Tom Banton Gets Big Praise From Nasser Hussain for Second Coming

Tom Banton finished unbeaten on 52 from 24 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes to secure a comfortable victory. England defeated Sri Lanka by nine wickets in the second T20 International, held on September 17, 2026, in Cardiff. Sri Lanka scored 145 for 9 in their innings, and England chased it down in 12.1 overs with a strong batting performance.

Nasser Hussain lauded Tom Banton performance after the match, noting the batter’s turnaround since returning to the white-ball system as a middle-order batsman.

Tom Banton has now scored three half-centuries since rejoining the squad, having previously played as an opener during his early international career.

Banton’s undefeated innings came after Jos Buttler, Aneurin Donald, and Harry Brook had previously targeted Sri Lankan bowling. Buttler struck 30 off 16 balls, becoming the first player to amass 15,000 T20 runs in all forms. Brook scored 23 off eight balls, including three sixes, for a strike rate of 287.50. Banton’s finishing contribution was critical in England’s quick pursuit.

Dawson’s two-wicket blitz transforms the game.

Hussain also lauded Liam Dawson’s outstanding spell, in which he returned figures of 3/32. Dawson played an important part in changing the direction of the match by removing two batters in successive deliveries as Sri Lanka’s openers gained momentum.

Hussain is concerned about Sri Lanka’s declining batting performance.

The result represented Sri Lanka’s 14th consecutive loss to England in T20 internationals, which Hussain says underlines the team’s dramatic drop in performance compared to prior years.

England now leads the three-game series 2-0, with one game remaining. The final T20 International is set for September 19, 2026, at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester.