Harry Brook struck a magnificent unbeaten 114 off 57 balls as England crushed Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20 international in Manchester, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. England posted a formidable 254/4 in their 20 overs, with Brook and captain Jos Buttler sharing a 128-run partnership for the second wicket. Sri Lanka, in reply, were bowled out for 135 in 19 overs, a chase that never gained momentum after they slipped to 52 for four.
Brook's innings was the cornerstone of England's total. He reached his half-century off just 20 balls and brought up his century in 42 deliveries, the third-fastest by an England batter in T20Is. His knock included a remarkable 30-run over off Dunith Wellalage in the fifth over, smashing three sixes and three fours. Brook's unbeaten streak in T20 cricket now stands at 288 runs, following scores of 79 and 95 against India in July, as he remained not out for the third successive innings.
Buttler provided the early impetus, scoring a brisk 80 off 42 balls before falling with the team at 134 for one at the halfway stage of the innings. The captain's innings included four fours and five sixes, as England raced to 90 for one at the end of the powerplay—their second-highest total in that phase in T20Is. Brook then took charge, adding 34 runs in the final over alongside Sonny Baker, who smashed 11 runs off three balls, including a six.
Sri Lanka's chase began disastrously. They were reduced to 52 for four when captain Charith Asalanka was caught by Tom Banton off Liam Dawson, and at the halfway mark they were 71 for five, needing a run rate of over 18 per over. Sonny Baker, making his England debut, was the pick of the bowlers with figures of three for 12 in his four overs, including a fiery 148kph delivery to remove Maheesh Theekshana. Baker also took the wicket of Dunith Wellalage, who was caught at deep backward point for 27. Eshan Malinga, batting at number eight, scored an unbeaten 13 off five balls to add some late resistance, but the chase never threatened England's total.
Aneurin Donald, making his England debut, had a brief stay at the crease, scoring 12 before being caught by Dunith Shanaka off Dunith Wellalage. Donald's debut was one of several events that marked the match. Kevin Pietersen was brought into the England camp by white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum in the build-up to next year's 50-over World Cup, as reported by multiple sources. Brook, reflecting on his innings, said, "I was actually watching his highlights earlier, funnily enough," referring to Pietersen's influence on his aggressive stroke play.
Sri Lanka's innings never got going. They were reduced to 71 for five at the halfway mark of their chase, with only Shanaka (28) and Dunith Wellalage (27) offering any resistance. England's bowlers, led by Baker, kept a tight line and length, with Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson also among the wickets. The victory extended England's winning streak against Sri Lanka in T20Is to 13 matches, a run that now includes this comprehensive win.
The second T20I will be played in Cardiff on Thursday, with England looking to wrap up the series. Three ODIs will follow the T20 series, as the two sides continue their limited-overs tour. Brook's century, described by several sources as a "masterclass" and a "brilliant" innings, has firmly placed him among the world's leading T20 batters, and England will hope he carries this form into the remainder of the series.