Sri Lanka vs England, ENG in SL, 3 T20Is, 2026 Feb 1 Full score card

SIX! England have won this by 6 wickets. Short and around middle anSam Curran stays leg side and pulls this over the fence towards the long on region and clears the fence for a biggie.

Hard length on off, Sam Curran smashes this to mid on for no run.

Good length around middle and off, Sam Curran flicks this through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. SCORES ARE LEVEL.

Slower one, around of short as well. Sam Curran leaves it.

On a length around off, Sam Curran dabs this to the third man region for a single.

Wide yorker around off, Tom Banton guides this to deep point for a single.

Good length around middle and off, Tom Banton fends this through mid-wicket and sprints for a brace.

WIDE! Short and way too wide of off. Wided.

On a length around middle and off, Sam Curran rolls this through mid on for a run.

Good length on off, Tom Banton dabs this towards Dasun at covers and takes a single. Dasun Shanaka hits the stumps at the no-striker's end but Tom Banton seems to have made his ground easily. THe replay confirms that Tom was well in when the ball hit the stumps.

Good length around middle and leg, Sam Curran clips this through mid-wicket for a single.

Good length around off, Tom Banton pokes and misses.

FOUR! FIFTY FOR BANTON! On a length, drifting down the leg, Tom Banton hangs onto the back foot and flicks this past the right of the fielder at long on for a boundary. Excellent knock from Tom Banton and he has surely taken his chances on this tour of SL.

Short and on off, Sam Curran pulls this to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Good length around off, Sam Curran drops this around the onside and Tom was off for a run but is sent back. Dasun fields this in his followthrough and tries to catch Tom Banton out of his crease with a direct hit towards the non-striker's end but misses.

Good length on the pads, Sam Curran tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Good length around off, Tom Banton punches this past the bowler to his right for one.

19 more needed off the last 18 balls.

Pushed through on middle and off, Tom Banton gets this in the gap for a run.

WIDE! Fired down the leg. Wide again.

FOUR! That's rolled away to the fence. Short and around off, Tom Banton gets it edged through the left of the fielder at short third for a boundary.

WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Wided.

Short and wide of off, Sam Curran cuts this through point for a run.

FOUR! Short and around middle and off, Sam Curran hangs onto his back foot and pulls this flat through the mid-wicket region for a boundary.

Full and on the pads, Tom Banton milks this through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! That's been hit right in the gap for four. Short and around off, Tom Banton pumps this into the surface and past the right of extra cover. The ball races through the gap to the left of long off for four runs.

Clever change of pace as Matheesha Pathirana bowls a slower one, around off. Sam Curran gets it dabs back to the keeper.

Good length on off, Tom Banton presses in front and smashes this to sweeper cover for a single.

Yorker, on middle and leg, Sam Curran flicks this through mid on for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! Now that's clever from Matheesha Pathirana but Harry Brook departs after playing a blinder. Short and around off, Harry Brook moves across the stumps looking to ramp this but Matheesha Pathirana bowls this slower and short on off. Harry Brook adjusts and goes for a dab behind the keeper but gets a lot more bat on it. The ball hangs to behind Wanindu Hasaranga and he does well to run back from short third and grab this one.

SIX! Make it 36 for Brook. Pitched up, around off, Harry Brook once again moves away from the stumps and smashes this flat this time over the fence towards deep cover for six more runs.

SIX! Clubbed over covers for another gigantic six. Slower one, wide of off, Harry Brook creates a lot of room by moving to his leg and smashes this over the fence towards deep cover for a massive six. Harry Brook has raced to 30 in no time.

WIDE! Full and way too wide outside off. Wided.

Darted onto the pads, Harry Brook jumps down the track and works this through mid-wicket for a single.

Slider around leg, Tom Banton bangs this down to long on for a strike rotation.

Pushed through on off, Harry Brook drives this down the ground for a single.

SIX! That has been thumped out of the park for a huge six. Short and into the batter, Harry Brook picks the length early, gets deep inside the crease and pulls this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region for a massive six.

Quicker one, on middle and off, Tom Banton rocks back and punches this to long on for one.

Good length around off, Tom Banton looks to poke but misses.

SIX! On a length around middle and off, Harry Brook moves away from his stumps and swings through the line. Gets it off from the middle of his bat and lands this on the other side of the fence for a biggie.

FOUR! A boundary more to Brook. On a length wide of off, Harry Brook moves away to his leg, opens his bat face and carves this away towards the deep third region for four runs.

