AP, Colombo :
Joe Denly made his first England cap in eight years count by taking 4-19 to help beat Sri Lanka by 30 runs in their one-off Twenty20 on Saturday.
Recalled as a batsman who can bowl legspin, Denly undermined Sri Lanka’s chase for 188 to win by bowling openers Kusal Mendis for 1 and Niroshan Dickwella for 3 in his first two overs.
Fellow legspinner Adil Rashid added three wickets in his first three overs, and Sri Lanka was reduced to 77-5 in 11 overs.
Captain Thisara Perera tried to revive his side with 57 off 31 balls, including six sixes, but defeat was certain by the time he clobbered a Denly full toss to midwicket in the 20th over. Denly added Lasith Malinga off the last ball, and was named man of the match in his first appearance for England since 2010.
Put into bat first up, Jason Roy gave England a lively start with a six off Malinga’s second delivery.
