Jos Buttler hit the first century of the ongoing T20 World Cup as England effectively booked their semi-final spot with a 26-run victory over Sri Lanka on Monday.
Buttler’s solo effort took England to 163/4 in 20 overs after being invited to bat first in Sharjah. However, English team bowled Lankan team out for 137 in 19 overs.
The English opener fired a 67-ball 101* while skipper Eoin Morgan played second fiddle, scoring 40 runs off 36 balls during a 112-run stand that came after a shaky start.
Opting to field, Lankan bowlers backed up skipper Dasun Shanaka's decision by picking three wickets in the Powerplay. Wanindu Hasaranga (3/21) was the architect of the strong start as he dismissed Jason Roy (9 of 6) and Jonny Bairstow (0 of 1) in quick succession while Dushmantha Chameera removed Dawid Malan (6 off 8).
Buttler and Morgan then paired up and added 112 runs in 78 balls to bail England out of trouble. Buttler, who was forced to check his shots after the top-order collapse, took 45 balls to reach his half century.
Once settled, the wicket-keeper batter took just 12 balls for his next 50 runs while reaching his century off the last ball of the innings. Buttler fired 6 sixes and as many fours during the course of his innings while Morgan, who shot three towering sixes, fell at the fag end of the innings to Hasaranga. (Inputs from UNI)
