England Sweep Sri Lanka Series In Low-scoring Thriller

Third T20 international, Pallekele

England 128-9 (20 overs): Curran 58 (48); Chameera 5-24

Sri Lanka 116 (19.3 overs): Kusal Mendis 26 (26); Bethell 4-11, Jacks 3-14

England won by 12 runs; won bid 3-0

Scorecard

England successfully defended a target of 129 to triumph by 12 runs against Sri Lanka successful an enthralling contest, completing a 3-0 T20 bid expanse and entering nan World Cup pinch momentum.

Sam Curran deed a career-best 58 aft a top-order illness arsenic England vanished connected 128-9, earlier nan tourists' spinners took 9 wickets to propulsion disconnected an improbable victory.

Will Jacks took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell secured nan past 4 Sri Lankan wickets, including 3 successful 1 over, to decorativeness pinch 4-11 arsenic nan hosts were bowled retired for 116.

Having chosen to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a aureate duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were each removed for azygous figures anterior to Curran taking his broadside to a people that still looked challenging to defend.

Having already lost nan series pinch conclusion successful its first 2 games, Sri Lanka bowled superbly, pinch seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including nan wicket of Curran pinch nan penultimate shot of nan innings.

Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets connected a worn pitch, earlier Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to consecutive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.

Sri Lanka were still favourites and reached 90-4 earlier Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage successful consecutive overs.

Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell past took control, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka successful nan 18th over.

Having been handed nan last over, he wrapped up nan lucifer pinch nan dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana, helping England group a grounds for nan lowest full they person ever successfully defended successful T20s.

England commencement their World Cup run against Nepal connected Sunday, 8 February (09:30 GMT).