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 vs Sri Lanka: England 12-0 from the first over
Here we go, the match is underway!
Chameera is bowling first with Jason Roy batting for two runs with the first ball.
The second ball gifts England no runs with a toe-end hit from the star but he improves with the third ball with a four-run hit.
A single run is all he could achieve from the fourth ball. Buttler hit the fifth ball for three runs with Roy clocking up another two with the last ball over the first over.
England vs Sri Lanka
This is a crucial match for both sides as it’s a must win for Sri Lanka to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
And if England win this afternoon they are all but guaranteed a spot in the knock-out stages.
The match will begin in just 10 minutes.
England vs Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have won the toss and captain Dasan Shanaka has chosen to bowl first.
He told Sky: “We have an advantage, our batsman and bowlers know the exact conditions here.”
Eoin Morgan added: “We are trying to win every game at the moment. Everybody has pulled up well and fresh.”
Both teams have stuck with the same team from their last outings.
England vs Sri Lanka
England have had a fantastic start to the T20 World Cup and they will look to continue it against Sri Lanka this afternoon. Their match will begin at 2pm.
However, if you would like to revisit their last victory, against Australia, have a read of our report from the game where Jos Buttler starred:
Jos Buttler at his best as England crush Australia in T20 World Cup
Buttler hit 71 not out from just 32 balls.
England vs Sri Lanka
Jos Buttler put in a stunning performance against Australia as he clocked 71 not out from 32 balls.
The star says his teammate Jason Roy inspired the stand-out batting, saying: “You get quite inspired by Jason at the other end when he is running down first ball against Hazlewood and running down against Cummins. These are top bowlers and the way he can impose himself inspires at the other end.”
Read the full piece:
Jos Buttler says Jason Roy helped inspire his blistering knock against Australia
Buttler put the old enemy to the sword with a dizzying 71 not out from 32 balls.
England vs Sri Lanka
The match is just under an hour away so here’s a reminder of both teams’ squads.
England: Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Tom Curran, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Tymal Mills, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, David Willey, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Janith Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando.
England vs Sri Lanka
Good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of England vs Sri Lanka from the T20 World Cup.
England will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent record in the tournament this afternoon, having seen off the West Indies, Bangladesh and Australia in a dominant start.
Opener Jos Buttler was the star of the show last time out against the old enemy hitting a dizzying 71 not out from 32 balls as England's made light of a target of 126 to claim a third commanding win in the Super 12s that has put them on the brink of reaching the semi-finals.
Buttler's innings emphasised his reputation as one of the best white-ball performers in the world and England captain Eoin Morgan insisted his deputy is "changing the game" with his approach to batting in the short formats.
The wicketkeeper-batsman will again surely be key against a Sri Lankan bowling attack that has looked dangerous so far.
Follow all the latest updates and analysis from Sharjah.
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