England look to seal the series in Cardiff as Sri Lanka search for a response

England can settle the T20I series in Cardiff on Thursday after their 119-run rout of Sri Lanka in Southampton

England lead the three-match series 1-0 and arrive at Sophia Gardens knowing a second win would put it beyond Sri Lanka with the finale at Old Trafford still to come on Saturday.

The opener was as lopsided as the margin suggests. England made 254 for 4, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 135, and the defeat was the tourists' 13th in succession against England in the format.

Sri Lanka, captained on this tour by Charith Asalanka in the absence of the injured Kusal Mendis, must find a way to contain a batting order that scored at better than 12 an over and then survive an attack that shared the wickets around.

Brook arrives in Cardiff unbeaten

Harry Brook made 114 not out from 49 balls at the Rose Bowl, reaching three figures in 42 deliveries.

The innings extended a sequence that now reads 288 runs from 129 balls across three T20I innings without being dismissed, following unbeaten scores of 79 and 95 against India in July.

His most damaging passage came against Dunith Wellalage, whose over cost 30, and he added 128 in 60 balls with Jos Buttler, who made 80.

A first proper return for Sonny Baker

Sonny Baker followed the batting with 3-12 from his four overs, his first meaningful return in England colours, and every bowler Brook used finished with at least one wicket. Adil Rashid took 1-31.

"When I took over captaincy, I always wanted to be able to pick a squad where if someone went down half an hour before the game, I'd have full faith in the person coming in, in any spot," Brook said afterwards.

"We're really trending in the right direction with this team," he added. "It's just good to be able to play with lads that are so collective as well."

Sri Lanka rebuilding on the move

Kusal Mendis and the seamer Binura Fernando were ruled out of the white-ball leg with hamstring and back problems, with Pavan Rathnayake and Tharindu Ratnayake called up in their places.

Asalanka's return to the side follows his omission from Sri Lanka's tour of the West Indies in June, and he inherits a top order that was three down inside the powerplay in Southampton.

Wellalage's 33 was the highest score of the innings, which says enough about the batting above him.

Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis and Dasun Shanaka are the experienced names around Asalanka, and Sri Lanka's hopes of levelling the series rest on that group putting together a total worth defending.

Sri Lanka have not beaten England in a T20 international since 2014, and have two matches left on this tour to change that.

Cardiff should offer more to the bowlers

Sophia Gardens is usually the slower surface, with movement for the seamers early under cloud before the pitch begins to grip later in an innings.

That would suit Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, the spinners Sri Lanka will lean on for control after the way Wellalage's night went.

England's own pairing of Rashid and Liam Dawson had little left to do once the chase had fallen apart.

England picking from a thinned squad

England are without Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran through injury, and handed Aneurin Donald a debut in the first match, where he made 12 on his first international appearance.

Jamie Overton's recovery from the thigh problem that kept him out of the India series has restored a seam-bowling all-rounder to the middle order.

Gus Atkinson, Will Jacks, Josh Tongue, Saqib Mahmood and Jordan Cox are the other names in a squad Brook has already described as deep enough to absorb a late withdrawal.

The second T20I begins at 6.30pm local time in Cardiff, with the series closing at Old Trafford on Saturday.

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