ENG vs SL 2nd T20I Live Commentary - Cardiff (17 September 2026)

FOUR! Flatter one, on a dragged length on middle. Banton goes back in the crease and belts it straight down the ground for a boundary.

That's excellent running from these two. Floated up on middle and leg, Banton clips it through the open spaces at mid-wicket and races back for the second run.

Nice and full, on middle, clipped down to long on for a run.

Leg bye.

Wanindu sees Banton advancing and drops the length back. Banton ends up fending it back to the bowler.

Six! Played towards mid wicket.

Darted in on a good length, on leg stump, Banton stays put and tucks it down wide of square leg for a couple of runs.

Quick and a bit shorter, angled in with the arm. Banton hops back and jams it back to the bowler.

Ratnayake switches from left-arm spin to off-spin. This is lobbed at the stumps, and Banton works it through mid-wicket for a single.

Left-arm spin to Cox. Bowled full and drifting into the pads. Cox works it through mid-wicket for one.

SIX! That's begging to be hit! A half-tracker on off and middle, Tom Banton lines it up early and smokes it over long on for a biggie.

Back to left-arm spin, firing it in towards the stumps. Banton rocks back and swats it down to long on for a single.

Full and on the pads, nudged away towards mid-wicket for a single

SIX! 'Catch' is the call from the keeper, but Harry Brook gets enough power on it. A shorter googly, angled into the batter. Brook swivels onto the back foot and slogs it flat over deep square leg for a maximum.

Flatter and just outside off, cut away off the outside edge down to short third.

SIX! Not all that short, but Brook sends the ball flying. Good length on off, Brook rocks back and wallops it away over wide long on for another biggie.

SIX! That is a mighty hit from Brook, his third six in the over. Shorter in length, straighter too. Brook goes deep in the crease and clobbers it in front of deep mid-wicket for a huge six.

OUT! CAUGHT! That is a stunning grab from Eshan Malinga and Sri Lanka gets another timely wicket. Wanindu Hasaranga keeps the length a bit short but bowls it flatter and gets the wrong'un to dart back in. Harry Brook looks to pull off the back foot but snatches at it, hitting it flat and to the left of deep square leg. Malinga is well inside the ropes and lunges across horizontally to snaffle it with both hands, and Brook's fast start has come to an end.

OUT! CAUGHT! One brings two, and Dushmantha Chameera has come back really well after an expensive first over. A sharp bumper from Chameera, over off and middle and this one skids through. Jos Buttler is late on the pull, miscuing it badly towards the gully region. A few fielders circle around, but the keeper, Kamil Mishara, calls for it and pouches it safely. Both of England's openers are now back in the hut.

Hard length in the channel, steered wide of the short third fielder for a single.

On a good length, seaming back in towards middle. Brook plays it really late and in front of backward point for a quick single.

A few inches fuller than the last ball, attacking the middle stump. Banton defends it to cover.

Not off the middle of the bat, but Banton will get away with it. Another skiddy bumper from Chameera, over middle and Banton takes on the pull. Banton gets it high on the bat and over the mid-wicket region for a couple of runs.

Shorter and outside off, guided away down to deep third for a single. England are 60/2 after the Powerplay, whereas Sri Lanka were 56/2 at the same stage, so not much in it at this stage.

Another easy single for Buttler, and he's now touched 15000 T20 runs, going one run past Kieron Pollard, and becoming the first man to achieve this milestone. Back of a length, over off, Buttler bunts it into the off side and picks up a single.

Pace off from Malinga, short of a good length and angling back into the batter. Donald looks to stay put and pull but nearly gets cut in half.

Just out of reach! A slower-ball bumper, dug in over off. Aneurin Donald goes after it and miscues it badly, splicing it over mid-wicket. Two fielders run back and it is Tharindu Ratnayake from mid-wicket who puts in a late dive, but can't get to it. Two taken.

