front of the rope by Shanaka off Chameera to fall for 10.
Brook needed a six to equal Phil Salt’s 39-ball century against South Africa last year. Instead, he had to settle for emulating Liam Livingstone’s 42-ball hundred against Pakistan in 2021 as he soaked in the applause from the crowd of 11,317 in the 18th over.
Sri Lanka’s difficult evening in the field was completed when Will Jacks’ 21-run cameo ended with him being caught by Malinga off Hasaranga from the final ball.
The away side needed to pull off the second-highest chase in T20 international history to avoid defeat, and their response began slowly.
Jacks had Pathum Nissanka caught for 12 by Jamie Overton before Baker – playing only his second T20 international – clean bowled Kamil Mishara and also removed Lahiru Udara in a productive sixth over.
Sri Lanka were reduced to 52 for four when captain Charith Asalanka was caught by Banton off Liam Dawson.
Adil Rashid and Josh Tongue got in on the act before Baker pinged Maheesh Theekshana’s off stump, in between Overton removing Hasaranga and claiming his second wicket thanks to Jordan Cox’s superb catch to halt Wellalage on 33.
Dawson wrapped up proceedings with six balls to spare, removing Chameera as England breezed to victory ahead of continuing the three-match series in Cardiff on Thursday.