WIDE! Short and on off, but way too high. Wided.

Full and wide of off, Harry Brook backs away a bit too much and ends up leaving it.

Good length on off, Tom Banton pushes this through mid on for a run.

Short pitched, wide of off. Harry Brook backs away and looks to play the upper cut but gets it edged towards short leg for one.

Slower one, back of a length on off. Tom Banton dabs this towards backward silly point for a strike rotation.

FOUR! That's been nailed to the fence in a flash. Tossed up, around middle and leg, Harry Brook jumps down the track and smashes this down the ground for a boundary to the left of the fielder at long on.

Quicker one, on off, Tom Banton hammers this to long off for one.

SIX! That is out of here. Flighted around off, Tom Banton shimmies down and away and smashes this up and over the fence towards the deep cover region for a huge six.

Tossed up, on off, Tom Banton blocks this to covers.

Almost two in two for Dunith. Drifts one in around off, turning it away. Harry Brook looks to flick it away but gets it edged behind the bowler for one.

Outwalks the English skipper, Harry Brook, next to bat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Tossed up, around off, Jos Buttler jumps down the track and looks to take on the cover fielder but gets it sliced off the cue end of his bat towards the right of Pavan Rathnayake at deep third. Pavan Rathnayake runs in from the fence, puts in a dive and holds onto it.

Tossed up, on middle and leg, Jos Buttler nudges this through mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted around off, Tom Banton drills this down to long off for a run.

SIX! Probably the biggest of the night. Tossed up, on middle and off, Tom Banton goes down on a knee and slogs sweeps this right from the middle of his bat and lands this out of the park towards the deep mid-wicket region. NEW BALL PLEASE!

Flighted around off, Jos Buttler jumps down the track, almost gets beaten in the flight and gets it edged through short third for a run.

Full and on middle and leg, Jos Buttler flicks this through the mid-wicket region and scampers back for two.

Tossed up, around off, Tom Banton hits this away to deep third for one.

Wanindu Hasaranga to continue from the other end.

FOUR! The Lankan bowlers are finding it hard to grip this wet ball, it seems. Another full toss, around the wiast, Jos Buttler stays deep inside the crease and smashes this through square leg for yet another boundary.

Loppy full toss, just below the waist of Tom and he gently works this through mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Edged and gone for four. Good length around off, fingers rolled over this from Janith Liyanage. Tom Banton flahses at it, gets it toe-pokes past the left of the fielder at short third for four runs.

Slower one, wide of off, Jos Buttler goes deep inside the crease and pumps this on the bounce to long off for one.

The physio of Sri Lanka has rushed out in the middle without wasting any time and it looks like Eshan Malinga has dislocated his left shoulder. Malinga is walking off with the team physio and Janith Liyanage will be completing this over.

NO BALL! But the worry for Sri Lanka will be the way Eshan Malinga has fallen on the ground, holding his left shoulder. Beamer from Malinga and Tom Banton flicks this away to deep square leg for a single. Siren goes around and the umpire signals a no-ball.

We are all set for the play to resume. Outwalks the two umpires and the pair of Jos Buttler and Tom Banton out in the middle for England. Eshan Malinga is set to complete his over.

UPDATE - 4.55 pm GMT - More positive news coming in as the revised target for England will be 168 and the game has now been cut short to 17 overs. Play is set to restart by 5.10 pm GMT.

UPDATE - 4.48 pm GMT - Positive news coming in, folks! The rain has once again completely stopped and the ground staff is peeling off the covers one more time. We might be nearing a restart. We do not have anything official on the revised scenario just for now.

UPDATE - 4.26 pm GMT - Frustration is mounting as the rain gods have once again opened up. Just as the ground staff began to peel back the covers, sparking hope for a restart, the rain returned, forcing the tarpaulins back into place and signaling another potentially lengthy delay. We might just have started losing overs as well.

UPDATE - 4.13 pm GMT - Good news from the ground as a few members of the ground staff can be seen removing the blue sheet from the middle. Looks like rain has completely stopped and we might be nearing a start soon.

UPDATE - 3.56 pm GMT - Uh-oh! Out of nowhere, the clouds have opened up and it has started to rain in Kandy. The ground staff have just brought in a few big blue sheet which covers the surface but the rest of the ground is still left uncovered, suggesting that it might not be that strong and just a passing shower.

Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage

Good length on off, Jos Buttler dabs this gently towards silly point and takes a quick single.

