Sri Lanka will play against England in their first Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 22. Sri Lanka aims to recover from a recent loss, while England seeks to maintain their edge over Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
As co-hosts, Sri Lanka was performing well until they faced a 6-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe in their last league match. Batting first, they set a target of 178 runs, with Pathum Nissanka scoring 62 and Kusal Mendis adding 44. However, Zimbabwe successfully chased down the target in 19.3 overs, marking Sri Lanka’s first loss in the tournament. They will look to quickly bounce back in the Super Eight.
England
England also had a strong group stage, winning three out of four matches, with their only loss coming against West Indies. They recently secured a 24-run victory over Italy, scoring 202 for 7, thanks to Will Jacks who scored 53 runs off just 22 balls. Tom Banton contributed with 30 runs. Their bowling was effective, dismissing Italy for 178 runs, with Sam Curran and Jamie Overton taking three wickets each, while Jofra Archer contributed with two wickets.
SL vs ENG Match Details
| SL vs ENG T20I WC Match Details | |
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England 2nd Super Eight T20I Match |
| Date and Time | Sunday, February 22; 3:00 p.m. IST |
| Venue | Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele |
| Broadcasting and live streaming | TV-Star Sports Network, Live Stream-JioHotstar |
SL vs ENG T20 WC Pitch Report
The pitch at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is usually balanced for batting and bowling. Matches here are competitive, with batsmen scoring runs and bowlers taking wickets during the middle overs. Fast bowlers can expect good bounce early on, but the pitch typically becomes more favorable for batting as the match progresses. The average first innings score is around 167 runs.
SL vs ENG T20 WC Weather Report
The weather is expected to be humid and cloudy, with a 10% chance of rain during the match. As it’s an afternoon game, temperatures are likely to be between 21-25°C.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records
| SL vs ENG head-to-head (in T20s) | |
| Matches Played | 17 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 4 |
| Won by England | 13 |
| Tied | 0 |
| No Result | 0 |
SL vs ENG Probable XI
- Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dushan Hemantha, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
- England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Players to Watch in the SL vs ENG Match
- Pathum Nissanka | SL: Nissanka is one of the top performers for Sri Lanka, recently scoring a century against Australia and 62 runs against Zimbabwe. He has made 199 runs in four matches with an average of 66.3, making him a player to watch.
- Kusal Mendis | SL: The wicket-keeper batter has been impressive in this tournament, scoring three half-centuries in his first three matches. He has 182 runs in four matches, averaging 60.67.
- Jacob Bethell | ENG: Bethell has been solid for England, scoring 143 runs in four games, including one half-century. His recent form makes him a player to watch.
SL vs ENG Toss Prediction
Historical Toss-Winning Stats at the Venue
- In the last 6 T20 matches at this venue, the team winning the toss has chosen to bowl first in four instances.
Advantages of Bowling First on This Pitch
- In total, 33 T20I matches have been played here, with teams batting first winning 15 and teams bowling first winning 14. Recent trends suggest that chasing may be a better option.
SL vs ENG Today’s Match Scenario
Scenario 1
- Toss Winner: SL (opts to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 45-50
- ENG Total: 160-170
- Match Winner: Sri Lanka
Scenario 2
- Toss Winner: ENG (opts to bowl first)
- Power-Play Score: 36-40
- SL Total: 170-180
- Match Winner: England
Who Will Win Today’s SL vs ENG T20 World Cup Match?
England, led by Harry Brook, recently achieved a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in a T20I series and will look to extend their success. They have a favorable record against Sri Lanka, having won the last five encounters. Despite Sri Lanka’s potential for a strong performance, England appears to be the stronger team at this time.
