England successfully defended a target of 129 to win by 12 runs against Sri Lanka in a thrilling contest, completing a 3-0 T20 series sweep and entering the World Cup with momentum.
Sam Curran made a career-best 58 after a top-order collapse as England finished on 128-9, before the tourists’ spinners took nine wickets to pull off an unlikely victory.
Will Jacks took 3-14, while Jacob Bethell took Sri Lanka’s last four wickets, including three in one, to finish with 4-11 as the hosts were bowled out for 116.
Electing to bat, opener Ben Duckett was dismissed lbw for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and Harry Brook were all taken for single figures before Curran settled for a score that looked like a challenge to defend.
Already trailing in the series with losses in its first two matches, Sri Lanka came out on top, with seamer Dushmantha Chameera taking 5-24, including the wicket of Curran on the penultimate ball of the innings.
Luke Wood and Liam Dawson took early wickets on a broken pitch, before Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake fell to successive deliveries from Adil Rashid and Jacks.
Sri Lanka were still favorites and reached 90-4 before the Jacks struck again, removing Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage in successive overs.
Part-time spinner Jacob Bethell then took control, dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka in the 18th over.
Having finally surrendered, he ended the match by dismissing Maheesh Theekshana, helping England set a record for the lowest total they have successfully defended in T20s.
England begin their World Cup campaign against Nepal on Sunday, February 8 (09:30 GMT).