Good length on off, Jos Buttler blocks it out.

Pushed through on off, Jos Buttler punches this down to long on an takes a single.

Fuller on the pads, Tom Banton chips this to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Wrong'un on middle and off, Tom Banton blocks this out.

Fired around off, Jos Buttler goes deep inside the crease and looks to poke at it but gets it edged through the slip cordon for three.

Quicker and flatter, around off, Jos looks to cut this through point but gets it edged back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on off, Jos Buttler punches this to covers.

Right out of the Powerplay, Wanindu Hasaranga is introduced into the attack.

Darted into the batter, Jos Buttler tucks this off the inside through square leg for a single.

FOUR! Full and around off, Jos Buttler brings out the reverse and manages to hit this right in the gap between point and covers for a boundary more. 50 comes up for England.

Floated on off, Tom Banton drives this down to long off for a run.

SIX! JUST WOW! Tossed up, around middle and off, Tom Banton goes for a reverse sweep and hits this right out of the middle of his bat for a biggie towards the deep point region.

Fired around off, Tom Banton thumps this to extra cover.

Full and on off, Tom Banton punches this to covers.

On a length around the pads, Jos Buttler flicks this to mid-wicket. Excellent from Dasun Shanaka as he gives away just 5 and takes a wicket.

Back of a length on off, Tom Banton punches this to mid off and runs a single.

Good length, around middle and leg, seaming back into the batter and going down the leg. Tom Banton gets beaten on the inside and gets hit on the pads. Loud appeal for LBW but the umpire shakes it off.

Tom Banton is the next batter out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Dasun Shanaka sees the shimmy early from the southpaw, bowls it cleverly short and going across at a slow pace. Jacob Bethell still chases this and swings at it. Gets a faint edg which is taken cleanly by the keeper.

Slower, on middle and off, full as well. Jacob Bethell tries to hit this too hard and doesn't get any bit of timing behind this. Gets it flicked this mid-wicket.

FOUR! Smashed away for a boundary. Good length, wide of off, Jacob Bethell strides to the pitch of the ball, gets right on top of it and smashes this through the covers region for a boundary.

On a length around the pads, Jos Buttler flicks this to short fine leg for no run.

Back of a length on off, Jacob Bethell gets it away off the inside of his bat to mid-wicket for a single.

Short and into the batter, JB hits thie well but fails to beat mid-wicket.

On a length wide of off, Jacob Bethell cuts this to deep third's left for a brace.

Slower one, back of a length around off, Jacob Bethell swings and misses.

Hard length on middle and off, Jacob Bethell pokes at it but gets beaten.

FOUR BYES! That has gone past everything and into the fence behind the stumps for four. Darted around the batter. Jos Buttler backs away and looks to cut but misses. The ball goes past the stumps first and then the keeper for a boundary as byes behind the wicket.

Darted onto the pads, Jacob Bethell rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Pushed through on off, Jos Buttler hits this down to long off for one.

Fired onto the pads, Jos Buttler works this keeps it out.

FOUR! Just like that, Jos Buttler hits one over point for four. Tossed up, around off, Jos Buttler brings out the reverse sweep and smashes this over point for a boundary.

Pushed through on middle and off, Jos Buttler blocks this back to the bowler.

Dunith Wellalage comes into the attack.

FOUR! Jacob Bethell finds the gap and the ball races to the fence. Short and on middle and leg, Jacob Bethell rocks back and pulls this through mid-wicket for an excellently hit boundary.

Good length on middle and off, Jos Buttler slogs this down to long on for one.

FOUR! Short and wide of off, Jos ends up playing this late and cuts this square on off for a boundary. Jos Buttler is looking in a good touch so far.

Back of a length into the batter. Jos Buttler rocks back and looks to flick but misses. Gets this brushed off the thigh pad back to the keeper.

Pitched up, around off, Jacob Bethell punches this away for a single.

Good length around off, Jos Buttler flicks this to fine leg for one.

Dasun Shanaka will be operating from the other end. It will be Jacob Bethell replacing Phil Salt in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Slower one, wide of off, Phil Salt plays for the pace on and gets outfoxed. Salt ends up opening the face of his bat and guiding this straight into the hands of Pavan Rathnayake at short third for his dismissal.

Full and wide outside off, Jos Buttler drives this to sweeper cover for a single.

Hard length around off, Jos Buttler blocks this out.

