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Third T20 international, Pallekele

England 128-9 (20 overs): Curran 58 (48); Chameera 5-24

Sri Lanka 116 (19.3 overs): Kusal Mendis 26 (26); Bethell 4-11, Jacks 3-14

England won by 12 runs; won series 3-0

England successfully defended a target of 129 to win by 12 runs against Sri Lanka in an enthralling contest, completing a 3-0 T20 series sweep and entering the World Cup with momentum.

Sam Curran hit a career-best 58 after a top-order collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists’ spinners took nine wickets to pull off an unlikely victory.

Will Jacks took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell secured the last four Sri Lankan wickets, including three in one over, to finish with 4-11 as the hosts were bowled out for 116.

Having chosen to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all removed for single figures prior to Curran taking his side to a score that still looked challenging to defend.

Having already lost the series with defeat in the first two games, Sri Lanka bowled superbly, with seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including the wicket of Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.

Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets on a worn pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to consecutive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.

Sri Lanka were still favourites and reached 90-4 before Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in consecutive overs.

Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell then took control, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over.

Having been handed the final over, he wrapped up the match with the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total they have ever successfully defended in T20s.

Having won the preceding one-day series and taken the first two T20s, England risked stalling a successful build-up for the World Cup with a heavy defeat in the final fixture.

However, their spinners starred in Pallekele, offering promise for the upcoming tournament, which is to be staged in India and Sri Lanka.

Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson both performed well, each taking 1-25, but England will be especially delighted that all-rounder Jacks and occasional spinner Bethell stepped up to outshine the front-line twirlers.

On a pitch that offered the greatest level of turn in the series, Brook exclusively bowled spinners after the powerplay, and turned to Bethell and Jacks as his sixth and seventh bowlers.

Jacks broke a partnership of 28 that looked set to take Sri Lanka over the victory line, trapping Kamindu Mendis lbw and then having Linyage caught on his return to the attack.

Bethell then rattled through the Sri Lankan lower order, with the hosts losing their last four wickets for four runs to fall to defeat and extending their losing run against England in this format to 11 matches.

Having twice successfully chased to secure the series, England skipper Brook could be forgiven for experimenting with setting a target after winning his third toss in a row.

However his side were swiftly in trouble, with the out-of-form Ben Duckett, playing in his first game of the series thanks to a Phil Salt injury in the warm-up, trapped lbw from the third ball of the innings.

Bethell edged behind and Banton was bowled by Dunith Wellalage before Brook chipped a catch to Liyanage, with England finding themselves 34-4 inside the last over of the powerplay.

Jos Buttler was then bowled by spinner Theekshana while Jacks became Chameera’s second victim, before Curran began to rebuild the innings.

The Surrey all-rounder, who took a hat-trick in the first match of the series, reached his half-century from 44 balls, batting steadily on a difficult surface.

He added 47 with Dawson (14) before the Hampshire spinner was caught in the deep off Chameera, and the home seamer had Jamie Overton caught by Liyanage three balls later.

England captain Harry Brook: “That was awesome and one of the most fun wins I’ve been part of. We have shown we can adapt to different surfaces and tonight was difficult but the way Sam Curran batted was brilliant.

“The World Cup is going to be co-hosted here and when we get the opportunity to play here we can carry that experience over. It’s been an awesome tour and hopefully we’ll come back to Sri Lanka a few more times.”

England player of the match and series Sam Curran: “It was the third time on the same wicket. 130 felt a decent score. We had some spinners who made the difference. It was a fun game. A fantastic series win and off to Mumbai tomorrow.

“Great to be back in the side and contributing. We played well and the confidence is really good.”

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: “Of course, very much disappointed. I think we could have taken it deep.

Third T20 international, Pallekele

England 128-9 (20 overs): Curran 58 (48); Chameera 5-24

Sri Lanka 116 (19.3 overs): Kusal Mendis 26 (26); Bethell 4-11, Jacks 3-14

England won by 12 runs; won series 3-0

England successfully defended a target of 129 to win by 12 runs against Sri Lanka in an enthralling contest, completing a 3-0 T20 series sweep and entering the World Cup with momentum.

Sam Curran hit a career-best 58 after a top-order collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists’ spinners took nine wickets to pull off an unlikely victory.

Will Jacks took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell secured the last four Sri Lankan wickets, including three in one over, to finish with 4-11 as the hosts were bowled out for 116.

Having chosen to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all removed for single figures prior to Curran taking his side to a score that still looked challenging to defend.

Having already lost the series with defeat in the first two games, Sri Lanka bowled superbly, with seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including the wicket of Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.

Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets on a worn pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to consecutive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.

Sri Lanka were still favourites and reached 90-4 before Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in consecutive overs.

Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell then took control, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over.

Having been handed the final over, he wrapped up the match with the dismissal of Maheesh Theekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total they have ever successfully defended in T20s.

Having won the preceding one-day series and taken the first two T20s, England risked stalling a successful build-up for the World Cup with a heavy defeat in the final fixture.

