England clinch T20 series with six-wicket win over Sri Lanka in Cardiff

England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in Cardiff on 17 September 2026 to clinch the T20 series with a match to spare. Tom Banton remained unbeaten on 52 as England reached 146-4 in 12.1 overs to chase down Sri Lanka's 145-9.

Sri Lanka 145-9 (20 overs): Nissanka 37 (21); Dawson 3-32. England 146-4 (12.1 overs): Banton 52* (24); Rathnayake 1-25. England won by six wickets and lead the series 2-0, after Sri Lanka had been bowled out for 135 in the opener on Tuesday.

Jos Buttler and Aneurin Donald provided a rapid start with a 51-run opening stand in 4.3 overs before both were dismissed within four balls for 30 and 21 respectively. Captain Harry Brook required 49 to break Tilak Varma's record of 336 T20 international runs without being dismissed; he struck three sixes in a 23-run innings off eight balls before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Eshan Malinga.

Tom Banton then took control, clubbing four sixes in his 24-ball 52* as England completed the chase with considerable ease. England remain unbeaten in the shortest format this summer; Brendon McCullum's side have won 22 of their last 25 completed T20 matches since the start of last summer — a win percentage of 88% — with India (73%) the next best among full-member nations.

Sri Lanka had begun positively, reaching 55-0 from the first five overs, but Liam Dawson removed two batters in the final over of the powerplay to disrupt that momentum. The middle order collapsed thereafter, losing 9-90 and adding just 12 runs from the final four overs; Dawson finished with 3-32, Jamie Overton took 2-23 and Sonny Baker returned 1-15, including a wicket maiden in the 19th over.

The series concludes at Old Trafford on Saturday and will be followed by three one-day internationals.