Watch: Malan, Willey power England to T20I series sweep against Sri Lanka

Dawid Malan’s dynamic 76 from 48 balls helped England to an 89-run win at Southampton on Saturday as they claimed a 3-0 clean sweep of Sri Lanka in their T20 International series.

Malan had managed just single figure scores in England’s two wins in Cardiff earlier this series and a lone fifty in seven previous innings at this level.

But the world’s top-ranked T20 batsman showed his class during an innings featuring five fours and four sixes

With Jos Buttler and Jason Roy injured, Malan opened with Jonny Bairstow and the pair shared a stand of 105.

England, however, lost five wickets for 19 runs, with Dushmantha Chameera taking 4/17, as they were bowled out for 180.

‘Unfair criticism’

But a seemingly modest target proved well beyond Sri Lanka, who were dismissed for 91, with left-arm quick David Willey taking 3/27.

Malan’s low scores in Wales re-opened the debate about whether he should be included in England’s squad for the T20 World Cup in October, even though he came into 2021 with a remarkable average of 53.43 and a strike-rate of 149.47 in 19 matches at this level.

Asked about the speculation, Malan said: “It does hurt you sometimes, especially if you feel like it…

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