A beautiful birthday present. I thought we played exceptionally there and to get over the line and bowl them out for less than 100 is an awesome effort. I didn't think there were really any demons on the pitch. I think the spinners on both sides used the pace really well, and that's what brought a lot of wickets. We saw how it was behaving in the first innings and lack of pace was creating chances. So we had a good chat about that before going out and we adapted to the surface really well. It was just slow (on the wicket). It was hard to time, and I thought Salty played an exceptional innings there to get 60 with everybody fumbling around him as well. Not the fluent Phil Salt that everybody knows, but he managed to get us to a very good score there and a couple of partnerships at the end as well. It was a hell of a performance. Not concerned at all (on Buttler's form). He's a powerhouse of world cricket. He has been for many years. He's arguably the best white-ball player to have ever played the game. He's just lacking a little bit of confidence at the minute, but I'd rather him start the competition like this and finish with a flourish. Looking forward and really excited to see how he goes in the next couple of games. It has worked for them, we've played a lot of cricket here in the last few weeks, and we knew that it was gonna play a big part today. And Jacksie was pretty annoyed with the way he got out, so he said to me he always bowls better when he's angry, and thankfully he got off to a cracking start on Will Jacks). I had a chat with the spinners as well and we were like, we don't really need to vary our lines, it's more about paces, and as we saw, we got rewards for that as well with a few caught and bowleds, like I said, and a couple of catches out on the boundary, it was perfect adaption to the surface.
ENG vs SL Live Cricket Score, T20 World Cup 2026: England face Sri Lanka in the Super 8 match in Pallekele.ENG vs SL, England vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup Cricket Score Updates: Dasun Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s lone resistance as England bowlers led by Will Jacks ran rampant in their Super 8 clash in Pallekele on Sunday. Jacks took 3 wickets while Jofra Archer snapped up 2 as England relegated Sri Lanka to 34/5 even before powerplay. Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton and Liam Dawson then took matters into their own hands as they skittled the Lankans for just 95 runs, helping England win by 51 runs.
England have managed to set a target of 147 after an under-par performance from their batters in the . Barring Phil Salt, who top scored with 62, none of the England top order managed to get into double figures. At one stage, England were reduced to 68-4 after losing their four Bs, Jos Buttler, Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook at the halfway mark of 10 overs. Sri Lanka had won the toss and asked them to bat first in a game where rain was being predicted, but made no appearance in the first innings.
Sri Lanka vs England T20 World Cup – Live Cricket Score, Full Scorecard
Harry Brook’s men have had a topsy-turvy ride in the group-stages that captain Harry Brook described as a ‘niggly start’.
England are facing off Sri Lanka for the fourth time in T20Is in three weeks, with Pallekele being the host for all of these meetings. In the lead-up to the World Cup, Brook and Co. had a successful outing in these parts, blanking Sri Lanka 0-3 in the series.
However, a mercurial weather forecast will be in play after Group 2 already had an iffy start with the first game between Pakistan and New Zealand washed out on Saturday. The afternoon game will, however, still test the batters, and England will still be wary of the Lankans. Dasun Shanaka’s men may have also suffered a dent in confidence with a defeat to Zimbabwe in their last game. But Sunday is a new day, and an opportunity to break two streaks at once is on the cards.
SCROLL BELOW FOR UPDATES FROM ENG VS SL SUPER 8 MATCH
Sri Lanka
95 (16.4)England
146/9 (20.0)England beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs
It's very disappointing, but at the same time we had a lot of positives with the ball. I think we restricted them by at least 20 runs and I expected my batters to chase it down. The pitch played well, was slow in the first innings, but settled well under lights. We batted badly, the batting from both teams wasn't good. I wouldn't say they bowled really well, we batted badly. We have tried 5 main bowlers in this WC, so I can use them accordingly. The discussion was to take it deep (in the chase). We've played a lot of cricket in these conditions, we needed to go deep and take the right options. We didn't do that well, one bad game can cost us in the World Cup tournament. It's one bad game for the batters, but I'm expecting them to do well in the coming games.
Thsi was the third lowest total by Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups. The lowest was 77 vs South Africa in 2024 while the second lowest was 87 vs Australia in 2010.
