Harry Brook smashed an unbeaten 114 off just 49 balls, including a century off 42 balls, to power England to a 119-run win over Sri Lanka in the first of six white-ball matches between the two sides at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.
Twenty20 internationals are limited to a maximum of 20 overs per side, the shortest format in international cricket, in which quick scoring is prized above all else.
Brook's innings, which contained 10 fours and six sixes, came with England's new white-ball mentor Kevin Pietersen watching on from the dressing room. Ben Stokes, who had pushed for Brook to replace him as Test captain before the role went to Joe Root, wrote on Instagram: "I don't think even the genius of KP could come close to what Harry Brook has talent-wise... You are an absolute freak, Harry."
Pietersen, one of England's most watched batsmen, played 104 Tests and scored more than 8,000 runs before retiring from international cricket in 2014. He never made a T20 century for his country. Stokes captained England's Test side through a period of attacking cricket known as "Bazball" before handing the role to Root, England's leading run-scorer in Test history.
Brook said he had been watching highlights of Pietersen's batting from the 2005 Ashes on his phone before the match, marvelling at the way he hit the ball to unusual parts of the ground. "Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career," Brook said. "It's awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing-room."
A rapid century
England lost debutant Aneurin Donald for 12 early in the innings, though he did strike a six off only his third ball. Brook then took 30 runs off a single over from Sri Lanka's left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, after which the tourists' bowling attack looked broken.
Jos Buttler, England's wicketkeeper-batsman, provided support with 80 off 44 balls, following his 131 off 64 balls against India at the same ground in July. Buttler had taken a month off after the Hundred final, England's franchise-based short-format competition held each summer since 2021, and looked well rested for the innings.
Brook had insisted to head coach Brendon McCullum, the former New Zealand captain, that he did not want to sit out the series after England's Test series against Pakistan. The decision paid off in front of a crowd of more than 11,000 at the Utilita Bowl, the home ground of Hampshire County Cricket Club, which has hosted international cricket since opening in 2001.
England's record scores
The ground has now seen England post three of their highest ever Twenty20 international totals in successive matches: 248 for three against West Indies last summer, 257 for three against India, and 254 for four against Sri Lanka, their third, fourth and fifth highest scores on record.
Brook reached 94 off 38 balls and had a chance to equal Phil Salt's England record for the fastest T20 century, but could only slice a delivery from Dasun Shanaka for two runs to deep point. He reached three figures in 42 balls, matching the effort by Liam Livingstone against Pakistan at Trent Bridge in 2021.
"I feel like I've let myself down a couple of times this summer," Brook said. "Thankfully I didn't give up that opportunity today. It was a special feeling to get to three figures."
Closing in on a world record
Brook's century meant his last three T20 innings have produced 288 runs without being dismissed. The world record for the longest unbeaten sequence in T20 internationals belongs to India's Tilak Varma, with 336 runs.
England face Sri Lanka again in Cardiff on Thursday, the next match of the six-match series.
Sri Lanka's collapse
Chasing a target of 255, Sri Lanka lost three wickets inside the six-over powerplay, with fast bowler Sonny Baker taking his first white-ball international wickets. They were eventually bowled out for 135.
The defeat was Sri Lanka's 13th in a row against England in T20 internationals, a losing run stretching back 12 years that now threatens to extend beyond the summer.
