Sri Lanka were dismissed for a mere 95 runs, suffering a comprehensive 51-run loss to England in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 encounter at Pallekele on Sunday. The hosts crumbled during the powerplay, losing five crucial wickets as England skipper Harry Brook’s tactical decision to give Will Jacks the new ball paid dividends, with Jacks claiming three dismissals. Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, and Adil Rashid each contributed two wickets to complete the demolition. Previously, Sri Lankan spinners Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana proved instrumental with three and two wickets respectively, restricting England to 146/9 across their 20 overs. England’s innings was anchored by opener Phil Salt’s impressive half-century of 62 runs, supported by Jacks’ quickfire 21 from 14 deliveries. England Overpowered Sri Lanka In Spin Battle .
TOSS
Sri Lanka secured the toss and elected to bowl first.
PLAYING XI
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
ENGLAND
Sri Lanka showed confidence in their bowling decision after winning the toss – a choice that proved justified almost immediately. Dilshan Madushanka created immediate pressure on Jos Buttler, though it was Dunith Wellalage who drew first blood when the former captain fell lbw while attempting to break free with an ambitious reverse sweep. The surface’s characteristics became apparent quickly, offering both slower pace and sufficient turn for the bowlers. Maheesh Theekshana struck in the powerplay’s closing over as Jacob Bethell mistimed his aggressive stroke attempt. England’s troubles deepened when Tom Banton was dismissed via run-out despite a desperate dive, and at the innings’ midpoint, Harry Brook departed lbw to Wellalage, leaving England struggling at 68/4.
Throughout the early chaos, Phil Salt stood as England’s lone resistance, accumulating vital runs. After launching Wellalage for six in the second over, Salt proceeded to strike consecutive boundaries off Madushanka before executing a perfect sweep against Dushan Hemantha, contributing over half his team’s total at that juncture. England briefly found stability as Salt reached his fifty while Sam Curran deployed his signature slog sweep for six off Hemantha. However, Dushmantha Chameera intervened to prevent the partnership’s growth, removing Curran with a well-disguised slower delivery. Salt responded immediately with four and six off consecutive balls in the same over, but Wellalage returned for his final spell to claim the prized wicket, restoring Sri Lanka’s dominance.
During the closing five overs, Jacks maintained England’s momentum with well-timed boundaries despite Sri Lanka’s continued breakthroughs at the opposite end. Madushanka concluded his bowling allocation in the nineteenth over by dismissing both Jacks and Jofra Archer, ensuring England remained below the 150-run mark.
SRI LANKA-
Both Jacks and Archer were back with the ball to hurt the home side. They operated in tandem and nipped out half the Sri Lankan side inside the Powerplay to stun Pallekele into silence. Pathum Nissanka was the first to depart as the dangerman fell to a well-laid out trap by England, finding the fielder at deep midwicket despite hitting boundaries off the previous two deliveries.
With the surface aiding him, Jacks then struck off consecutive deliveries to send Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake back to the pavilion early. Kamil Mishara was the next to depart with the left-hander edging Archer to the fielder at gully. Wellalage broke the shackles with a couple of boundaries in the final over of the Powerplay but Jacks had the last laugh when the left-hander mistimed one to get caught at mid on. By the end of the Powerplay, the chase appeared to be done and dusted at 34/5. Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis brought some cheer to the crowd with a six each in back-to-back overs but a leading edge saw the latter chip a catch back to Liam Dawson to add to Sri Lanka’s woes. After nine overs, the hosts were 53/6 with Adil Rashid yet to enter the attack.
While Shanaka put up a brief fight, the procession continued. Hemantha was dismissed hit-wicket and the Sri Lankan skipper himself was eventually sent packing following a fine combined effort near the boundary from Jacks and Tom Banton. Dawson and Rashid then put Sri Lanka out of their misery with a wicket each after Shanaka’s departure to complete the facile win. The margin of defeat will now put pressure on the home side, especially with Pakistan and New Zealand already securing a point each following the washout last night.
Brief scores:
England 146/9 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 62, Will Jacks 21; Dunith Wellalage 3/26, Maheesh Theekshana 2/21) beat Sri Lanka 95 in 16.4 overs (Dasun Shanaka 30; Will Jacks 3/22, Adil Rashid 2/13) by 51 runs .
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