Summary

  • England win by 119 runs to go 1-0 up in three-game series

  • Baker the pick of England's bowlers with 3-12

  • Brook hits 42-ball century as England post 254-4

  • Buttler crunches 80 off 44

  • Debutant Donald falls for 12 off 5 balls

  • Second match in three-game series on Thursday

Have your say on England men this summer

Live Reporting

by Mike Peter & Matthew Henry

  1. Melissa Story
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Harry Brook is so quick to go deep in the crease and hammer the ball over mid-on, the fielder inside the ring.

  2. 6 runs

    Eng 48-1

    Another one nowhere near the middle of the bat. It's still Harry Brook's first six.

  3. Eng 42-1

    Buttler 23, Brook 5

    The lack of left-handers is interesting for England. They're obviously hurt by the injuries to Sam Curran and Jacob Bethell who would be guaranteed starters.

    It was still one of the positives of the T20 World Cup earlier this year.

  4. How's stat?!

    England have won just 10 of the 25 games (40%) where they have had no left-handers in the top seven, comfortably below their overall win rate of 54% in T20I cricket.

  5. Eng 39-1

    Eshan Malinga enters the attack. He has a lower arm than some seamers but nowhere near as slingy as his namesake.

    I can't work out this pitch. Jos Buttler still isn't quite timing it.

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    Jos Buttler out there alongside the fresh faces. His experience is going to be so vital in guiding the younger players through this transition phase.

    Jamie, Stafford

  7. Eng 36-1

    Good stuff from Dunith Wellalage, who does not concede a boundary through the rest of this opening over.

    Harry Brook is off the mark, though, and he and Jos Buttler put on 233 here against India in July.

  8. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    WicketGetty Images

    Good from Dunith Wellalage. Just holds it up a touch, it's not quite there for Aneurin Donald to hit down the ground and he's done by the flight. A good catch from Dasun Shanaka, but flickers that Donald could have some fun in this series.

  9. wicket

    WICKET

    Donald c Shanaka b Wellalage 12 (Eng 31-1)

    Gone this time.

    Aneurin Donald tries to continue the attack but gets a toe end on the ball from Dunith Wellalage's left-arm spin.

    Dasun Shanaka runs around from mid-on to take the high catch.

  10. Eng 31-0

    Buttler 18, Donald 12

    And Jos Buttler makes it four fours to finish the over and Dushmantha Chameera's opener costs 16. The seamer tried to mix his pace but Buttler was onto it.

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    Great to see international cricket back at the Utilita but a Tuesday school night at a stadium that you have to drive to, during rush hour… we may just about make it for the final over.

    Ed Ballin, somewhere on the motorway

  12. Eng 27-0

    England are flying. Four more to Jos Buttler, who this time hits over extra cover. I still don't think he's middled this either.

  13. Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka are already under pressure. Buttler just steps outside leg and just lifts it over the bowler's head for another boundary.

  14. Eng 23-0

    Down the ground this time from Jos Buttler. He hasn't quite timed this but it's four nonetheless.

  15. How stat?!

    Mike Peter
    BBC Sport journalist

    Today is only the second time Jos Buttler has faced the opening ball of a T20 international since the World Cup win in November 2022.

    The other occasion was against the same opposition in Pallekele in February this year - his opening partner on that day, Ben Duckett, was dismissed for a golden duck from the second ball of the match.

  16. Eng 19-0

    Jos Buttler's first boundary quickly follows as he slices seamer Dushmantha Chameera over point.

  17. How's stat?!

    DonaldGetty Images

    Nearly 700 batters have faced over 100 balls in T20 cricket this year. None have a higher strike-rate than Donald:

    • A Donald - 232
    • V Sooryavanshi - 226
    • Priyansh Arya - 212

  18. Eng 15-0

    And now thrashed through the covers.

    We told you Donald would attack...

  19. 6 runs

    Eng 11-0

    Whack! Aneurin Donald gets his first boundary in international cricket this time and it's a six. He takes on deep mid-wicket with a pull shot and clears him comfortably.

  20. How's stat?!

    PietersenGetty Images

    England head into this game with an entire team of right-handers, just the second time they have done so in T20I cricket. Previously against India at Eden Gardens in 2011 where they won by 6 wickets, with England's new batting mentor Kevin Pietersen top-scoring with 53 (39).

    All of today's stats courtesy of Rufus Bullough at Cricviz