England completed a dominant whitewash T20 series win after thrashing Sri Lanka in Southampton.
The hosts secured a comprehensive 89-run victory thanks to an impressive knock from Dawid Malan and an impressive bowling performance from David Willey.
Sri Lanka won the toss and put England into bat
For the third game running, Kusal Perera won the toss but this time elected to bowl first.
Jason Roy was suffering with a tight hamstring, so was replaced with Moeen Ali and Malan moved to open with Jonny Bairstow.
In addition, Mark Wood was rested which saw the return of Chris Woakes.
Sri Lanka made two changes of their own, with Lakshan Sandakan coming in for Akila Dananjaya, and Oshada Fernando replacing the injured Avishka Fernando.
An excellent opening stand of over 100 between Bairstow and Malan got England flying. Bairstow reached a blistering half-century but departed soon after, as he missed an excellent delivery from Isuru Udana which crashed into the stumps.
Malan continued to motor on and pulled off some outrageous shots before his partner at the crease Liam Livingstone did not catch his shot cleanly which comfortably ended up in the hands of Dasun Shanaka.
Despite this, England were by far the happier of the two sides at 143-2, with just under five overs still to come, giving Malan plenty of time for a century.
Sam Billings would not last long at the crease as he made just two before skying one up in the air and straight to Shanaka again.
The Sri Lankan fightback continued as captain Eoin Morgan lasted just two deliveries as he picked out the only man on the boundary in Danushka Gunathilaka.
Dawid Malan falls 24 runs short of a T20 century
Some continuous impressive bowling from Dushmantha Chameera in particular saw Malan removed for 76.
Moeen followed just two deliveries later as Chameera continued his masterclass in death bowling to reduce England to 163-6 going into the final over.
Chameera finished on career best figures of 4-17, but a much better final over from an England perspective saw 17 scored from it as the hosts ended on 180-6.
Sri Lanka set a target of 181 to win
Willey struck with the second ball of the Sri Lankan innings as Gunathilaka nicked to Malan who held on at the second attempt to give England a brilliant start.
The good start continued for the hosts as captain Kusal Perera made just three before he was dismissed thanks to an impressive catch by Livingstone.
Woakes picked up his second in the over as straight after hitting him for six, Kusal Mendis edged behind to Bairstow. After minimal appeals at first was given out, and despite a review the decision stood.
Sam Curran then struck to leave Sri Lanka 46-4 as Oshada Fernando edged straight up in the air and to Willey.
England showed their superb work in the field as a magnificent throw from Billings saw Shanaka on his way.
Niroshan Dickwella followed him soon after as Chris Jordan pulled off a catch he never looked like dropping, proving why he is up there as one of England’s best fielders.
Jordan then picked up a wicket of his own as Wanindu Hasaranga edged to first slip where Malan was to hold on, with Sri Lana succumbing to 64-7 inside 14 overs.
Udana then departed for a four-ball duck without adding to the total as he top edged straight to Moeen.
Livingstone got in on the act as the spin completely fooled Binura Fernando and destroyed his stumps.
Finally, Moeen brought on for his first over of the match ended the game as he caught Chameera on his pads and was given out by umpire Martin Saggers.
Chameera instantly reviewed the decision, but DRS would not save him or Sri Lanka from a thumping defeat.
Malan was named man of the match for his superb knock of 76, justifying his place as the No 1 T20 batsman in the world.
Both sides’ attention will now turn to the ODI series which begins on Tuesday, with the first of three matches in the series beginning at 11 from the Riverside Ground in Durham.
By Josh Mann
