Twenty20 internatioal, Ageas Bowl: England (144-2) beat Sri Lanka (140) by 8 wickets

AS England debuts go, it was the stuff of Boy’s Own comic books.

This time last year, Liam Dawson was surplus to requirements at The Ageas Bowl so was loaned out to Essex.

But in front of a capacity crowd at his home ground, he set up a fabulous England win against Sri Lanka, by eight wickets with 15 balls to spare.

The Hampshire star took 3-27 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 140 after winning the toss.

Brought on to bowl the seventh over from the Pavilion End, Dawson struck with his fifth ball.

After conceding three singles and an inside-edged four, the slow left-armer had his first England wicket when the left-handed Danushka Gunathilaka drove him straight to Chris Jordan at deep mid-off.

Dawson was gifted an easy return catch by Kusal Mendis against the penultimate ball of his second over.

And he had the scalp of Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, who was bowled middle stump attempting to hit the debutant across the line in the direction of the Nursery Ground, midway through his third.

It was the most remarkable passage of play in an incredible 12 months for Dawson. He had only taken three wickets in a T20 match twice before (4-19 for Hampshire against Kent in 2013 and 3-25 against Middlesex in 2009) and here he was winning a match for his country.

This was undoubtedly the highlight of the 26 year-old’s career. Sri Lanka may not have had the best of tours, but they were desperate to finish it with a first win.

Those hopes were blown away as Dawson accounted for three of their top four in the space of 11 balls.

Dawson also had a hand in a fourth wicket as Dusan Shanka was run out by Jason Roy from deep cover to the ball that followed his dismissal of Mathews.

At that stage Sri Lanka were 82-5 and they were 106-6 in the 15th when James Vince produced his best moment of the match.

Hampshire’s captain was overshadowed by the debut heroics of Dawson in his first England appearance at The Ageas Bowl.

But in Tymal Mills' third over, he ran out Ramith Rambukwella with a stunning direct hit from backward point.

It was another champagne moment for an England team featuring two Hampshire players for the first time since 2009 (and for the first time at The Ageas Bowl since 2007).

But that was as good as it got for Vince, who was not so effective with the bat. He arrived in the middle midway through the first over of England’s reply.

He swept the first of his two fours at the beginning of the second over, against Rambukwella’s off-spin.

But after hitting Mathews for his second boundary past deep backward square leg, he was stumped as he lost his balance trying to work the next ball, the penultimate delivery of the fifth over, on the leg side.

It deflected off his pad and Dinesh Chandimal made no mistake, dismissing Vince for a 14-ball 16.

Vince must have been kicking himself as he watched Jos Buttler and Eoin Morgan secure victory with an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 114 from 76 balls.

The pitch was not easy for the batsmen, but Buttler was at his explosive best after being promoted to open with Jason Roy. His 49-ball 73 featuring four sixes and three fours – including three maximums in nine balls in the first seven overs.

After an early let-off, when he appeared to be caught following a bottom edge, he pulled Mathews for the first of his quartet of sixes, a colossal hit on to the berm by the Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie Stand, before depositing Gunathilaka over long-on.

And after Vince’s exit, he sent a checked off drive soaring towards the Hotel End, before Eoin Morgan completed the rout with his second six to finish on 47 (39 balls).

The England captain then heaped praise on Dawson. “Liam came in and played the brand of cricket we play as a side which was really, really good," said Morgan. "A special mention to him on his home patch.

“He showed a wealth of experience. He wasn’t tempted to throw the ball up at any stage but bowled into the wicket and did what he does best. I thought that was brilliant from him.”

Morgan added: “The desire within the side was emphasised particularly with the chase. Chasing a relatively small total like that two down - on not as good a wicket as we thought it would be - was a great effort. And our fielding was outstanding.”

Mathews admitted that the result summed up Sri Lanka’s entire tour: “That’s been the case for us throughout the summer,” he said.

“We didn’t get enough runs on the board. It was stopping and turning a little bit but 140 was a very average score.”