England v Sri Lanka: Visitors take historic win in second T20 to level series

England slumped to their archetypal ever decision by Sri Lanka successful T20s arsenic the visitors levelled the bid with an eight-wicket triumph astatine Chelmsford.

Charlie Dean's 34 was the lone people of much than 20 successful England's innings.

Sri Lanka skipper Chamari Athapaththu past deed an entertaining 55 from 31 balls arsenic her broadside reached their people with 40 balls to spare.

Athapaththu was dismissed by Alice Capsey with 26 runs inactive required but Harshitha Madavi and Vishmi Gunaratne calmly completed the chase.

Sri Lanka were understandably jubilant successful celebration, Harshitha raising her arms aloft arsenic she sealed the winning runs with a six disconnected Kate Cross.

England opener Danni Wyatt was bowled successful the archetypal implicit to spark a dismal illness that saw England stutter to 51-6 astatine the halfway mark, a stark opposition to the 186-4 that they posted successful the archetypal T20 astatine Hove connected Thursday.

The bid decider takes spot astatine Derby connected Wednesday.

Poor England outplayed successful each departments

England made the determination to remainder cardinal players for this bid aft a hectic Ashes summer, with Sophia Dunkley, Nat Sciver-Brunt and Sophie Ecclestone, who has since dislocated her shoulder, rested.

But a comparatively inexperienced England broadside were inactive dense favourites to triumph each 3 T20s against Sri Lanka, who are importantly down the hosts successful professionalism, finances and extent of talent.

The joyousness connected the Sri Lankan's faces arsenic they celebrated connected the outfield showed precisely however overmuch this historical triumph means.

They produced an admirable performance, led by an astonishing fightback with the shot from the thrashing successful the bid opener, utilizing their main spot successful rotation bowling.

England's batters had nary answers, with Amy Jones getting trapped connected the crease and Capsey, Knight and Maia Bouchier each gifting catches with escaped shots - Athapaththu's crisp turner to vessel Wyatt the lone wicket to not diagnostic batter error.

Athapaththu has been Sri Lanka's prima for years, their lone batter with franchise experience, but she seems to relish the unit of starring from the front.

England boast a bowling onslaught that could support 104, but she smashed 20 runs from the 3rd implicit of the pursuit disconnected Cross, and continued to onslaught with swagger to guarantee the good bowling show was not wasted.

More to follow.