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England rally for fourth straight T20 World Cup win

Published:Monday | November 1, 2021 | 3:01 PM
England's cricketers celebrate their win in the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match over Sri Lanka in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates today.
England's cricketers celebrate their win in the Cricket Twenty20 World Cup match over Sri Lanka in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates today.

Jos Buttler hit the first century of the Twenty20 World Cup, rallying England from a precarious 35 for three to score 163 for four against Sri Lanka.

Buttler smashed 101 not out off off 67 balls, with six fours and six sixes, as he rallied England in a 112-run partnership with his captain, Eoin Morgan, who made 40 from 36 balls.

It was Buttler's first ever century in T20 internationals.

In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 137 in 19 overs, as they could not come to terms with the bowling of Moeen Ali (2-15 off three overs), Adil Rashid (2-19 off four) and Chris Jordan (2-24 off four) and suffered their third defeat in four matches.

Wanindu Hasaranga led Sri Lanka's batting with 34 off 31 balls, while Bhanuka Rajapaska 26 (18) and skipper Dasun Shanaka, who was run out for 26 (25), got starts but could not carry on.

England thus racked up their fourth win in as many matches to lead Group One with maximum eight points, as they all but sew up a spot in the semi-finals.