England have wrapped up their Twenty20 series against Sri Lanka with a game to spare, and they did it in emphatic style. On Thursday, Tom Banton smashed an unbeaten 52 from just 24 balls as England chased down Sri Lanka's 145-9 in a mere 12.1 overs, sealing the win by six wickets.
The result came hot on the heels of an even more one-sided outing — a 119-run demolition in Southampton two days earlier. Sri Lanka will rue a missed opportunity in this latest match: they actually started well, racing to 56 without loss during the powerplay. Then the innings fell apart. England spinner Liam Dawson did the damage with figures of 3-32, ripping through the middle order and leaving the visitors well short of a competitive total.
For anyone following the series, the remaining fixture is the one to circle: the final T20 takes place on Saturday at Old Trafford, Manchester's iconic cricket ground. Even though the series is decided, dead rubbers at famous venues often mean experimental line-ups, big hitting and a relaxed atmosphere — and tickets can be easier to come by than for a decider.
For cricket fans thinking of turning the match into a trip, Manchester delivers well beyond the boundary rope. Old Trafford sits a short tram ride from the city centre, and Manchester is one of the UK's easiest cities to pair with live sport: it's compact, walkable, packed with pubs and food spots around the Northern Quarter, and hotel rates are friendlier than London's. Plan a weekend around Saturday's play and you can add a football ground tour, the Manchester Museum, or a day trip to the Peak District on the Sunday.
Sri Lanka supporters travelling over won't get the result they hoped for, but the touring crowd atmosphere at England grounds is famously good-natured — expect drums, flags and plenty of banter in the stands come Saturday.
Full credit to the original coverage by Japan Today.