Rashid to bowl the 17th over and he has cleaned up the last man!! Madushanka did not know what hit him as the ball spun under his bat and rattles the stumps!! All over for SL, England win by 51 runs
Dawson back in the attack and Theekshana lifts one over the in-field, into the fine leg boundary for a four!! Curran tried but couldn't keep it out. Chameera with a tight 2 runs next as he almost loses his wickets. A lot of weird choices being made by the Lankans in this match. AND GONE!! Chameera tries to slog one, misses it and his stumps are rattled.
Dushmantha Chameera b Liam Dawson 6(13)
Rashid to bowl this one and he's got Shanaka. And with that, Sri Lanka's fight is most likely over. Shanaka takes the turning ball on, almost sends it over th ropes but a brilliant fielding effort by Jacks to catch the ball and lob it to Banton just before his feet went beyond the ropes!
Dasun Shanaka c Tom Banton b Adil Rashid 30(24)
Overton to bowl and Shanaka gets a top edge but luck is on his side as the ball falls in the area just in between an advancing Archer and Buttler. Chameera on strike and he can't get a run to save his life as Overton cramps him for room. He finally gets a single and Shanaka slams a SIXXX to end the over.
SL 81/7 after 14 overs
Rashid to bowl this over and gives away 3 singles from the first 3 deliveries. Back to back dots follow as the pressure mounts for Sri Lanka. Just 4 from this one.
SL 73/7 after 13 overs
Overton introduced in the attack now and Shanaka mines 3 from the first 2 deliveries. Curiously, Rashid got just that one over. Might be given the next over but we'll see. AAAND HIT WICKET!! EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING IN THIS MATCH!! And that also sums up Sri Lanka's day. Hemantha plays a shot and he can't stop his bat from hitting the wickets.
Dushan Hemantha hit wkt b Jamie Overton 5(8)
Dawson to bowl the 11th and after a quiet couple of deliveries, Shanaka hits the 4th ball over the head of the bowler and into the boundary!! 8 from this one.
SL 64/6 after 11 overs
Doesn't get any easier for Sri Lanka as Harry Brook introduces the wily Adil Rashid into the proceedings. After a single by Hemantha, Shanaka mines two as the over yields just 3.
SL 56/6 after 10 overs
Dawson continues and Shanaka with a single to start this one off. Kamindu on strike now and he pummels another short ball over deep midwicket for a SIX!!!! AAAND HE'S GONE!! Another soft dismissal and Kamindu just chips it right into the palms of the bowler.
Kamindu Mendis c and b Liam Dawson 13(11)
Jacks will bowl out with this over as England are holding back Adil Rashid for the time being. Kamindu on strike and plays two dots, followed by a single. Shanaka will face Jacks now and he absolutely punishes the short ball for a six. Over mid-wicket it went.
SL 45/5 after 8 overs
Spin from both ends now as Liam Dawson has been brought into the attack. Yields just 2 singles from the first three deliveries. That's all the Lankans get from this over. Good bowling.
SL 37/5 after 7 overs
Last over inside powerplay and Will Jacks will bowl this one. Dunith Wellalage on strike and he cuts and sweeps back to back deliveries to get double boundaries. This is exactly what the doctor ordered for Sri Lanka. AND JUST AS I WAS TYPING, WELLALAGE THROWS HIS WICKET AWAY!! No reason to go for that shot now. Mishits the ball and it's straight down the throat of Harry Brook.
Dunith Wellalage c Harry Brook b Will Jacks 10(10)
Archer to bowl the penultimate over of the powerplay. If he strikes, it'll get very, very difficult for Sri Lanka to come back into this match. Yields just a single from the first four deliveries. AAAND IS THAT ANOTHER GONE?? There was an edge and Overton at slip claims it. Mishara still waits but replays show it's a clean catch so he has to walk.
Kamil Mishara c Jamie Overton b Jofra Archer 6(11
AAAND WOULD YOU KNOW IT!! JACKS HAS TAKEN ANOTHER ONE!! Pavan Rathnayake tries to go hard, gets only the top edge of the bat and that has gone highhhh!! Who takes it? It's Banton underneath and he makes no mistakes. SL imploding before our very eyes.
