Brook, Buttler go berserk again as England thrash Sri Lanka in first T20

​​Harry Brook and Jos Buttler went berserk in a T20 at Southampton for the second time this summer as England smoked 254-4 against Sri Lanka during a 119-run victory in the series opener – their first game since Kevin Pietersen’s appointment as white-ball mentor.

White-ball captain Brook (114no off 49 balls) – who nailed six boundaries in one over – and predecessor in that role Buttler (80 off 49) plundered 128 from just 60 balls in partnership for England’s second wicket once debutant Aneurin Donald (12 off 5) fell after slamming a six and a four amid a bright but fleeting cameo.

Brook and Buttler had combined for a riotous stand of 233 from 103 balls at the same venue in July as England romped to a total of 257-3 against India that secured a 4-0 series sweep, with Buttler tonking a century on that occasion and Brook an unbeaten 95.

This time around the roles were reversed with Buttler – playing his first innings since the Hundred final at Lord’s on August 16 – missing out on a ton but Brook reaching three figures for the second time in T20 internationals, doing so from just 42 deliveries.

No wonder England legend Pietersen, who scored over 14,000 runs in all international cricket between 2004 and 2014, was smiling throughout in the dugout.

That expression that would surely have continued as Sri Lanka subsided to 135 all out in 19 overs in reply, to suffer a 13th successive defeat to their opponents in this format, stretching back to 2014, and England made it 21 wins from their last 24 T20Is.

The pacey, accurate and economical Sonny Baker bagged 3-12 from four overs, including bowling Kamil Mishara (10) to claim his first white-ball wicket for England, while leg-spin maestro Adil Rashid (1-31) nicked off Dasun Shanaka (24 off 14) with a peach of a delivery having just been belted for back-to-back sixes.

KP watches on as Brook dazzles at Utilita Bowl

Brook’s innings was a joy to watch, with his expert ability to pick up length on full display in the 30-run fifth over of the game when he struck Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage for six boundaries in as many deliveries (three sixes, three fours).

Brook’s first boundary in that set, a six onto the cushion at long-on, was a little edgy but his next five were sublime – fours over the bowler’s head and down to long-on, a scooped six over fine leg, a maximum over long-off and, finally, a four behind point.

Only Phil Salt – missing this series due to a quad injury, hence why Derbyshire batter Donald has been handed a chance – has hit a faster T20I hundred for England than Brook, taking 39 balls against South Africa in 2025 when the team amassed 304-2 in Manchester.

Former England Test captain Ben Stokes took to social media to say that “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise.”

Stokes would later add: “Bit harsh on KP actually. Both are freak talents but Brook is better in my opinion.”

Baker bags first white-ball wickets as Sri Lanka subside

Brook then rotated his bowlers smartly in the second half of the game as Sri Lanka’s monumental task was made practically impossible when they started slowly and then tumbled to 69-5 inside the first 10 overs of a sorry chase, one in which Wellalage (33 off 21) top-scored, crunching four fours and two sixes.

Brook’s boys – for whom seamer Jamie Overton (2-20) and spinner Liam Dawson (2-23) shared four wickets – will now hope to wrap up a series win with a game to spare in Cardiff on Thursday night (6.30pm start), ahead of the final match at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday (2.30pm start). Both fixtures are live on Sky Sports Cricket.

Welshman Donald will be looking to make a more sustained impact in the country of his birth in the second T20 – the 29-year-old came through the Glamorgan academy and is the Cardiff county’s first homegrown international since 2005 Ashes hero Simon Jones.

After Donald heaved a maximum leg-side and drilled four through extra-cover next ball, he spooned Wellalage down the ground, before watching on as Brook and Butler made mincemeat of the tourists’ bowling attack – the duo spanking 28 boundaries between them.

Watch England’s second T20 vs Sri Lanka live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 6pm on Thursday (6.30pm first ball). Latest Sky Sports deals or stream no contract with NOW.

England vs Sri Lanka results and fixtures

All times UK and Ireland; all games live on Sky Sports

• First T20 (Utilita Bowl) – England win by 119 runs
• Second T20 (Thursday September 17) – Cardiff (6.30pm)
• Third T20 (Saturday September 19) – Old Trafford (2.30pm)
• First ODI (Tuesday September 22) – Durham (12.30pm)
• Second ODI (Thursday September 24) – Headingley (12.30pm)
• Third ODI (Sunday September 27) – The Kia Oval (10.30am)