Sports16 September, 20262 min read
Harry Brook Hits 114* as England Crush Sri Lanka by 119 Runs in Southampton T20
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Harry Brook scored 114 not out off 49 balls for England. England posted 254-4 and beat Sri Lanka by 119 runs.
Brook’s 114* powers win
England captain Harry Brook hit 114 not out off 49 balls as England posted 254-4 against Sri Lanka in the first Vitality T20 at Southampton, then bowled the visitors out for 135 in 19 overs to win by 119 runs. Brook’s innings included 10 fours and six sixes, and he finished unbeaten as England’s total was powered by a 128-run second-wicket partnership with Jos Buttler. Sri Lanka’s chase was derailed early as the powerplay ended with them at 32-3, and they later reached 71-5 at the halfway mark.
The match also featured Sonny Baker’s spell of 3-12 from four overs, while Dunith Wellalage top-scored for Sri Lanka with 33 off 21. England’s win stretched their run to a 13th successive T20I victory over Sri Lanka, with the result coming in a series opener at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
Stokes hails Brook
Ben Stokes took to social media to praise Brook’s century, saying, "I don't even think the genius of KP could come close to what Brook has talent-wise." Stokes added, "You are an absolute freak, Harry," as England’s innings ended with Brook at 114* and Buttler at 80. The BBC framed the performance by likening Brook to Kevin Pietersen, noting that Brook’s 10 fours and six sixes were "reminiscent of former England batter Pietersen" as England thrashed Sri Lanka by 119 runs.
In the same BBC account, Brook’s intensity and running between the wickets were highlighted alongside his 114 not out from 49 balls, with the comparison to Pietersen tied to their shared approach of taking the attack to bowlers. Sky Sports also described the match as England’s first game since Kevin Pietersen’s appointment as white-ball mentor, with Pietersen watching on as Brook reached three figures from 42 deliveries.
Next matches in Cardiff
With Sri Lanka dismissed for 135, England’s next step is to seal the series victory in Cardiff on Thursday, after the first T20 win in Southampton. Sky Sports set the schedule with a game to spare in Cardiff on Thursday (6.30pm start) and a final match at Emirates Old Trafford on Saturday (2.30pm start). The Independent said the Tuesday evening win gave Kevin Pietersen a winning start to his return to the England setup in a mentoring role with the white-ball side.
The BBC’s match report also noted that Brook’s 114* came after a summer without a Test hundred, and it placed his innings within a broader comparison to Pietersen’s style and impact. As the series continues, Sri Lanka will try to respond after a defeat that left them with a 13th successive loss to England in T20 internationals stretching back to 2014.