England cricket: Tourists sweep series against Sri Lanka in low-scoring thriller

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

Sam Curran hit a career-best 58 after a top-order collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists' spinners took nine wickets to pull off an unlikely victory.

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

Having chosen to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all removed for single figures prior to Curran taking his side to a score that still looked challenging to defend.

Having already lost the series with defeat in the first two games, 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 a worn pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to consecutive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.

Sri Lanka were still favourites and reached 90-4 before Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in consecutive overs.

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

Having been handed the final over, he wrapped up the match with the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total they have ever successfully defended in T20s.

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

Having won the preceding one-day series and taken the first two T20s, England risked stalling a successful build-up for the World Cup with a heavy defeat in the final fixture.

However, their spinners starred in Pallekele, offering promise for the upcoming tournament, which is to be staged in India and Sri Lanka.

Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson both performed well, each taking 1-25, but England will be especially delighted that all-rounder Jacks and occasional spinner Bethell stepped up to outshine the front-line twirlers.

On a pitch that offered the greatest level of turn in the series, Brook exclusively bowled spinners after the powerplay, and turned to Bethell and Jacks as his sixth and seventh bowlers.

Jacks broke a partnership of 28 that looked set to take Sri Lanka over the victory line, trapping Kamindu Mendis lbw and then having Linyage caught on his return to the attack.

Bethell then rattled through the Sri Lankan lower order, with the hosts losing their last four wickets for four runs to fall to defeat and extending their losing run against England in this format to 11 matches.

England coach Brendon McCullum will also be pleased with the performance of Wood, who was rotated in for Jofra Archer and bowled excellently in his two overs, removing Sri Lanka opener for a duck after three balls of the innings.

England captain Harry Brook: "That was awesome and one of the most fun wins I've been part of. We have shown we can adapt to different surfaces and tonight was difficult but the way Sam Curran batted was brilliant.

"The World Cup is going to be co-hosted here and when we get the opportunity to play here we can carry that experience over. It's been an awesome tour and hopefully we'll come back to Sri Lanka a few more times."

England player of the match and series Sam Curran: "It was the third time on the same wicket. 130 felt a decent score. We had some spinners who made the difference. It was a fun game. A fantastic series win and off to Mumbai tomorrow.

"Great to be back in the side and contributing. We played well and the confidence is really good."

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: "Of course, very much disappointed. I think we could have taken it deep.

"There's a lot of areas we need to make right at the World Cup. As the captain, I need to address the areas. We need to play a good World Cup, I definitely want to deliver something special."

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