Dawson and Banton seal England's series win as Sri Lanka collapse in Cardiff

England overhauled Sri Lanka’s 145 for 9 inside 13 overs at Sophia Gardens to take an unassailable lead in the T20I series

Liam Dawson broke a Sri Lanka innings that had opened at 55 without loss, finishing with 3-32, and Tom Banton then made an unbeaten 52 from 24 balls as England won by six wickets with 47 balls to spare.

England won the toss in Cardiff and opted to bowl. Sri Lanka were untroubled through the first five overs and then lost their last nine wickets for 90 runs, closing on 145 for 9 from their 20 overs.

The reply took 12.1 overs. England reached 146 for 4 to go 2-0 up with one match of the three left to play, and Dawson was named player of the match.

A start Sri Lanka could not build on

Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara gave the tourists the platform they had lacked in the opening match of the series at Southampton, taking the score to 55 without loss.

Nissanka made 37 from 21 balls, the highest score of the innings and the only one in it made at better than a run a ball.

Once the opening stand went, the innings never recovered that tempo. The last 15 overs produced 90 runs and cost nine wickets, and Sri Lanka managed only two sixes in the whole innings.

The total was only marginally better than the one they made in the first match of the series, and it never looked like enough once England began their reply.

Dawson turns the powerplay

The decisive passage came in the sixth over, when Dawson struck twice in consecutive deliveries to remove Udara and Kamil Mishara.

The left-arm spinner ended with 3-32 from four overs and also held two catches in the field, the fullest contribution of the night from either side.

Sonny Baker was the most economical of the attack, taking a wicket and conceding only 15 runs from his four overs.

Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga rebuilt with 31 and 27 respectively, but the pair could not lift the rate back to where the openers had set it, and the tail added little.

Buttler and Donald settle the chase early

Chasing 146, Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald took the game away from Sri Lanka inside the powerplay, making 30 from 16 balls and 21 from 13 respectively.

Both fell in quick succession, but by then the required rate had already been reduced to a formality and the chase was effectively decided inside the first six overs.

Captain Harry Brook followed with 23 from eight balls, including three sixes, before he was caught.

Banton finishes it under the lights

Banton was the constant at the other end, reaching 52 not out from 24 deliveries with four sixes and seeing the target passed in the 13th over.

It was the innings that turned a comfortable position into an emphatic one, and it left England with more than seven overs unused.

England struck 10 sixes in the chase to Sri Lanka’s two, the clearest single measure of the gap between the sides on the night.

Old Trafford to come

The series moves to Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday for the third and final T20I, with England playing for a clean sweep.

Sri Lanka, beaten now in Southampton and Cardiff, are left playing for a consolation win and for something to carry out of a tour that has yet to give them a competitive 20 overs.

The series opened at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Tuesday and moved to Cardiff on Thursday night, leaving Manchester as the last of the three.

Scorecard: Sri Lanka 145 for 9 in 20 overs (Nissanka 37, Dawson 3-32) lost to England 146 for 4 in 12.1 overs (Banton 52*, Buttler 30) by six wickets at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

Catch the match live updates, highlights, and full match coverage on CricRadio. Get fast, accurate, and ad-free updates throughout the game. Download the CricRadio app from the Play Store to stay connected. You can also get the live scores of cricket series directly on the CricRadio website for real-time coverage.