England vs Sri Lanka LIVE: T20 World Cup result and reaction
Follow live reaction after England made it four wins from four at the World Cup
Follow live reaction from England vs Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup.
England maintained their 100 per cent record in the tournament, having seen off the West Indies, Bangladesh and Australia in a dominant start, with a superb 26-run win in Sharjah.
Opener Jos Buttler was the star of the show last time out against Australia and went one better this time around with an unbeaten 101, a first international T20 century.
Assisted by 40 from skipper Eoin Morgan, England posted 163 from their 20 before two wickets from Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid and Chris Jordan eventually saw Sri Lanka fall 26 runs short despite a dogged chase.
The win leaves England all but into the semi-finals ahead of their final Super 12 match, against South Africa on Saturday.
England beat Sri Lanka to maintain 100% record
Jos Buttler led England out of their first mini-crisis of the T20 World Cup and to the brink of the semi-finals as his maiden international century in the format underpinned a 26-run victory over Sri Lanka.
England were asked to defend a total for the first time in the tournament following three commanding wins chasing and they were initially suffocated by Sri Lanka’s bowlers after lurching to 47 for three from 10 overs in Sharjah.
Buttler, fresh from match-winning heroics against Australia, reined in his aggressive instincts to begin with, taking 45 balls to reach fifty, before exploding in thrilling style to finish unbeaten on 101 from 67 deliveries.
He clattered the final ball of the innings for six to reach his ton and steer England to 163 for four, the bulk of which was made up of a 112-run stand between Buttler and Eoin Morgan, before Sri Lanka responded with 137 all out.
Sri Lanka 137 all out: England win by 26 runs
The only downside for England tonight was an injury to paceman Tymal Mills.
The left-arm seamer pulled up midway through his second over and England will now be sweating on his fitness for the next match and beyond.
Mark Wood and David Willey, who are both yet to feature at the tournament, are next men up if England are forced into a change.
Sri Lanka 137 all out: England win by 26 runs
Much was made of England not being forced to chase at any point thus far but that doubt, along with all the others, can be put to bed too after an excellent all-round display in Sharjah.
Jos Buttler was irrepressible with the bat despite a slow start eventually bludgeoning a first T20I hundred, sealed with a six off the last ball of the 20th over.
England then turned the screw out the gate with the ball before being put under pressure by excellent counter attacking batting from Bhanuka Rajapakse and Wanindu Hasaranga.
But crucial wickets late saw their challenge falter leaving England to win by 26 runs.
Next up is South Africa on Saturday.
Sri Lanka 137 all out: England win by 26 runs
That is four from four for England and the hardest of all them so far.
Sri Lanka made them work for that but England’s class - particularly in the field at the death - was the difference.
They aren’t guaranteed a spot in the semi-finals but that win all but guarantees it.
They top Group 1 and it will take some mathematic gymnastics to dislodge them.
Sri Lanka 137 all out: England win by 26 runs
Lahiru Kumara is the last man in for Sri Lanka and these have basically got to all go for them now.
Moeen is a seasoned veteran at this though and gives him nothing to go at from the remainder of the 19th.
Three runs and then Maheesh Theekshana goes big... only for Chris Jordan to snaffle it inside the rope.
That is that. Sri Lanka are 137 all out. England win by 26 runs.
Sri Lanka 134-9: Sri Lanka chasing 164 to win
Moeen will bowl the 19th over. This is the one that needs to go if Sri Lanka are to have any chance.
Chamika Karunaratne knows it as well and opts to keep the strike after failing to find the boundary off the first delivery.
He gets into the second one though... but it’s not enough as that man Roy waits in the deep to take a much simpler catch this time.
England need one wicket.
Sri Lanka 134-8: Sri Lanka chasing 164 to win
Chris Jordan will bowl the 18th for England as Eoin Morgan shuffles his pack of options again.
That one is all about Jos Buttler though. Not content with a ton in the England’s innings, he’s run out Shanaka for 26.
The ball is full and straight from Jordan and beats Shanaka. The skipper thinks there might be one but Buttler has other ideas, taking his wicketkeeper’s glove off and throwing the stumps down from second slip. Brilliant.
Two wickets in four balls for England and both set batters are gone. Superb work in the field.
There’s nothing they can do about that though as a wild flash from Dushmantha Chameera speeds through the slip region off the edge goes to the boundary. Sorely needed for Sri Lanka.
Chameera tries to go again but Dawid Malan is waiting on the rope at square leg and that’s another for England.
That’s Jordan done for the day. 2 for 24 from him. Excellent.
Sri Lanka eight down and need 30 off 12.
Sri Lanka 130-6: Sri Lanka chasing 164 to win
Livingstone on for the fourth of his over as England look to take pace off again.
Again it’s about limiting that boundary for England. For Sri Lanka it’s about taking one of these overs for 15-20.
This is tidy again from Livingstone as he looks to restrict these batters with no width whatsoever.
Hasaranga again counter punches though as a streaky slice over point goes all the way for four.
Livingstone responds though as Hasaranga looks to go all the way but Jason Roy is waiting in the deep as he pockets it next to the rope before tossing it to substitute Sam Billings as he slides out of bounds.
Quite brilliant from Roy. Saves six and gets a wicket in one. Hasaranga’s brilliant innings is over. He goes for 34 off just 20.
Sri Lanka 123-5: Sri Lanka chasing 164 to win
This one looks like it will go down to the wire here.
England probably slightly ahead still with runs on the board but it will only take one good over from Sri Lanka to swing the momentum their way.
Jordan is on to bowl the 16th looking to break this partnership which is now ticking along nicely.
It’s all about limiting the boundaries for England now. Singles they can deal with.
Hasaranga knows it too and an excellent drive over the top of cover brings four. Another good over for Sri Lanka as another 10 comes off the chase.
Sri Lanka 113-5: Sri Lanka chasing 164 to win
Livingstone back for his third over.
England are going to have to find an extra over from one of their bowlers now that Woakes has bowled those extra three balls in relief of Mills.
Sri Lanka surely target one of these next couple for a big one? They can’t die wondering.
It won’t be this one though as Livingstone tucks Hasaranga and Shanaka up and restricts them to singles.
That’s what they were after though, a big six over cow corner from one that just sat up a touch from Shanaka.
15 gone. 10 from that last one. 51 required.
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