Colombo, Feb 22 (NationPress) England's captain Harry Brook hailed the team's remarkable triumph over Sri Lanka as a notable achievement, commending his squad's flexibility and disciplined bowling after they effectively defended a total of 145 and dismissed the hosts for a mere 95 in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super 8s match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

“What a fantastic birthday gift! I truly believe we executed exceptionally today, and to bowl them out for under 100 is an incredible accomplishment,” Brook stated during the post-match ceremony.

While discussing the match conditions, Brook highlighted how England’s bowlers modified their strategy after analyzing the pitch during the first innings.

“I didn't perceive any real challenges on the surface. I observed that the spinners from both teams capitalized on the pace effectively, which secured numerous wickets. Noticing the pitch's behavior in the first innings, we realized that the lack of pace created opportunities. We had a thorough discussion about this before going out, and we adapted to the surface remarkably well,” the English captain commented.

Brook acknowledged the contributions of England’s batters for establishing a solid foundation, particularly praising Phil Salt, whose resilient half-century was vital. He noted, “It was just slow. Timing the ball was tough, yet Salty played an outstanding innings to score 60 while others struggled. It wasn’t the fluid Phil Salt we usually see, but he managed to lead us to a commendable score, alongside a few partnerships towards the end. It was a phenomenal performance.”

Brook also expressed confidence in Jos Buttler despite his recent difficulties, believing in the senior batter's capacity to excel further into the tournament.

“I’m not worried at all. He’s a powerhouse in world cricket and has been for years. He might be the greatest white-ball player ever. Currently, he's just experiencing a dip in confidence, but I prefer him to start slow and then finish strong. I'm eager to see how he performs in the upcoming matches. We've played a lot of cricket here recently, and we were aware it would significantly impact today’s game. Jacksie was quite upset about his dismissal, mentioning that he always bowls better when he’s angry, and thankfully he started off strong,” he added.

Brook highlighted the strategic clarity shared among England’s spin bowlers, including Player of the Match Will Jacks, stating, “I spoke with the spinners, and we concluded that we didn’t need to alter our lines significantly; it was more about varying our paces. As we witnessed, we reaped the rewards with several caught-and-bowleds, as well as a few catches at the boundary, showcasing our perfect adaptation to the pitch.”

Despite facing tough conditions, Brook maintained that England remains confident in their ability to perform on any surface.

“No, not at all. I believe we can excel on any pitch. As you mentioned, Joss hasn’t found his rhythm yet, but when he does, and if he’s on a good wicket, he’s capable of scoring 100 and dominating the opposition. The same applies to Salty; while he scored 60 today, it wasn’t the explosive Salty we know. Once we master the power play and take charge with the bat, we’ll become a very challenging team to defeat,” he concluded.