Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty Images

England thrash Sri Lanka after Harry Brook rejects rest to blast brilliant century

Harry Brook declined the opportunity to sit out and instead produced a dominant batting display to guide England to a 119-run triumph against Sri Lanka in the opening Twenty20 fixture. The 27-year-old skipper reached triple figures in just 42 deliveries—finding the boundary rope eight times alongside six maximums—and finished with an undefeated 114 from 49 balls.

This masterclass marked his second century in the format, placing him alongside only two other Englishmen to achieve the milestone multiple times, while lifting his leadership record to 19 wins across 22 matches.

Brook dismantled the opposition attack through immense power, clever placement, rapid running between the wickets, and capitalizing on lapses in the visitors' fielding. The commanding team performance was then sealed with the ball, as Sonny Baker captured three wickets to wrap up the lopsided victory at the conclusion of a demanding summer schedule.