Alex Hales blasted the tournament’s first century to power England to a six–wicket victory against Sri Lanka in an action-packed Super 10 showdown of the World Twenty20 on Thursday. Hales hit his maiden T20I hundred off just 60 balls when it mattered most at the Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. Captain Eoin Morgan (57 off 38 balls) and Haels put up 152 runs off just 91 balls for the third wicket, which is a record in World T20, to keep the team in the hunt. England got off to a terrible start losing Michael Lumb and Moeen Ali – their heroes from the last game–in the very first over who went for ducks. Hales and Morgan their time to settle down but once they were in the bowlers were taken apart. The game changed in the 16th over that bled 25 runs as Hales milked Ajantha Mendis for two sixes and as many fours. Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene’s lucky knock helped Sri Lanka post a huge total of 189 for 4. England’s lacklustre performance in the field was the story of the first half of the match. Jayawardene, who was dropped thrice and lucky to survive a duck, was the topscorer with 89 off 51. He smashed 11 boundaries and three sixes. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (55 off 47), who was dropped once, and Mahela put up a 145-run second wicket partnership off 92 balls. Chris Jordan and Jade Dernbach bagged two wickets for England.
