ENGLISH CRICKET: A string of tourists sweep Sri Lanka in a low-scoring thriller

England successfully defended their target of 129 to win by 12 runs against Sri Lanka in an enthralling contest, completing a 3-0 sweep of the T20 series and entering the World Cup with momentum.

Sam Curran hit a career-best 58 after a first-class collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists’ spinners took nine wickets to seal an unlikely win.

Wheeljack took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell took the last four Sri Lankan wickets, including three in one, to end with 4-11 as the hosts were bowled out for 116.

After choosing to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all removed for odd figures before Curran took his side to a score that still looked difficult to defend.

Having already lost the series with defeat in the first two matches, Sri Lanka bowled superbly, with seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including the wicket of Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.

Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets on the pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to successive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jax.

Sri Lanka were still favorites and reached 90-4 before Jack struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janeth Liyanage in successive overs.

Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell then took over, dismissing Donith Willalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over.

After being handed the final over, he ended the match by dismissing Mahesh Thekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total successfully defended in T20s.

England begins its World Cup campaign against Nepal on Sunday, February 8 (09:30 GMT).