FOUR! Even better from Jos Buttler and this has travelled to the fence at the rate of knots. Short and on off, Jos Buttler stays deep inside the crease and punches this off his back foot for four more through covers.

FOUR! In the gap for four to kickstart for Jos Buttler. Back of a length around middle and off, Jos Buttler hang deep inside the crease and smashes this through the covers region for a boundary.

Back of a length on off, Phil Salt works this through mid on and takes a quick single to get off the mark.

LEG BYE! Good length around middle and leg, Charith Asalanka looks to hit this over short fine leg but misses and gets it away off the pads to short fine for a leg bye. Sri Lanka ends with 189 on the board.

Full and down the leg, Janith Liyanage tucks this straight to short fine leg for a single.

OUT! CAUGHT! On a length around middle and leg, Pavan Rathnayake looks to flick this but fails to get right underneath it and ends up chipping this straight into the hands of Jacob Bethell at the deep mid-wicket fence.

DROPPED! Jacob Bethell drops Charith Asalanka at deep square leg. On a length around middle and leg, Charith Asalanka pulls this straight to JC at the fence and he drops it. A single taken.

BYE! Good length around off, Pavan Rathnayake looks to ramp but misses. The keeper fails to gather this cleanly and the batters run a bye.

LEG BYE! Archer comes around the stumps, bowls into the batter. Charith Asalanka gets it brushed off his pads to fine leg for a leg bye.

Jofra Archer to bowl the final over of the Sri Lankan innings.

FOUR! A boundary to end the penultimate over. A juicy full toss, on off, Pavan Rathnayake stays deep inside the crease and smashes this left to the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Full and wide of off, Pavan Rathnayake slices this towards the left of Jacob Bethell at deep third for a couple.

WIDE! Full and wide down the leg. Wided.

FOUR! Another boundary in the same manner but from Pavan Rathnayake this time. On a length around middle and off, Pavan Rathnayake shuffles across, falls over and still manages to top-edge this behind the stumps for a boundary more.

On a length around the pads, Charith Asalanka flicks this through mid-wicker for a strike rotation.

FOUR! Clever from Charith Asalanka. Pitched up, around off. Charith Asalanka steps across and plays the ramp behind the stumps for a boundary. This came more off a top-edge from Charith Asalanka's bat.

Full and on middle and leg, Pavan Rathnayake clips this to deep backward sqaure leg for one.

Floated on the pads, Pavan Rathnayake flicks this to deep mid-wicket for a run.

Pushed through around off, Charith Asalanka guides this to backward point for a run.

Fired into the batter, Pathum Nissanka flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Quicker and flatter into the stumps, Pavan Rathnayake hangs onto his back foot and smashes this through the gap towards the left of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Tossed up, wide of off, Pavan Rathnayake goes for a reverse sweep but misses.

Full toss, on middle and off, Charith Asalanka jumps down the track and rolls this to long on for one.

Yorker, nailed in the line of the stumps. Charith Asalanka jams this out.

FOUR! Third consecutive boundary for Charith Asalanka and Lanka. Short and wide of off, Charith Asalanka plays this late, intentionally opens the face of his blade and guides this in the gap between the keeper and short third for four.

FOUR! Dropped and away for four. Back of the hand, slower one from Jofra Archer, wide of off. Charith Asalanka gets a good piece of it and slices this in the gap towards deep point. Phil Salt runs to his left from sweeper cover and puts in a dive. Grabs this but the ball pops out of his grasp as he falls on the ground and it races away to the fence for four.

FOUR! On a length wide of off, Charith Asalanka stays deep inside the crease and smashes this in the gap to the right of mid off for a boundary. Maybe this will get Charith Asalanka going.

Good length on the pads, Pavan Rathnayake milks this through mid-wicket for a run.

On a length around middle and off, Charith Asalanka flicks this to long on for one.

Short and on off, Charith Asalanka cuts this in front of backward point and takes one.

Googly, flighted and fuller on off. Charith Asalanka pushes this back to the bowler.

Tossed up, on middle and off, Charith Asalanka sweeps this in the gap to deep mid-wicket's left for two.

Quicker one, on off, Pavan Rathnayake rolls this through mid off for one.

Full and on the pads, Charith Asalanka works this away for a run through mid-wicket.

Another appeal for LBW and the umpire turns it down. Tossed up, on middle and leg, Charith Asalanka looks to play the sweep but misses with the bat and gets hit on the forearm. A massive appeal from the English players for LBW but the umpire shrugs it off. Harry Brook sends this upstairs. A spike as the ball is right next to the bat of Charith Asalanka and the on-field decision of not out stays. England loses both their reviews.

Full and on off, Charith Asalanka drops this short of the fielder and takes a run.

Pushed through on the pads, Pavan flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Full and wide outside off, Pavan Rathnayake shuffles across and looks to sweep this through square leg but gets it edged off the inside and the ball nutmegs the keeper for  boundary behind the stumps.

Fired across the batter, Pavan Rathnayake keeps it out.

Quicker one, on off, Charith Asalanka dabs this to short fine for a run.

Darted down the leg, Charith Asalanka looks to block but misses.

LEG BYE! Flighted around the pads, Charith Asalanka gets it brushed off his pads for a leg bye.

Fired wide of off, Charith Asalanka cuts this to point for a dot.

Charith Asalanka walks out next in the middle for Sri Lanka.

OUT! LBW! Trapped right in front of the stumps. A couple of leggies, going away, and then a quicker googly from Adil Rashid gets the better of Dasun Shanaka. Googly, on off, Dasun Shanaka looks to slog across the line but misses completely as DS fails to read Adil. The ball hits the Lankan skipper on his back pad and a gentle appeal was only required for the umpire to raise his finger. Dasun Shanaka sends this upstairs and the Ball Tracker shows three reds with the ball clattering into the leg-pole. Dasun Shanaka has to walk back.

Flighted on off, turning a long way away from the batter. Adil Rashid goes for a sweep but misses.

Seam up, full and wide of off, Dasun Shanaka swings and misses.

Full and on off, Pathum Nissanka punches this in the gap for a single.

Flighted wide of off, Dasun Shanaka leaves it.

Darted onto the pads, Pavan Rathnayake works this to mid-wicket for a run.

Quicker one, on middle and off, Dasun Shanaka rocks back and punches this on the bounce to long on for a strike rotation.

Floated around off, Dasun Shanaka blocks.

Dasun Shanaka walks out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kusal Mendis departs to a spinner once again. Tossed up, around middle and off, Kusal Mendis goes for a sweep after going down on a knee. Gets a leading edge back to Adil Rashid at the short fine leg region. Adil Rashid makes no mistake and holds onto it. Kusal Mendis departs for 32 off 17.

Fired into the batter, around middle and leg. Pavan Rathnayake works this through mid-wicket for a single.

DROPPED! Good length, wide of off, Pavan Rathnayake has a go at it, away from his body. Pavan edges this slightly to the left of the fielder at short third and the player drops it. A single taken.

Pavan seems to be toying with the field. Full and wide of off, Pathum Nissanka delays the drive and opens his bat face. Guides this past point to his right for a couple.

FOUR! Much better from Pavan Rathnayake and a lot more authoritative as well. Back of a length on middle and off, Pavan Rathnayake stays deep inside the crease and pulls this in front of square through mid-wicket for four this time.

SIX! Pavan gets a touch of fortune and the ball sails over the fence. Short and around off, Pavan Rathnayake looks to pull this in front of square towards mid-wicket but gets it top-edged into the crowd towards fine leg.

Full and wide of off, Kusal Mendis smashes this grounded to sweeper cover for a single.

SIX! GO FETCH THAT! Short and into the batter, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis stays deep inside the crease, gets underneath it and hooks this over the fnce towards the deep square leg region for a massively hit six.

WIDE! That is a bit hard on the bowler. Good length wide of off but touch and go with the tramline. Kusal Mendis leaves it and the umpire calls it a wide. Jamie Overton is not pleased with this decision.

Pavan Rathnayake is the next batter out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kamil Mishara gives in after getting a good start. Pushed through around the pads from Will Jacks. Kamil Mishara stays leg side and goes through with the flick. Hits this a bit straighter and straight into the hands of Jamie Overton at the wide long on region. Jamie Overton makes no mistake and holds onto it.

Fired into the batter, going down the leg. Kamil Mishara rocks back and looks to work this away off his bac foot but misses and gets rapped on the back pad.

Short and into the batter, around leg. Kusal Mendis flat bats this to deep square leg for a single.

Pushed through on leg, Kamil Mishara rolls this down to long on for a single.

Top-spinner, around off, Kusal Mendis sweeps this through square leg for one.

Full and on off, Kamil Mishara punches this to sweeper cover for one.

DRINKS! We have reached the halfway mark of the Lankan innings and Dasun Shanaka would be delighted with the way his troops have batted so far. 102 off the first 10 overs at the loss of just one wicket and Sri Lanka are ahead in this contest till this point. The batters now have a platform from which they can launch an onslaught towards the last 10 overs.

FOUR! 100 comes up for SL. Googly, into the stumps, Kusal Mendis reads this perfectly and hops onto the back foot. KM ends up smashes this wide to the left of the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Tossed up, around off, Kamil Mishara milks this through square leg for a run.

TWO WIDES! Full and wide outside off. Kusal leaves it and the batter fails to gather this clean. A single taken by the batters on this wide on.

LEG BYE Wrong'un around the pads. Kamil Mishara looks to block this around mid-wicket but misreads the wrong'un and gets beaten. The ball clips the top of the back foot, which is leaning a bit. A massive appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Harry Brook, the skipper of England, sends this upstairs and the replay shows that this has pitched outside leg on the Ball Tracker. England loses a review.

Fuller, wide of off, Kusal Mendis sits down and sweeps this down to long on for one.

Tossed up, much slower from Adil Rashid. Kamil Mishara rolls this down the ground for a single.

Tossed up, around off, Kamil Mishara pushes this to extra cover.

On a length, in the line of the stumps. Kamil Mishara punches this through mid off for one.

Hard length on off, Kusal Mendis drops this around covers and rotates.

Short and wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this square on off for a run.

Hard length on off, Kamil Mishara hits this well but straight to the fielder.

FOUR! Enough width on offer from Jamie Overton and Kamil Mishara makes him pay. Slower one, wide outside off, Kamil Mishara slashes hard at it and gets it away through the gully region for a boundary. Kamil Mishara moves to 30 off 19.

Good length wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this through the backward point region for a couple.

FOUR! That's been worked fine for four as well. Darted around the pads, Kusal Mendis steps across and paddles this behind the stumps for a boundary to close this Liam Dawson over.

Darted into the batter, Kusal Mendis goes back and nudges this through mid-wicket for a brace.

Fired onto the pads, Kamil Mishara tucks this to short fine leg for a single.

SIX! This has sailed over the fence. Tossed up, wide of off, Kamil Mishara goes down on a knee and slog sweeps this up and over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a huge six.

Pushed through on middle and off, Kusal Mendis punches this through mid off and takes a run.

Quicker one, on middle and off, Kamil Mishara cuts this to deep point for a strike rotation on the first ball of the over.

FOUR! Kusal Mendis is reading Adil Rashid like his favourite book. Short and into the batter, Kusal Mendis was up for it as he rocks back and away and pulls this through the gap around cow corner for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Wrong'un around middle and off, Kusal Mendis reads this well and goes down on a knee. Plays the slog sweep but keeps it ground and hits the gap between deep mid-wicket and wide long on for four.

Flighted around off, Kamil Mishara pushes this down to long off for a run.

Tossed up, on middle and off, Kamil Mishara blocks.

Pushed through on the pads, Kusal Mendis flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted on off, Kusal Mendis jams this out.

Hard length, into the batter. Kamil Mishara goes for a flick but misses and gets thud on the front pad.

WIDE! Short and wide down the leg. Wided.

On a length around off, taking pace off it. Kusal Mendis tucks this to the right of mid on and rotates.

Good length on middle and off, Kusal Mendis blocks this out.

Kusal Mendis is the next batter in for Sri Lanka.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Full and wide outside off, Pathum Nissanka chases this and has a go at it away from his body. The ball gets an inside edge that is chopped back onto the stumps. Pathum Nissanka departs after scoring 34 off 22.

Good length around off, Kamil Mishara dabs this gently off his front foot and the batters take one.

Back of a length on off, Pathum Nissanka plays this late and dabs this to third man for a run.

Darted onto the pads, Kamil Mishara bumps this to short fine leg.

Darted on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka works this away for a strike rotation.

Floated into the batter, Pathum Nissanka punches this back to the bowler.

WIDE! Darted down the leg. Wided.

SIX! This has gone the distance. Tossed up, around off, Pathum Nissanka steps a long way across and goes for the slog sweep. Pathum does flick his wrists as he makes contact with the ball and intentionally hits this behind square on leg for a biggie.

Fired into the batter, Kamil Mishara drills this down to long on for a strike rotation.

Short and wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this well but straight to point.

Fired onto the pads, Kamil Mishara rolls this down to long on for a run.

