Harry Brook and Jos Buttler turned the Southampton pitch into a fireworks display for the second time this summer, guiding England to a crushing 254‑4 in a 119‑run victory over Sri Lanka in the series‑opening T20. The match also marked the first encounter under the watchful eye of newly appointed white‑ball mentor Kevin Pietersen.
Brook, who captained the white‑ball side, smashed an unbeaten 114 off just 49 deliveries, including a blistering over in which he struck six consecutive boundaries. Buttler, the former white‑ball skipper, contributed a rapid 80 off 44 balls. Together they amassed 128 runs from a mere 60 balls for England’s second wicket after debutant Aneurin Donald was dismissed for 12, having smashed a six and a four in a brief but lively cameo. The pair’s partnership echoed their earlier heroics at the same venue in July, when they combined for a ferocious 233‑run stand off 103 balls against India, propelling England to 257‑3 and sealing a 4‑0 series sweep.
In that encounter Buttler notched a century while Brook finished unbeaten on 95. England’s innings summary: 254‑4 in 20 overs – Harry Brook 114* (49), Jos Buttler 80 (44), Will Jacks 21 (12).
Sri Lanka’s bowlers were led by Wanindu Hasaranga, who returned figures of 1‑34. Sri Lanka’s reply collapsed at 135 all out in 19 overs, falling short of the 255‑run target.
Their top‑order contributions came from Dunith Wellelage (33 off 21), Dasun Shanaka (24 off 14) and Eshan Malinga (13 off 5). England’s bowlers shared the spoils: Sonny Baker 3‑12, Jamie Overton 2‑20, Liam Dawson 2‑23 and Will Jacks 1‑21. The second T20 will be streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 pm (first ball at 6.30 pm) on Thursday in Cardiff, with a final showdown scheduled for Saturday at the Emirates Old Trafford.
In this match Buttler, playing his first innings since the Hundred final at Lord’s on 16 August, fell just short of a century, while Brook reached the three‑figure mark for the second time in his T20I career, doing so in just 42 balls by blending brute power with agile running between the wickets. It was no surprise that England legend Kevin Pietersen, who amassed nearly 14,000 international runs between 2004 and 2014, wore a grin throughout the game. Sri Lanka’s defeat marked their 13th consecutive loss to England in T20 internationals, a streak that stretches back to 2014.
England, meanwhile, improved their recent record to 21 wins in their last 24 T20Is. Sonny Baker’s spell was a standout, delivering three wickets for just 12 runs in four overs, including the dismissal of Kamil Mishara (10) for his first white‑ball wicket. Spin maestro Adil Rashid also chipped in with figures of 1‑31, removing Dasun Shanaka after the latter had just hit back‑to‑back sixes. Brook’s innings was a masterclass in timing and placement.
In the fifth over, he punished left‑arm spinner Dunith Wellelage with six consecutive boundaries – three sixes and three fours – showcasing his ability to read length and adjust his stroke play. His first boundary of the over was a daring six onto the cushion at long‑on, followed by a series of elegant shots: a lofted four over the bowler’s head, a scooped six over fine‑leg, a towering six over long‑off and a crisp four behind point.
Only Phil Salt, sidelined by a quad injury, has recorded a faster T20I hundred for England, achieving the feat in 39 balls against South Africa in 2025 when England posted 304‑2 in Manchester. Former England Test captain Ben Stokes took to social media to praise Brook’s talent, stating, “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent‑wise.
You are an absolute freak, Harry. You’re mint to watch.” He later added, “Bit harsh on KP actually.
Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.” After Sri Lanka’s early collapse to 69‑5 inside the first ten overs, Brook rotated his bowlers wisely, ensuring the visitors never recovered. The Sri Lankan top‑scorer, Wellelage, managed 33 off 21 balls, peppered with four fours and two sixes, but the rest of the line‑up faltered.
England’s bowling attack, featuring seamer Jamie Overton (2‑20) and spinner Liam Dawson (2‑23), shared four wickets between them. The squad now aims to clinch the series with a game to spare in Cardiff before the final match at Old Trafford.
Aneurin Donald, the 29‑year‑old Cardiff‑born all‑rounder, will be eager to make a bigger impact in the second T20. A product of the Glamorgan academy, Donald becomes the first home‑grown international from Cardiff since 2005 Ashes hero Simon Jones.
After a brief cameo that saw him loft a maximum leg‑side and a four through extra‑cover, Donald helped set the stage for Brook and Buttler’s onslaught, during which the duo struck 28 boundaries between them. Brook also shared his thoughts on working with Pietersen, saying, “[Pietersen] looked at batting slightly differently, in a similar way to me as well.
He always wants to put the bowlers under pressure. He was a phenomenal player.
The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I’m looking forward to conversations about that. I mentioned to him earlier about trying to help me read surfaces and using my skills to perform on that pitch as well, not just for white‑ball cricket, Test cricket as well.
Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career. He’s a hero to a lot of players. We grew up watching him and it’s just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room.” Fans can catch England’s second T20 against Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6 pm on Thursday (first ball at 6.30 pm). All times are UK and Ireland.