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Spinners shine as England complete T20 series sweep
Scott Hunt • February 4th, 2026 8:09 am
England's Jacob Bethell, left, and Jos Buttler celebrate the wicket of Dunith Wellalage | Photo: AP
England completed a 3-0 T20 series win in their final match before the World Cup when they beat Sri Lanka by 12 runs in Kandy.
Sam Curran's 58 from 48 balls led England's recovery from 6-60 to set Sri Lanka 129 to win, with Dushmantha Chameera's 5 for 24 giving Sri Lanka hope of a consolation win in the series.
But England's spinners strangled Sri Lanka as Will Jacks claimed 3-14 and Jacob Bethell 4-11 as they recorded their lowest successful defence in T20 cricket.
A clean sweep in the T20 series, following the 2-1 ODI series win, sends them into the World Cup with positive momentum.
England will face Nepal in their tournament opener in Mumbai on Sunday.
Phil Salt went down with a back spasm in the warm-up, meaning Ben Duckett was handed a late start.
The left-hander lasted just one ball, trapped by an in-swinger from Chameera for a duck as Sri Lanka successfully reviewed.
Bethell has looked out-of-touch throughout this T20 series and endured a ragged seven deliveries before swinging horribly at a slower ball from Matheesha Pathirana to be caught behind for three.
Tom Banton fell for seven, bowled by Dunith Wellalage after a wild swing, bringing captain Brook to the crease at 3-28.
Brook, who had managed to successfully sideline his off-field turmoil on this tour, was also undone by Pathirana as he chipped to cover for four.
Buttler lofted a gorgeous six to finish the seventh over but he too was on his way as Maheesh Theekshana bewildered him with a googly and he was bowled for 25, leaving England floundering at 5-47.
Jacks made three before he was outfoxed by Chameera's slower ball.
Curran showed his all-round value in a 47-run stand with Liam Dawson which lifted England past their lowest first-innings T20 total of 101.
Sri Lanka's Maheesh Theekshana celebrates the wicket of England's Jos Buttler | Photo: AP
Dawson (14) and Overton (2) fell to Chameera in the 18th over and Curran reached his fifty from 44 balls before also departing to the seamer in the final over.
From a bleak position, Curran's innings lifted England to a competitive 9-128.
England have been expensive with the new ball but Luke Wood - in for the rested Jofra Archer - staked his claim by removing Kamil Mishara for a duck.
Jamie Overton's first over went for 14 before Pathum Nissanka fell to Dawson for a quickfire 23, but Sri Lanka were going well at 2-62 in the ninth over.
A ripping googly from Adil Rashid bowled Pavan Rathnayake for 13 and Kusal Mendis went next ball to Jacks for 26 to change the match.
When Jacks trapped Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka were five down, needing 39 from 41 balls.
Janith Liyanage was Jacks' third victim for 17 and Sri Lanka needed 21 from the last 18 balls.
But Bethell ripped Sri Lanka's hopes away with three wickets - Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka - in the 18th over and dismissed Theekshana to bowl the hosts out with three balls to spare.