FOUR! A boundary after a while. Juicy full toss from Liam Dawson, wide outside off. Kamil Mishara strides towards the flight of the ball, opesn his bat face at the last moment and drives this square on off for four.

Tossed up, going across the batter. Kamil Mishara miscues it to covers.

Pushed through on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka tucks this through square leg for a run.

Quicker one around middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka gets it edged just short of the bowler.

Fired onto the pads, Pathum Nissanka jams this out.

More spin from Harry Brook's England as Liam Dawson is brought into the attack.

Floated across the batter, Pathum Nissanka punches this through mid on for a single. Just 4 off this Will Jacks over.

Darted onto the pads from around the stumps by Will Jacks. The batter goes back and tucks this to the right of the bowler and looks to sneak a run. WJ does well to field this off his own bowling and throw this towards the keeper's end with Pathum Nissanka out of his crease. Pathum Nissanka puts in a dive and makes his ground as confirmed by the replay.

Floated around middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka rocks back and pulls this to the right of the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Yorker, wide of off. Pathum Nissanka jams this out.

Tossed up, wide of off, Pathum Nissanka looks to sweep this through square leg but gets it edged onto the pads.

Darted into the batter, Kamil Mishara rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Will Jacks replaces Sam Curran (1-0-14-0) in the attack.

Hard length on off, Kamil Mishara punches this to mid on and takes a quick run.

SIX! Kamil joins the party that Pathum is hosting so far. Good length on the pads, Kamil Mishara, stays leg side and flicks this right from the middle of his bat and gets the ball to sail over the fence towards deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Good length on middle and off, Kamil Mishara pushes this off the inside of his bat to mid on.

Short and wide of off, Pathum Nissanka cuts this to deep third for a run.

5 WIDES! Jofra Archer bowls at 145 kph but errs in line and bowls it down the leg. Pathum Nissanka leaves it and the ball keeps going away from the keeper. Jos Buttler tries to gather this but the ball races to the fine leg fence for four plus wide.

SIX! That's been picked up and deposited into the stands. On a length around middle and leg, with a hint of inswing on offer. Pathum Nissanka stays leg side and picks it up with a flick. Deposits this over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a biggie.

Jofra starts with a full toss, around the pads. Pathum Nissanka gets it tucked towards the left of Adil Rashid at short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Jofra Archer to operate from the other end.

Hard length on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka dabs this gently towards mid off and races to the other end.

WIDE! On a length down the leg, shaping further down. Pathum Nissanka has a go at it but gets beaten. Wided.

Good length, around off, Pathum Nissanka blocks this out.

FOUR! EVEN BETTER FROM PATHUM! Short and wide outside off, Pathum Nissanka hops up on his toes and cuts this over the backward point region for a boundary. The umpire initially gestured a biggie but the replay confirmed that the ball had landed just inside the fence and then bounced over for four.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries from Pathum and Sam Curran has been put under pressure once again. Full and on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka goes a long way across and ramps this through the short fine leg region for a boundary.

FOUR! Intent from Pathum Nissanka and the ball races to the fence behind the stumps. On a length going across the batter. Pathum Nissanka jumps down the track and has a go at it. Gets it edged off the outside and the ball races to the third man region for four.

We are underway with a dot. Insiwinging delivery from Sam Curran, around middle and off, shaping back into the batter. Pathum Nissanka gets right behind it and keeps it out.

We are all set for the game to begin. Pathum Nissanka has walked out with his partner Kamil Mishara to open for the Lankan side. Sam Curran is set to bowl the first over of this contest.

PITCH REPORT - In his pitch report, Russel Arnold described the conditions as much drier and more pleasant than those of the previous game. Although it is the same surface used for the opener, Arnold noted that it appears fresh and exhibits almost no cracks. He highlighted that the pitch continues to offer variety for all players. Spinners can find turn, batters will be able to hit through the line, and fast bowlers have the opportunity to utilize their tactical variations. He specifically praised England's previous performance for their clinical execution of effective angles and lines. Given that Sri Lanka will be batting first, Arnold concluded that they must aim for a target of approximately 160 to remain competitive in this must-win clash.

Sri Lanka captain - Dasun Shanaka expressed satisfaction at batting first in the second T20I, noting that the used wicket should allow the ball to come onto the bat comfortably during the opening phase. Emphasising the need for clarity on such tracks, he highlighted the importance of using footwork to counter England's spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. The hosts made two tactical changes for the must-win encounter, bringing in Dunith Wellalage and Pavan Rathnayake for Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva. With the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon, Shanaka reiterated that the team is using these final matches to experiment and find a collective rhythm, hoping for a strong performance from the batting unit to level the series.

