England Seals T20 Series Win as Buttler Makes History

Jos Buttler just made cricket history on a day when everything went right for England.

The 35-year-old wicketkeeper became England's most capped international player ever, surpassing James Anderson's 401 appearances across all formats. Buttler marked his record 402nd game with a winning performance, scoring 39 runs as England chased down a revised target of 168 in a rain-affected match in Sri Lanka.

But the real star was Tom Banton, who smashed an unbeaten 54 off just 33 balls to guide England home with two balls to spare. The Somerset batter, only playing because of Ben Duckett's finger injury, made the most of his opportunity with seven boundaries that lit up Pallekele.

Captain Harry Brook added fireworks of his own, crushing four sixes in a blistering 12-ball 36 that kept England ahead of the required run rate. Sam Curran finished things off with a game-ending maximum, sealing the six-wicket victory and clinching the series with one match still to play.

Rain interrupted England's chase at 57-2, but when play resumed with 111 runs needed from 58 balls, the tourists exploded into action. Banton and his teammates found every gap in the field, punishing Sri Lankan bowlers who had already conceded heavily against England's pacers earlier in the day.

Why This Inspires

This match showed what happens when opportunity meets preparation. Banton wasn't supposed to be in this position, but when injury opened a door, he walked through it with confidence and skill.

His performance gives England selectors a wonderful problem to solve before the T20 World Cup begins February 8. "I just want to play all formats and take my chance when I get it," Banton said after earning player of the match honors.

Meanwhile, Buttler's milestone represents 15 years of excellence across 57 Tests, 199 ODIs, and 146 T20 matches. Breaking a record held by one of cricket's greatest bowlers while still contributing meaningfully to victories shows the depth of his impact on English cricket.

England's spinners also shone, with Will Jacks, Adil Rashid, and Liam Dawson combining to frustrate Sri Lankan batters who had hammered the seamers for 103 runs. The balanced team performance has England perfectly positioned heading into their World Cup campaign against Nepal.

The tourists will try to complete a 3-0 sweep on Tuesday, building momentum at exactly the right time for the tournament ahead.