Pavan Rathnayake c Tom Banton b Will Jacks 0(1)
Jacks bowling the 4th over and Mishara takes a single to give Kusal Perera on strike. AAAND HE'S GONE AS WELL!! Perera was bamboozled and got a leading edge that goes right into the grateful mitts of the bowler. Exactly what England wanted.
Kusal Mendis c and b Will Jacks 4(4)
Archer continues and after a dot, Nissanka shimmies and makes room for himself to guide the second delivery to deep backward point for a four!! Excellent timing. Goes one better the next ball as he goes down on one kneee and helps the ball to the third man boundary. Back to back fours. AAAND GONE!!! Tries to go over the ropes and has holed out to Jamie Overton marshalling the boundary ropes.
Pathum Nissanka c Jamie Overton b Jofra Archer 9(8)
Jacks introduced now and Mishara cuts the first ball through the covers which goes under a diving Jacob Bethell for a four!! The next three deliveries are dots as the ball keeps following Bethell in the field but he does well on all the other occasions. Just that lone 4 from this over. But England need wickets.
SL 7/0 after 2 overs
Nissanka and Mishara are out in the middle as Jofra Archer will try and defend this below-par total for England. So far, so good as the pacer starts with just a single from his first 4 deliveries. Just 2 more was added to the scorecard as the over ends without much activity.
SL 3/0 after 1 over
A final over of 11 runs for England as they manage to push the target as close to 150 as they could. Only Phil Salt scored some decent runs at 62 with Jacks being the second best scorer in the England camp with 21 runs.
The Sri Lankan spinners hit the breaks on the England team today, taking five wickets in their 12 overs while also bowling 24 dot balls.
Two fours and two wickets in the penultimate over! Madushanka was hit for two boundaries on the second and fourth ball by Jacks, who has been England's perpetual saviour this World Cup. But this is a hole that even he cannot dig England out of as he departs while trying to hit a low full toss.
Will Jacks hit Madushanka for two boundaries through the covers before throwing his wicket away on the off side.
Will Jacks c Wellalage b Madushanka 21 (14b 4x4 0x6) SR: 150
And then, on the final ball, Jofra Archer too departs while trying to clobber a low full toss.
Jofra Archer c Hemantha b Madushanka 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
This was --- finally! --- an over with more than a single boundary for England. But it ends up being an over where they lost two wickets.
After 19 overs, England are 135/9
Another wicket for Sri Lanka!
England have managed to hit just two boundaries since Phil Salt departed as their run rate has slowed down to a car in second gear. And Dawson, trying to do something adventurous, departs after top edging the ball from Theekshana.
Liam Dawson c Shanaka b Theekshana 6 (11b 0x4 0x6) SR: 54.54
ENG slump to 124/7 in 17.1 overs
To make matters worse, Theekshana gives away just two runs in that over.
And now we will have two final overs for England to make an impact.
Right after England go past the 100-run mark, they lose the half centurion, Phil Salt! Like many other England batters, he too cannot middle the ball and hits it into the hands of a fielder at the ropes. Salt departs and England staring down the barrel here.
The wicket was all credit to Dunith Wellalage, who pulled the length back and bowled a slower one through the air that gave no real pace for Salt to tonk it for a six.
Phil Salt c Hemantha b Wellalage 62 (40b 6x4 2x6) SR: 155
Sam Curran's turn to walk back to the hut after he holes out to long on while trying to hit a six off Chameera. And England have lost half their side with just 94 runs on the board! Before the game, captain Harry Brook had spoken a couple of times that his side heed to be bold and how they would treat the Super 8 stage as a new page rather than the old chapter that saw them wobble their way in the group stages. But they are the same team that struggled to beat Nepal and Italy before losing to the West Indies.
Sam Curran c Mishara b Chameera 11 (11b 0x4 1x6) SR: 100
England are 94/5
Very little to cheer so far for England. They lost the toss. Then lost four wickets at regular intervals with just 68 runs on board. Phil Salt has seen all those four wickets fall, but has patiently played out his way to a half century for England off just 36 balls.
