England bowlers secure crucial win over Sri Lanka
· Yahoo Sports
T20 World Cup, Super 8s Group 2, Pallekele
England 146-9 (20 overs): Salt 62 (40), Jacks 21 (14); Wellalage 3-26,
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Sri Lanka 95 (16.4 overs): Shanaka 30 (24); Jacks 3-22
England won by 51 runs
A superb bowling performance breathed life into England's T20 World Cup campaign as Harry Brook's side beat co-hosts Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their opening match of the Super 8s phase.
England remained unconvincing with the bat in posting 146-9 but their bowlers took full advantage of a tricky surface to knock over their hosts for 95.
Jofra Archer dismissed key batter Pathum Nissanka and fellow opener Kamil Mishara but even more impressive were the three wickets for all-rounder Will Jacks inside the powerplay.
Jacks, who has struggled with the ball at times in this tournament, removed Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake in consecutive deliveries and added the scalp of Dunith Wellalage as Sri Lanka crumbled to 34-5 under the pressure of a chase.
After Kamindu Mendis chipped back a catch to Liam Dawson and Dushan Hemantha hit his own wicket, Jacks combined with Tom Banton to complete a fine relay catch on the boundary to dismiss Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka's captain and the last recognised batter, for 30.
That England's batting remains far from perfect is pushed to another day. Jos Buttler made a tortured seven from 14 balls, Jacob Bethell fell to a wild slog and Tom Banton ran himself out.
Phil Salt's 62 and 21 from Jacks, who was the next highest scorer in a fine all-round display, were crucial.
England play Pakistan on Tuesday and New Zealand on Friday in their remaining Super 8s matches.
Two wins would guarantee a semi-final place. One may be enough.
Jacks delivers again for England
Salt and Jacks dragged England to a score but Sri Lanka still appeared favourites at halfway.
Though England defended 128 on this ground in a series before the World Cup, Sri Lanka chased 182 with two overs to spare to beat Australia here in the group stage.
This surface was trickier than that one. Its sticky nature and decent turn offered assistance to the spinners and Jacks capitalised.
After conceding four from an accurate first over, Jacks got one to grip to take the leading edge of Mendis. Rathnayake charged him a ball later and was caught skying a hideous swipe.
Credit must also go to Brook, who kept Jacks in the attack for a third over which tempted Dunith Wellalage to charge and hit to mid-on – another wretched stroke.
Brook also used Archer for three consecutive overs at the start.
Archer bowled at high pace and had Nissanka, who scored a brilliant hundred against Australia, caught at deep square leg before finding the edge of Mishara.
Hemantha's dismissal – he hit his stumps with his bat flapping at Jamie Overton – summed up a poor Sri Lanka batting display, not that England will care.
After nervy wins over Nepal, Scotland and Italy in the group stage, they are closing in on a place in the last four.
Salt and Jacks salvage England's innings
Still we wait for England's batting to truly fire at this tournament.
With his feet stuck and best form seeming distant, Buttler missed three deliveries and toe-ended another before being pinned in front by Wellalage's left-arm spin on the reverse sweep.
Only 37 runs came from the powerplay, with Bethell caught at short third trying to hit Maheesh Theekshana over mid-wicket.
As the pressure to score rose, Banton took on a single that was never there and Brook was trapped tentatively on the crease for 14.
The highest partnership of the match was 26 between Salt and Sam Curran. Battling cramp from the ninth over, Salt did not find top gear and Curran holed out at long-on
Jacks targeted the off side smartly and struck four important fours and Overton clubbed a six in the last over.
There remains room for improvement but England's tactic of favouring batting depth - Jacks was at number seven and Overton nine here – is proving to be smart as the top order struggles.