21 May 2014

Sri Lanka beat England in T20

9:35 am on 21 May 2014

Sri Lanka has beaten England by nine runs in their Twenty20 international at The Oval.

The tourists finished on 183 for seven with Thisara Perera making the most of a dropped catch early on to blast 49 from only 20 balls.

Alex Hales gave England hope with 66, but the opener had little support from further down the order.

Captain Lasith Malinga took three for 28 for the World Cup holders.

The defeat means that England have won only six out of 25 international matches in all formats since the beginning of last winter's disastrous Ashes tour.

The first of five one-dayers is at The Oval on Thursday night.