Key events
3rd over: England 42-1 (Buttler 23, Brook 5) Eshan Malinga (no relation) starts brilliantly, the fast bowler mixes his pace and length every ball and gets out of the over for just six runs.
3rd over: England 36-1 (Buttler 21, Brook 2) Harry Brook walks out to the middle with his slightly splay footed simian stroll. Quick singles exchanged with Buttler make it five runs and the wicket off Wellalage’s first over. The pitch is flat and the outfield rapid.
Aneurin Donald c Shanaka b Wellalage 12 (England 31-1)
Gone! Nye Donald perishes with a toe ender that is well caught at mid off. His dayboo with the bat is over but his strikerate is still a nosebleed inducing 240.
2nd over: England 31-0 (Buttler 18, Donald 12) Chameera with his sling pace from the other end. Buttler blams him through cover for four and then cracks his wrists on the follow up for four more down the ground. The camera zooms in on KP and BM having a good old giggle on the balcony. The Honeymoon period in full swing. Buttler carves the third consecutive four… make that four. Boundaries on both sides of the wicket being peppered.
1st over: England 15-0 (Buttler 2, Donald 12) Theekshana opens up with the ball for Sri Lanka. Buttler nudges into the leg side to get a single off the first ball and bring Donald on strike. The Derbyshire man gets his first runs in international cricket with a confident sweep for two. The next ball is fuller and quicker, angled into Donald’s front pad – Sri Lanka send it upstairs for a review but it hit the debutant outside the line.
SIX! Donald wipes his third ball for a big one over midwicket and follows up with a Harry Brook esque dance down the pitch and carve through cover for four. This is why they picked him!
Here come the players, Sri Lanka huddle in dark blue and yellow. England are in red tops with blue trews. Aneurin Donald comes out with Jos Buttler, what a moment for the 29 year old. Let’s play!
Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lahiru Udara, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Eshan Malinga
It’s a spin heavy attack for the visitors who are trying to tip the scales back to winning ways since losing ten of their 15 T20I matches so far this year.
Sri Lanka win the toss and choose to bowl first
It’s a beautiful late summer evening at the Utilita and the coin falls the way of Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka. He decides to chase, in modern parlance. Harry Brook then says he would have batted first anyway, so there.
Who is Aneurin Donald and why is he playing for England? This video explainer from Yas Rana has got you covered.
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England have announced their XI already.
They are without Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran for fitness reasons and Jofra Archer is rested after the Test summer. Brydon Carse is on the naughty step for the forseeable.
In their absence, Jordan Cox plays his first T20I since October 2025 and Aneurin Donald – the Glamorgan raised Derbyshire batter who scored 31 off eight balls for the Lions against Sri Lanka last week – will make his debut as opener.
“He’s a cricketer who has been on our radar for a long time,” McCullum said of Donald in the pre game presser. “He’s got a game where he can go from ball one. He’s got raw power, an incredible amount of talent.”
England XI
Aneurin Donald, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Josh Tongue, Sonny Baker, Adil Rashid
Preamble
You thought the International cricketing summer was over eh? Not a chance. Fling off that chunky fisherman knitted pullover, step away from the soup pan and cease and desist spinning the Nick Drake vinyl. Autumn isn’t quite upon us yet.
Hello and welcome the first T20I between England and Sri Lanka from Southampton. Six whiteball matches inside the next two weeks means Harry Brook and Brendon McCullum can resume their whiteball bromance. There is even a third bro invited into the mix for the next year, just to keep things spicy, doubt you’ll have heard of him though…
Play starts on the south coast at 6.30pm. Drop me a line if you are tuning in. Let’s get into it.