Kamidu Mendis debut as Sri Lanka bowls first

Sri Lanka handed T20 international debut to ambidextrous Kamidu Mendis as they put England to bat in the only T20 match at R Premadasa Stadium. Mendis, the former U-19 skipper is a useful allrounder who could bowl from both arms.

Lasith Malinga who was rested for the fifth ODI is also back in the side as Sri Lanka brought in three spinners hoping to tame the high-ridding English batsmen. Thisara Perera was named skipper in the T20 side  after sacking Angelo Mathews will lead the side.

England include Joe Denly and Chris Jordan in the playing XI. Joe root has been rested.

Sri Lanka: 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Kusal Mendis, 3 Dinesh Chandimal, 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Dasun Shanaka, 6 Thisara Perera (capt.), 7 Kamindu Mendis, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Lasith Malinga, 10 Amila Aponso, 11 Lakshan Sandakan

England: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Alex Hales, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Joe Denly, 6 Ben Stokes, 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Liam Plunkett, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Tom Curran