England trounced Sri Lanka by 119 runs after Harry Brook hammered a 114* off 49 balls, posting 254/4 in the first T20I in Southampton.
Brook's 10 fours and six sixes powered a strike rate of 232.65, an eye‑popping 1.2 runs per ball. Ben Stokes, who shares the dressing‑room with Brook, took to X to say, “I don’t even think the genius of KP could come close to what Harry Brook has talent-wise.” The captain added, “You’re an absolute freak, Harry—mint to watch.”
The innings also highlighted Brook’s adaptation to the No. 3 slot: in eight T20I games at that position he has 476 runs at an average of 95.20 and a strike rate of 200.84, with two centuries and two fifties. His 114* was the second of his T20I career and the second for England behind Jos Buttler, who smashed 80 off 44 to give the partnership a solid backbone.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to keep pace; Sonny Baker took 3/12, Jamie Overton 2/20 and Liam Dawson 2/23, but the hosts were all out for 135 in 19 overs. England now sit at the top of the table, and the team will look to keep the pressure on in the next match of the series.