Brief Score: England (146 for 9 in 20 overs) beat Sri Lanka (95-all out in 16.4 overs) by 51 runs in Super 8 Group 2 match of T20 World Cup 2026 in Pallekele. | SL vs ENG Full Scorecard – Highlights |
Sri Lanka did everything right in the first half of their T20 World Cup Super 8 match against England in Pallekele on Saturday. The only problem was that they got it right only in the first half. Well begun is half done — but only half done.
After restricting England to 146 in their 20 overs, Sri Lanka’s batting order imploded, falling short of the target by 51 runs and handing birthday boy and opposition captain Harry Brook a lovely gift: two crucial points in the Super 8 stage.
Sri Lanka were bundled out for 95 in just 16.4 overs as England spinners, led by part-timer Will Jacks, ran riot, picking up seven wickets in an excellent defence of a below-par total.
This was also England’s 12th successive win over Sri Lanka in men’s T20Is – a streak that dates back to 2014.
The pitch at the Pallekele Stadium was a spin bowler’s friend. Sri Lanka bowled 12 overs of spin, picked up five wickets and gave away 85 runs. But England bettered Sri Lanka in their own battle, with Jacks leading the trial by spin. The part-timer, who has been having a dream run in the tournament, bowled all his four overs and picked three wickets, running through the Sri Lankan top-order.
It was a crucial win for England, who will face sterner tests against New Zealand and Pakistan in the remainder of the Super 8 stage in Group 2, which will be played on such spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka.
HOW SRI LANKA FUMBLED WITH BAT
Chasing 147, Sri Lanka needed a solid start. Would you have bet against Pathum Nissanka after his match-winning hundred against Australia at the very same venue last week? The crowd was waiting for another big one from their young batting star. However, the young opener, who began with two boundaries, managed just nine runs after facing eight deliveries.
Sri Lanka’s chase was jolted first by Jofra Archer in the third over. It appeared a steady start, but panic soon crept in.
They slumped from 15 without loss to 34 for five before the end of the powerplay, with Will Jacks and Archer sharing all five wickets between them.
Jacks, operating with his part-time off-spin, removed Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake in the same over, while opener Kamil Mishara was sent packing by Archer.
Jacks effectively completed the damage inside the powerplay. In truth, it was less a demolition job and more self-inflicted harm, as Sri Lanka’s batters repeatedly found ways to throw their wickets away. Dunith Wellalage, who showed brief resistance with back-to-back boundaries in the final over of the powerplay, departed for 10, handing Jacks his third wicket.
Kamindu Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka attempted to haul Sri Lanka out of the mire, but left-arm spinner Liam Dawson joined the act, dismissing the left-hander with a return catch — another soft dismissal.
Dushan Hemantha fell next, dislodging his own stumps as he tried to evade a sharp bouncer from Jamie Overton.
Sri Lanka’s hopes effectively ended when Shanaka, waging a lone battle, was dismissed for 30 in the 15th over. Adil Rashid then entered the fray, claiming the key wicket before adding another as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 95 in 16.4 overs.
None of Sri Lanka’s partnerships went past the 20-run mark, leaving the fans and the dugout, led by coach Sanath Jayasuriya, shell shocked.
The 51-run defeat will sting. Sri Lanka had been in a position of strength at the halfway stage, only for one of their poorest batting displays to derail their Super 8 campaign.
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