Pallekele, Feb. 22 -- England captain Harry Brook termed the emphatic demolition of Sri Lanka for under 100 as a "beautiful birthday present", as his side produced a clinical display of spin control and calculated batting on a slow surface here.
In what is quickly becoming the tournament's biggest talking point, England combined tactical awareness with composure to outthink the hosts on a pitch that offered no demons but demanded patience.
Brook said the difference lay not in extravagant turn but in intelligent pace variation.
"I didn't think there were really any demons on the pitch. I think the spinners on both sides used the pace really well, and that's what brought a lot of wickets," he said, explaining how England assessed the surfa...