{ "id": "204249", "author": "26", "cnmid": "", "title": "Harry Brook Smashes Unbeaten 114 as England Thrash Sri Lanka by 119 Runs", "lang": "en", "series": "726", "cup_year": "2026", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "Harry Brook smashed an unbeaten 114 and Jos Buttler hit 80 as England posted 254-4 before bowling Sri Lanka out for 135 in Southampton.", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

England captain Harry Brook hailed a "near-perfect" performance after his blistering unbeaten century paved the way for a 119-run thrashing of Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Southampton on Tuesday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Brook's 114 not out and a typically dashing 80 from former captain Jos Buttler powered England, to a commanding total of 254-4 after they shared a stand of 128 in just 60 balls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

This was the 27-year-old Brook's first hundred in 18 international innings in all formats –- since the World Cup win against Pakistan in February –- and England's joint second-fastest in T20s.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Faced with a huge chase, Sri Lanka were never in the hunt, the tourists dismissed for 135, with Sonny Baker, on his Hampshire home ground, taking a miserly 3-12 -- the fast bowler's first wickets in white-ball internationals -- in his maximum four overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Victory put England, second in the T20 world rankings, 1-0 up in a three-match series.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"An exceptional performance and I am proud of how the boys went about every aspect of the game tonight," said Brook, who just days earlier was a member of the England Test side that completed a 3-0 whitewash of Pakistan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It is not the ideal schedule but we managed to mentally prepare for this game and this series," said Brook, adding: "I thought the performance tonight was near-perfect."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

- 'Tough day' -<\/strong>
\r\n <\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, who won the toss and fielded, made no attempt to hide from a "tough day out here for us".<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Credit to Harry Brook and Jos Buttler for their exceptional innings," he said. "At the same time, I don't think we pulled off our plans and execution."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

England's second-wicket pair again ran riot at the Rose Bowl after their mammoth partnership of 233 in a 56-run T20 win over India in July, when Buttler made 131 and Brook was 95 not out.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

On Tuesday, it was Brook who posted a century, his second in T20 internationals coming off just 42 balls, including eight fours and six sixes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

This match was England's first since former captain Kevin Pietersen, an outstanding batsman in his own right, joined a white-ball coaching set-up still led by sacked Test boss Brendon McCullum as a "special mentor".<\/p>\r\n\r\n

And Pietersen would have admired the way Brook smashed six boundaries off left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage in a fifth over costing 30 runs as Sri Lanka's attack wilted under England's assault.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Sri Lanka lost dangerman Pathum Nissanka early in their chase when he tried to launch off-spinner Will Jacks over mid-on only to be caught by the towering Jamie Overton.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Baker, effectively replacing the rested Jofra Archer, then clean bowled Kamil Mishara before having Lahiru Udara was caught off a scoop to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 32-3.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"Sonny has been bowling extremely well and he deserved his opportunity tonight," said Brook.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Also Read: <\/strong> Special Cricket Stories<\/a><\/h5>\r\n\r\n

The series moves on to Cardiff on Thursday before finishing at Old Trafford on Saturday, with England and Sri Lanka then involved in a three-match one-day international campaign.
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