Debutants sparkle before Jos Buttler opens up to drive England to clean sweep over Sir Lanka

Jos Buttler scored 73 not out as an opening batsman, his highest T20 score for England (Picture: Manish Swarup/AP).

The Hampshire all-rounder returned tight figures of 3-27 from his four critical overs, before Jos Buttler’s career-best T20 score of 73 not out guided England home with precious little fuss.

All the pre-match hype had focused on Sussex paceman Tymal Mills, and while the genuine express bowler offered variety and reliability, fellow newcomer Dawson stole the show.

A year ago Dawson was on loan at Essex, unable to break into the Hampshire side: here however, on his home ground, the 26-year-old fully justified his selection.

Buttler opened England’s batting for the first time in white-ball cricket, and duly produced the innings of the day as England ensured Sri Lanka ended their tour without a victory in any format against the hosts.

Captain Eoin Morgan shrugged off a dislocated finger to compose a neat knock of 47, in an unbroken match-securing partnership of 114 with Buttler.

Yorkshire’s Liam Plunkett drew first blood of the evening, forcing Kusal Perera to edge a miscued pull straight to Mills at short fine leg.

Sri Lanka’s opener departed for 13 with the tourists 17-1, before Kusal Mendis’s hefty six kick-started a 20-run haul from the sixth over.

Danushka Gunathilaka holed out to Jordan at long-off for 26, with Dawson delighting in his maiden international wicket.

Mendis stubbed a Dawson delivery straight back to the bowler after racking up a quickfire 21, handing the all-rounder his second victim.

Dawson then improved his strong debut once again, this time clean bowling Mathews for just 11. The tourists’ captain tried to lash the spinner out of the ground, but ended up staring at his skittled stumps.

England struck again almost immediately as Jason Roy’s accurate throw ran out Dasun Shanaka for just one run, with Buttler removing the bails.

Ramith Rambukwella blasted Adil Rashid for a six then a four to bring up Sri Lanka’s 100, eventually plundering 14 runs from the over, but was run out for 19 by James Vince’s direct hit.

Plunkett then removed Seekkuge Prasanna for just one, caught behind by Buttler.

That left the tourists 122-7 from 16 overs, before Mills finished his four overs with figures of no wickets for 22 runs.

Jordan forced Dinesh Chandimal to hole out to Eoin Morgan for 23, only for the England captain to leave the field wringing his hand. His replacement David Willey caught Farveez Maharoof for 10 to give Jordan his second wicket. England’s death bowler then ended Sri Lanka’s innings, removing Nuwan Pradeep for a golden duck with a yorker.

England faltered in response, Jason Roy removed without score from the third ball of the innings, clean bowled by Mathews.

Buttler then survived a big Sri Lankan appeal on just five despite appearing to edge Mathews behind. England’s new opener clubbed Mathews for a big six in response, with Vince flicking a fine four to boot before the latter was stumped.

Buttler blasted three sixes in all as England eased to 66-2 at halfway. Sri Lanka were 79-3 at the same stage, not that the hosts were perturbed.

A six from Morgan and a four from Buttler went some way to accelerating the chase, and after that the calm and composed duo eased England home.

Morgan, who revealed he will have a scan today on his finger, said: “Things are very exciting at the moment, we’re playing an aggressive brand of cricket and it puts a smile on your face.”