He's scored 50 off those 85 runs for England, which underlines what kind of innings he has played for them so far
So after losing their captain at the halfway mark of the innings, England batters are solidifying. For the past 12 balls they have managed 15 runs, with the highlight being a drive to the boundary on the first ball of the 11th over.
Since then, just singles and doubles.
Phil Salt is the man who England will look up to today.
After 12 overs, England are 83/4
Harry Brook misses the line of Dunith Wellalage's ball completely and the ball thuds into the pads! the umpire relents after vociferous appeals from Lankan fielders and the bowler.
Brook isnt going without an appeal. And the third umpire finds that the ball was just clipping the leg stump. Since it's the umpire's call, the wicket is given!
England lose their fourth wicket with 68 runs on board and half of their overs gone.
Harry Brook lbw b Wellalage 14 (7b 1x4 0x6) SR: 200
England are living dangerously here! They almost lose their second wicket to a run out as Harry Brook dances down the track, carving a drive toward long-off. The skipper calls Salt through for a risky second, and Salt has to scramble in the end. He throws himself into a desperate dive as the return comes whistling in! The throw from the deep was wide (if it was on target or anywhere close to the stumps, that would have been a run out). The throw evades the backup fielders, and races away to the rope. Four overthrows!
But more importantly, that was almost a second run out in the span of two overs.
After nine overs, England are 59/3
RUN OUT! AND SRI LANKA HAVE THEIR THIRD WICKET! Banton is run out while trying to sneak in a single. England slump to 49/3
So a bowling change from both ends for Sri Lanka as Chameera is handed the ball by Shanaka. He's been so good for Sri Lanka because he has so many variations hidden like aces up his sleeves. He can bowl slower bumper, yorker, leg cutter...
But it's not his bowling wiles that do the trick, it's a direct throw from captain Shanaka from mid off that sends Tom Banton home. Boundaries had been hard to come by, so the England batters were dealing in singles in this over. Four singles before the fifth single leads to a run out! What were the England batters thinking!
Tom Banton run out (Shanaka) 6 (7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 85.71
England's hopes now rest on Phil Salt, who is batting on 24 from 16 with two fours and a six. This is the first time in the T20 World Cup that Salt has survived the powerplay overs.
Can he make it count!?
As Hemantha is handed the ball for the 7th over, Salt finally punishes a full toss from a Sri Lankan bowler as he kneels ahead and slaps the ball away to the legside boundary.
After 7 overs, England are 45/2
Another wicket for Sri Lanka in the powerplay! And this time, it is Bethell who edges the ball to shirt third, and Madushanka, who saw a catch go down off his bowling just two balls ago, dives and hangs on to the ball. England have lose their second wicket with just 32 runs on board.
Jacob Bethell c Madushanka b Theekshana 3 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 75
A measure of how much the England batters are struggling today is that they are not able to punish full-tosses that are being darted at them by Madushanka. The pacer's teasing line on the off side --- and his trick of varying the pace of every single ball --- is testing Phil Salt's resolve to not do something reckless. For three balls, he endures. Then on the fifth ball of Madushanka's third over, the ball is on Salt's pads, and in trying to hit on the leg side, he edges it and the ball flies to Theekshana, who is not known for his fielding. And he cannot dive in time to catch it. The ball flies to the ropes for a boundary!
And to add salt to Madushanka's wounds, the next ball is hit through the off-side field for a second four.
After 5 overs, ENG are 32/1
Buttler departs! Tried to reverse-sweep the tricky Dunith Wellalage, and pays the price after missing the line!
His scratchy innings comes to an end for just seven runs! England lose their first wicket with just 16 runs on board.
Jos Buttler lbw b Wellalage 7 (14b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
What a contest this has been between Buttler and Dilshan Madushanka! The England opener seems sluggish, particularly against the bowling of Madushanka, who has beaten Buttler thrice already today.
Just three runs in the third over!
After 3 overs, ENG are 16/0
Dasun Shanaka decides that the second over is the right time to introduce spin in the game and tosses the ball to Dunith Wellalage. It seems to be going well for the first two balls when Buttler is at crease. Then, Phil Salt takes advantage of a fuller and slower ball to swat it over wide long off for a six! First hit to the fence, and it's a maximum!
