England’s short-format captain Morgan sees no reason why Mills can not repeat such blistering turns at worldwide level, but insisted his fitness must remain a constant priority.
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Victory meant England won the inaugural Super Series, which incorporates results in all three formats of the game, 20-4, and completed a miserable tour for Sri Lanka who failed to win any of the nine global matches.
Englands Eoin Morgan (L) and Jos Buttler celebrate winning the match Action Images via Reuters.
Kusal Mendis clubbed a Jordan full toss just wide of Jonny Bairstow. and the England bowler was hammered for 20 runs in one over. Kusal Mendis (21) and Danushka Gunathilaka (26) took Sri Lanka to 51 for one in the powerplay with a flurry of boundary. His figures proved just how well he bowled on his debut and on his home ground.
Ramith Rambukwella blasted Rashid for a six then a four to bring up Sri Lanka’s 100, eventually plundering 14 runs from Rashid’s fourth and final over.
Plunkett then shrugged off Chandimal blasting him for six by removing Seekkuge Prasanna for just one run, caught behind by Buttler.
That left the tourists 122 for seven from 16 overs, before Mills finished his four overs with figures of no wickets for 22 runs.
Morgan was delighted with his team’s performance in the field. His replacement David Willey caught Farveez Maharoof for 10 to give Jordan his second wicket. Sri Lanka, therefore, were bowled out 140 from their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka were 79-3 after ten overs but crumbled as they lost Mathews bowled by Dawson for 11 and Dasun Shanaka ran out next ball going for a second run by Jason Roy s fine throw. But then it became the Buttler and Morgan show. Mathews picked up another wicket when another James Vince was dismissed in the fifth over of the innings.
Vince’s determination to manoeuvre across the crease then cost him his wicket, a tangle ending in a stumping by Dinesh Chandimal.
It followed a disappointing maiden Test series (54 runs at 13.5) but Vince was man of the series after making 125 runs at 41.66 in his first three T20 internationals, against Pakistan in November – and no-one knows the Ageas Bowl better. At the end of the powerplay, England scored 41 for two.
Sri Lanka s total never looked enough on a fine batting wicket. However, Buttler soon took control with four sixes and three fours and along with skipper Morgan [47 not out], who survived being dropped by Mathews, put on 114 for the third wicket.
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Morgan, who revealed he will have a scan on Wednesday on his finger, told Sky Sports 2: “Liam Dawson was fantastic and Tymal Mills showing what he did – there are usually nerves on debut but there were none today”.
