England Lions edge past Sri Lanka in rain-hit warm-up

England Lions routed Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second T20 warm-up at Beckenham, coasting past a DLS-adjusted target of 73 from eight overs with 10 balls remaining.

Kamil Mishara was the tourists' top-scorer with 31, as they posted 156 for 9, but rain fell at the innings break, initially reducing England's innings to 12 overs and then eight. Paul Walter top-scored with 34 not out and he sealed the win with a huge six.

The teams agreed to play 13-aside cricket with a maximum of 11 batsmen. Sri Lanka lost the toss but looked like posing a more challenging target after reaching 70 for 1 at the end of the powerplay. The only wicket to fall in the first six overs was Pathum Nissanka, who was caught by Mason Crane for 23 off Saqib Mahmood.

Mishara blasted 31 from 17 until he holed out off Crane and was caught on the rope by Ben Mayes.

Lahiru Udara made 13 before he hit James Coles to Crane and Kamindu Mendis had made just 2 when he swept Coles to Tom Hartley. Crane was skied by Dasan Shanaka to Hartley, who scored 13 points and then had Janith Liyanage caught by Walter for 5 points.

Skipper Charith Asalanka was also caught by Walter off Henry Crocombe for 23, but Tharindu Ratnayake gave the innings some momentum with a quickfire 22, hitting Hartley for two sixes in the 19th before he miscued one and was caught and bowled.

Dunith Wellalage was run out in the final over by wicketkeeper Joe Moores for 10, leaving Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera not out on 1 and 0 respectively after 20 overs.

By then rain was falling, but when it abated Walter and Ben McKinney raced to 43 without loss at the end of the 3.4 over powerplay. Two balls later the rain began to fall so heavily there was a further reduction from the initial DLS target of 108, leaving England to chase 27 from four overs.

They lost McKinney, caught by Eshan Malinga off Theekshana for 19, but Mayes came in to hit 10 of seven balls and Walter sealed the win with a towering blow off Chameera that flew over backward square.