OUT! CAUGHT! Eshan Malinga breaks the opening stand and gives his side an opening. Another pace-off delivery, much fuller and outside off. Aneurin Donald hangs back and throws his hands at it, dragging it high towards wide mid on. Wanindu Hasaranga moves to his right and pouches it safely and England are now 51/1, needing 95 more off 92 balls.

FOUR! Short of a good length, just outside off. Harry Brook stays back and watches it well, steering it nonchalantly over short third for a boundary.

Back of a length over off, hitting the deck hard. Brook gets right behind the line to block.

Dragged length at the stumps, Donald steps down the track and hits it down to long on for a single.

A flatter googly on middle and leg, Buttler stays back and skews it off the inside half of the bat to short fine leg for one more

A bit more tossed up around off Donald comes down thetrack again, but gets too close to the pitch of the ball and smothers it away to long off for a run.

The wrong'un, turns back into the stumps, and Jos smacks it straight to mid off.

SIX! BANG! A bit of a drag-down on middle, Jos Buttler rocks onto the back foot and whacks it handsomely over long on and that's actually gone out of the ground and into the river. New ball, please!

Lobbed up, very full and down leg. Buttler turns it to deep square leg and picks up a single.

FOUR! Straight enough from Jos. Overpitched on middle and leg, Buttler stands inside the line and gives it a bit of whip, punching it uppishly and left of the mid on fielder for a boundary.

FOUR! That's sensational from Buttler. Madushanka sees Buttler setting up for the scoop and takes pace off, angling it across off. Buttler adjusts and looks for the reverse scoop, and actually ends up maneuvering it back over the keeper's head for another boundary.

FOUR MORE! A hat-trick of boundaries for Jos Buttler. Pace off again, pushed wide of the off stump. Buttler runs down the pitch, holds his shape and creams it past covers for a boundary.

Dug in well short and slanted across the right-hander. Buttler gets up on his toes and ramps it over backward point. The ball plugs in the outfield and Buttler picks up a couple of runs more.

Madushanka comes around the wicket now, bowling it on a good length and wide outside off. Buttler comes forward and looks to cut but is beaten.

FOUR! Easy power. Pitched up wide of the off stump, Buttler just plants his front leg across and lifts it nonchalantly over extra cover for a boundary. 18 off the over.

SIX! That's skillful from Donald. Chameera hits the deck hard, angling it in. Donald shuffles to the off side and shovels it over fine leg for a maximum.

FOUR! Pumped down the ground! Hard length over off and middle, Donald stands tall and slams it back over the bowler's head for a boundary now. 10 off the first 2 balls.

FOUR! More of a hack this time, but Donald will take it. Pitched a bit fuller and attacking the stumps, Donald heaves it off the inner half of the blade and in front of square leg. The ball races through the vacant infield and all the way into the boundary.

Short of a good length, at 140 kph and darted into the batter. Donald tries to back away and pull but the ball skids through and goes under the willow.

Shorter again, at the bodyline. Donald gets a bit side on and helps it down to fine leg for a single.

Easily done. Good length, attacking the top of off. Buttler stays back, letting the ball come on, and dabs it gently in front of backward point for a quick run.

A bunt into the off side and the chase is underway. Good-length delivery, around the top of off. Buttler hangs on the back foot and jams it into the off side for a quick single.

Madushanka drags the length back a few inches, keeping it around off. Aneurin Donald gets on his toes and stabs it just to the off side.

Madushanka gets another one to lift off that hard length. Over off stump, hitting the deck hard, and Donald just runs it down to deep third for a single.

Pitched fuller on middle and leg, Buttler walks down the pitch and clips it through square leg for one more. No swing on offer so far for Madushanka.

Oh, dear! That's sloppy from Sri Lanka. Pitched fuller around off, Donald gets half a stride forward and pushes it to mid off. Charith Asalanka lobs the ball unnecessarily towards the bowler's end and there's no one backing up. The batters pick up an overthrow.

A bit of yes and no between the batters, and that's a tidy start with the ball, just 4 off it. Back of a length, tight line on off. Buttler looks to run it down but chops it just beside the off stump.