England captain - Harry Brook opted to bowl first for the second consecutive match, expressing confidence in an unchanged lineup that he believes is perfectly suited to the current conditions and opposition. Reflecting on the series opener, Brook praised his team's ability to adapt under pressure, specifically highlighting how Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid spearheaded a vital comeback after the side struggled for runs early on. By sticking with the same XI, the skipper emphasized a strategy centered on tactical continuity, hoping his bowlers could replicate their previous success by securing early wickets to keep Sri Lanka under pressure.

England (Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga.

TOSS - Harry Brook wins the coin flip and he has informed that England will be bowling first. 

Can Sri Lanka bounce back? Entering today’s match, Sri Lanka finds themselves in a quintessential must-win situation. To stay alive in the series and force a decider, the hosts must find a way to counter England’s versatile bowling attack and post a more formidable total. With the home crowd behind them at Pallekele, the pressure is on the Lankan lions to sharpen their execution and prove they can level the series against a confident English side. Toss and team new in a bit. 

Sri Lanka's batting woes - In the rain-shortened opener, the Sri Lankan batters had a tough time against a disciplined English attack. Despite Kusal Mendis top-scoring with 37, the hosts were bowled out for just 133. England’s bowlers were the stars of the show, with Adil Rashid spinning a web around the batters and Sam Curran taking a sensational hat-trick to break the backbone of the innings. The chase was never a problem for the English side, which had a lot of depth and firepower.

A warm welcome to cricket fans! Welcome to our coverage of this high-stakes encounter. As the cricketing world turns its eyes toward the Pallekele International Stadium, the atmosphere is electric. Fans are eager to see if the hosts can turn the tide in this thrilling three-match series. It is a beautiful day for cricket, and we are thrilled to have you with us for what promises to be a decisive clash between two powerhouse nations. 

... MATCHDAY ...

Match intro - The three-match T20I series moves into game two at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. After a rain-affected opener, both sides will be hoping for better weather and a more complete contest this time around. With the World Cup not far away, every outing carries added significance as teams fine-tune combinations and address lingering concerns. Playing spin a concern - Sri Lanka's vulnerability against quality spin remains a major talking point. In the shortened series opener, they found it difficult to get Adil Rashid away and Liam Dawon also to some extent. Their struggles against spin have surfaced repeatedly over the last year, and it is an area that cannot be brushed under the carpet.  Handling spin through the middle overs, rotating strike, and finding safe boundary options will be crucial if Sri Lanka are to be competitive at the global event. To address that issue, even within this series, we could see Kusal Perera come into the side for the second game, as the match-ups against Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid are favourable for him. On the bowling front, much will hinge on the availability and workload management of Dushmantha Chameera. He has been one of Sri Lanka's standout performers in T20Is in recent times and is expected to play a key role at the World Cup. The Sri Lankan think tank has been careful with his workload, which is why he was left out of the ODI squad and also missed the opening T20I. However, he could feature at some point in this series as Sri Lanka look to sharpen their pace attack. Rotation and readiness - England will be pleased with how the first game unfolded. Sam Curran continued his impressive run in the format with a hat-trick, underlining his value as a multi-dimensional option. It was a gamble from the England think tank to play Jofra Archer in a rain-affected match, with the added risk of injuries on a wet outfield, but there were encouraging signs as Archer gradually built up pace and rhythm. With only two games left before the World Cup, England are unlikely to risk him in both remaining matches. Josh Tongue's selection for the World Cup has also generated discussion, given that he is still uncapped in T20I cricket. Tongue could be given an opportunity in the second game, possibly in place of Archer if England choose to rest him. Ben Duckett did not feature after bruising his index finger in the third ODI and was rested for the opening T20I. That opened the door for Tom Banton, who will be keen to make the most of any further chances should Duckett remain sidelined. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - Sri Lanka - LWLLW | England - WWWWW. What to expect? England have now won 9 T20Is in a row against Sri Lanka, with the island nation's last victory in the format coming back in 2014. Rain is once again threatening to play spoilsport on Sunday. Any further interruptions would be far from ideal preparation for either side, especially with the World Cup approaching. Both teams will be keen for a full game to fine-tune combinations and build momentum, rather than have their plans disrupted by the weather yet again.