However, their spinners starred in Pallekele, offering promise for the upcoming tournament, which is to be staged in India and Sri Lanka.

Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson both performed well, each taking 1-25, but England will be especially delighted that all-rounder Jacks and occasional spinner Bethell stepped up to outshine the front-line spinners.

On a pitch that offered the greatest level of turn in the series, Brook exclusively bowled spinners after the powerplay, and turned to Bethell and Jacks as his sixth and seventh bowlers.

Jacks broke a partnership of 28 that looked set to take Sri Lanka over the victory line, trapping Kamindu Mendis lbw and then having Linyage caught on his return to the attack.

Bethell then rattled through the Sri Lankan lower order, with the hosts losing their last four wickets for four runs to fall to defeat and extending their losing run against England in this format to 11 matches.

Having twice successfully chased to secure the series, England skipper Brook could be forgiven for experimenting with setting a target after winning his third toss in a row.

However his side were swiftly in trouble, with the out-of-form Ben Duckett, playing in his first game of the series thanks to a Phil Salt injury in the warm-up, trapped lbw from the third ball of the innings.

Bethell edged behind and Banton was bowled by Dunith Wellalage before Brook chipped a catch to Liyanage, with England finding themselves 34-4 inside the last over of the powerplay.

Jos Buttler was then bowled by spinner Theekshana while Jacks became Chameera’s second victim, before Curran began to rebuild the innings.

The Surrey all-rounder, who took a hat-trick in the first match of the series, reached his half-century from 44 balls, batting steadily on a worn pitch.

He added 47 with Dawson (14) before the Hampshire spinner was caught in the deep off Chameera, and the seamer had Jamie Overton caught by Liyanage three balls later.

England captain Harry Brook: “That was awesome and one of the most fun wins I’ve been part of. We have shown we can adapt to different surfaces and tonight was difficult but the way Sam Curran batted was brilliant.

“The World Cup is going to be co-hosted here and when we get the opportunity to play here we can carry that experience over. It’s been an awesome tour and hopefully we’ll come back to Sri Lanka a few more times.”

England all-rounder Sam Curran: “It was the third time on the same wicket. 130 felt a decent score. We had some spinners who made the difference. It was a fun game. A fantastic series win and off to Mumbai tomorrow.

“Great to be back in the side and contributing. We played well and the confidence is really good.”

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: “Of course, very much disappointed. I think we could have taken it deep.

Arsenal have signed goalkeeper Barbora Votikova on loan from Slavia Prague for the rest of this season.

The 29-year-old has competed in the Women’s Super League before, making six league appearances for Tottenham, including her debut against the Gunners.

The Czech Republic international kept a clean sheet as Spurs beat Arsenal 1-0 in their first ever WSL win in December 2023.

“It feels amazing to join this special club,” said Votikova.

“Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the world, with a special team and special supporters, so it’s a huge honour for me to come here. It’s been a dream of mine to play at Emirates Stadium and I can’t wait to get started.”

She spent seven years with Slavia Prague between 2014 and 2021 before returning two years ago and winning a Czech league and cup Double last season.

Votikova has made 56 appearances for the Czech Republic since her international debut in 2014.

“We’re delighted to bring in an experienced goalkeeper in Barbora, who will provide additional cover and competition in our goalkeeper unit,” added Arsenal head coach Renee Slegers.

“We feel she is an excellent signing to strengthen our squad for the remainder of this season.”

The Gunners moved for Votikova after their Austrian keeper Manuela Zinsberger was ruled out for the campaign with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury she suffered in October last year.

Fellow goalkeeper Anneke Borbe was also taken off on a stretcher in Arsenal’s Champions Cup final win against Corinthians last weekend after a heavy collision with team-mate Lotte Wubben-Moy.

Another keeper, Daphne van Domselaar, has been sidelined too due to a quad issue, with her last match in mid-November against Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Jacob Stockdale “deserves” to start against France in the Six Nations opener in Paris on Thursday night (20:10 GMT).

The 29-year-old wing, who was player of the championship in 2018, will appear in the competition for the first time since facing England in 2021.

Leinster’s James Lowe has been first-choice in the position for the majority of the games since then, but has struggled to find his best form since returning from the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia last summer.

“There’s always a debate to be had and Jacob deserves it,” said Farrell of the selection.

“He’s back to being himself this year, that’s for sure. If you speak to him, he’s delighted that he’s simplified things and got back to what he’s good at, which is beating people. We’ve seen that plenty this season.”

With Stockdale selected on the left wing, Jamie Osborne gets the nod at full-back.

Usual number 15 Hugo Keenan misses out with a broken thumb sustained in training last week, with Osborne coming in despite having played no rugby since Ireland’s win over Japan in November because of a shoulder problem.

“Knowing his temperament and how diligent he is in his preparation – which is top drawer by the way – there’s no better man,” said Farrell of Osborne’s readiness for a first game in three months.

“Jacob [Stockdale] is playing well, he deserves his chance on the left wing. Hugo has been unbelievably unlucky. He was looking sharp coming back in and I really feel for him to have the thumb injury.