England end the over with nine runs. After 2 overs, ENG are 13/0
Phil Salt and Jos Buttler navigate the first over from Dilshan Madushanka. Just four runs, all from singles in that over on what's a flat pitch at Pallekele.
After one over, ENG are 4/0
There was torrential rain overnight in Kandy. But today morning, it has been much clearer. So we will have a game after all. This is great news for the local fans who have filled out the stadium to support the co-hosts Sri Lanka. Parts of the outfield were drenched, but the ground staff has worked hard to make it playable.
We have the captains coming out for the national anthems.
Harry Brook, after losing the toss and being asked to bat first, says that they would have bowled first as well. Adds that they see this as a new competition now and will look to put the hosts under pressure. Mentions that they had an amazing series against Sri Lanka ahead of the World Cup and the boys are confident to take things on and have a bit of a chuckle while saying that all the pitches here look the same. Ends by informing that it is the same team for them.
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
England (Playing XI): Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Dasun Shanaka spins, heads is the call from Harry Brook. It's tails. Sri Lanka win the toss and opt to bowl first.
Toss time approaches. And after hours of weather reports prophesising doom and rain, live visuals from Pallekele show the sun bearing down on the ground as the players going through their drills. This keeps open the chances of a good game
England have had ordinary performances enterign the Super * stage. Both Nepal and Italy gave them a fright before the rampaging West Indies side defeated them. England come into the clash with co-hosts Sri Lanka with plenty of questions about the side.
Will Jacks has been a saviour for Harry Brook's men with the bat having hit a couple of blistering innings lower down the order.
Jacob Bethell is nursing a cut on the ring finger of his left hand. The England cricketer sustained the injury against West Indies in England’s second game. It was mended quickly with “a few stitches”. And while it has prevented him from bowling, he can still bat.
“It’s fine – strap it up, keep it away from the germs and get on with it,” he said about the injury.
According to Accuweather.com, thick cloud covers are expected to persist throughout the afternoon, with chances of a thunderstorm or two in Pallekele over the evening.
Rain showers are expected to hit likely in the first half of the match, with precipitation chances peaking around 3 pm.
Former England all-rounder Moeen Ali, while speaking about the team so far at the T20 World Cup, told Sky Sports: "I feel they have been a bit tentative, with bat and ball, but sometimes it is difficult to get out of a group when you don't know much about teams like Nepal and Italy. When you give those teams a sniff, that's when they become dangerous. As player, you feel a bit of pressure then. But England are through now and there will be a bit of relief. I think they will be feeling much better now, more at ease."
England skipper Harry Brook has said that the team will look at the Super 8 as a fresh start after the wobbly group stages.
"It was obviously a niggly start to the competition. We probably underestimated a few of the sides and they put up a really good fight. Thankfully we got through and we see it as new competition now. A fresh start," Brook said.
"I have learnt you can't take any team for granted. Sri Lanka are a strong side with a lot of confidence after a few very good wins. Some of their batters are batting really well and Nissanka is on a bit of a heater, so it would be ideal if we can get him out early. But if we play our best cricket there is no reason we can't beat them."
"We can take a lot of confidence having played here and experienced this surface and this ground. Hopefully we use that experience. I think we have been too careful at times. We can look to put teams under pressure, especially with the batting depth we have got. It's about having confidence in the people behind you. We can be a bit braver in certain situations."
For the fourth time in three weeks, we will have a England vs Sri Lanka clash as the two teams face off in the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage. But will the game go ahead? That depends on the weather gods as clouds hang over the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.

Pradeep Nishantha couldn’t find the house. He’d heard about the batting talent of Pathum Nissanka, wanted to draft him for a Colombo school, but the small government-built home—one of many constructed for tsunami victims—was impossible to locate. Eventually, Nishantha made a call. Come to Kalutara Bodiya, the famous temple in the region. That’s where they would meet. The temple wasn’t chosen randomly. That’s where Nissanka’s mother sold flowers to devotees. READ MORE
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