Just a week after receiving his maiden international call-up, Aneurin Donald smashed 31 off eight deliveries as England Lions chased 118 with 76 balls to spare in the tour match against Sri Lanka at Chelmsford on Friday, September 11.
England Lions smash Sri Lanka in first tour game
Opening the batting alongside Tom Banton with 118 to chase, Donald wreaked havoc, taking down the Sri Lanka bowling attack with three fours and as many sixes in his knock. The openers added 59 runs off just 3.2 overs, when Donald was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage.
Banton stayed unbeaten on 56 off 24 deliveries, with seven fours and three sixes, while skipper Will Jacks scored 30* off 12, hitting one four and three maximums, to seal the chase in 7.2 overs with 76 balls and nine wickets to spare.
Congratulations Nye! 🏴🦁
— Derbyshire CCC (@DerbyshireCCC) September 12, 2026
An impressive England Lions debut last night for Nye who smashed 31 off just 8 balls!#WeAreDerbyshire pic.twitter.com/gK29iZjB6k
In 112 T20s so far, Donald has scored 2454 runs at a strike-rate of 172.21, with 18 half-centuries. In The Hundred earlier in the summer, he scored 137 runs at a strike-rate of 217.46.
As far as the tour match is concerned, Sri Lanka endured a horror start and were reduced to 19-4 inside three overs. Luke Wood claimed three out of the first four wickets, eventually ending with figures of 4-27 in 3.4 overs. Pathum Nissanka (4) and Kamil Mishara (5) were dismissed in the first and second overs by Wood and Sonny Baker, respectively, before Lahiru Udara (6) and Pavan Rathnayake (0) walked back on successive deliveries from Wood in the third.
Janith Liyanage and Kamindu Mendis put together 26 for the fifth wicket, before the former was sent back by Will Jacks. Dunith Wellalage followed him on the last ball of the same over as Sri Lanka were reduced to 49-6 at the end of the powerplay.
Skipper Kamindu Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera were both sent back on the first two deliveries of the 11th over, respectively, by Jafer Chohan, further reducing Sri Lanka to 73-8. After Eshan Malinga was trapped in front by Baker, Tharindu Ratnayake and Nuwan Thushara added 39 for the last wicket, which was the highest partnership of the innings.
Aneurin Donald, who has been handed his maiden England call-up for the Sri Lanka T20Is, was at his destructive best in the warm-up game against the visitors 💪 pic.twitter.com/7TvRCAGzcR
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) September 12, 2026
Ratnayake was the last wicket to fall, dismissed by Wood in the 17th over for a well-made 37-ball 48, with the visitors finishing at 117. Apart from Wood’s four-wicket haul, Baker, Jacks and Chohan took two wickets each.
The two teams will lock horns in the second tour game on September 13, before Sri Lanka face England in the first T20I of the three-match series on September 15 in Southampton. The second and third T20Is are scheduled for September 17 and 19.
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