T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler's unbeaten century sets up England's 26-run win against Sri Lanka

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Sharjah, Nov 1: Opener Jos Buttler smashed a magnificent unbeaten 101 to set up England's 26-run win over Sri Lanka in their Group 1 Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup here on Monday (November 1). England registered four consecutive wins in the tournament and became the first team to qualify for the semi-finals.

With this win, England captain Eoin Morgan became the most successful T20 captain and surpassed Asghar Afghan and MS Dhoni (42 wins). Morgan now has secured 43 wins in 68 games as the leader of England.

Buttler continued his good form as he hit six fours and an equal number of sixes during his 67-ball century as England posted 163 for 4 after being invited to bat.

Captain Eoin Morgan contributed 40 off 36 balls. For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva was the most successful bowler with figures of 3/21.

Chasing 164 for a win, Sri Lanka were all out for 137 in 19 overs with Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva top-scoring with 34. For England, Adil Rashid, Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid took two wickets apiece.

Earlier in the day England were put in to bat for the first time in the tournament and lost three wickets for 35 runs before Buttler (101 not out off 67 balls) and Morgan (40 off 36) joined hands to stitch a crucial 112 runs for the fourth wicket that came off 78 balls.

England lost Jason Roy (9) in the second over. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (3/21) followed up his hat-trick against South Africa by castling the English opener's stumps with his second ball of the day.

The script went from bad to worse for England as they lost two more quick wickets. First Dawid Malan (6) was cleaned up by Dushmantha Chameera in the third over and two overs later Jonny Bairstow (0) was out LBW to de Silva after Sri Lanka successfully asked for a review.

In between, Buttler found the fence on a few occasions to keep England's scoreboard ticking, managing a meagre 47 runs in the first 10 overs. The onus was on Buttler to up the ante and he did try his best after the 10th over, piling up 14 runs of medium-pacer Chamika Karunaratna in the 13th over.

Buttler first muscled the bowler to the mid-on fence and then clobbered him over the deep midwicket boundary for a maximum. Buttler notched up his fifty off 45 balls, the slowest of his T20 career, with a single off de Silva in the 14th over. The partnership between Buttler and Morgan grew in confidence as time progressed.

The 15th over bowled by fast bowler Lahiru Kumara yielded 22 runs with Buttler hitting two sixes, while Morgan cleared the fence once. Morgan's dismissal had no effect on Buttler who continued his attacking game and finished off the innings with a six off Chameera to notch up first T20 ton.

Buttler decorated his innings with six boundaries and as many sixes. England batters took Sri Lanka bowlers to task in the final five overs, scoring 58 runs for the loss of just one wicket.

(With PTI inputs)