Sri Lanka vs England T20 World Cup Highlights: Lankan batting falls apart, ENG spinners show up to seal 51-run victory
Sri Lanka vs England Highlights: On a damp Pallekele surface where runs proved to be tough to come by, England manage to defend 147 with a strong bowling display, aided by Sri Lanka imploding with the bat. A 51-run win which leaves the hosts in big trouble at the foot of the table.
Sri Lanka vs England Highlights: England seal a 51-run victory over Sri Lanka in Pallekele against the odds, despite scoring what seemed to be an under-par 146/9 in the first innings. The Sri Lanka batting imploded with Will Jacks taking three wickets as a total of five fell in the powerplay, killing the chase before it could really get going. Earlier, Phil Salt scored 62, a knock which proved to be crucial as almost every other batter struggled....Read More
Co-hosts Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl against England in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 opener, in Pallekele on Sunday. It was raining earlier, but it stopped before toss. Rain is expected to play a key role during the match.
Other than a slip-up against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka have been in good form, especially in Pallekele, where they showed their dominance against Australia. Despite missing Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana, they will be aiming to begin the Super 8 stage with a victory. For England, it has been a tough tournament, and they had to work hard in the group stage. Their batters have struggled, failing to find any form of consistency. For Sri Lankan batters, it has been the opposite. Their batting has been consistent, with Pathum Nissanka showcasing his talent. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis and captain Dasun Shanaka have stepped up too. Even their bowlers have performed admirably, despite the absence of their two key stars.
Sri Lanka will look for inspiration against England, and it is a big occasion for them. Nissanka has been in good form. Only Chris Gayle, before him, has a T20 World Cup ton, and he also has an ODI double hundred and a century in all three formats. For England, Adil Rashid will be key, and if he finds his form, he will be their main weapon. In their defeat to the West Indies, he didn't leak a single boundary and returned with figures of 2/16 in four overs. Meanwhile, a combined haul of 5/69 in 12 overs in Pallekele last month shows that he is well-prepared for this showdown. Speaking ahead of the match, R Sridhar, Sri Lanka's fielding coach, said, "Whoever it is, when you're playing a Super Eight game, you will not play with the same freedom as you would do in a bilateral or a private league. So the pressure will be same for both teams. The teams which do the things correctly under pressure, the team which makes lesser mistakes is the team that is likely to go through."
- {{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 06:14:11 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: That's it! Game over, ENG win and head to the top of the group
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Adil Rashid brings out the big googly to wrap things up! Their batting couldn't come to the party, but Sri Lanka's forgot it was even taking place. No two ways about it, this has been a horrific batting display from the hosts – but England have shown plenty of character to defend 146 comfortably, win by 51 runs, and head to the top of the table in Group 2.
Advantage England in the race to the semifinals now.
- 22 Feb 2026, 06:11:50 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Dawson gets another and England one away
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Dawson picks up another! Sri Lanka going down swinging but the disappointment is palpable in Pallekele.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 06:04:07 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: That will be that, almost! Relay catch sees the end of Shanaka
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Shanaka tries to go after Rashid and gets a solid piece of it but not enough! Jacks is there to pouch it at midwicket, but just to be safe he lobs it to Banton at long-on to make things a little bit easier.
82/8 now.
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:51:38 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: HIT-WICKET! It's all going wrong
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Been that kind of evening for Sri Lanka thus far. Hemantha tries to play th epull shot off Overton, but loses control and his bat goes on to knock over his own stumps. He will want to forget that quickly.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:47:18 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: 83 needed off 9 overs
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: The equation reads thus. Shanaka is set, but with 6 wickets down, it will require something truly heroic from the captain.
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:38:44 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Kamindu hammers a six and is then dismissed! Six down
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Dawson strikes! Kamindu hits a big slog for six and tries to work it away for a single next ball, but it's another leading edge that loops back and is easily pouched.
52/6. England ecstatic.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:27:28 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: CALAMITY! Sri Lanka are 5 down inside the powerplay
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Wellalage picks up a could of fours but then throws it away! Tries to go against the spin of Jacks to clear mid on, but gets none of it and is caught easily!
What a first six overs. It's 34/5 and England are heavy favourites!
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:24:31 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: ARCHER AGAIN! It's four down
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Do you believe it, England are on top! Archer with another, too quick for Mishara who edges it, and is caught at short third.
Sri Lanka in a world of trouble. 26/4 after 5.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:17:07 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: THREE DOWN! Rathnayake throws it away first ball!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: It's another! And it's another poor shot. Rathnayake tries to charge down and hit it for six first ball, but slices it straight into the air after never getting to the pitch. Straight up and easily taken.
Sri Lanka suddenly in trouble, 21/3 after 4 overs.
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:14:02 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Another wicket! England are in this
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: The Will Jacks gambit in the powerplay works! It's a pair of crucial wickets. Will Jacks gets just a little bit of purchase, and a leading edge loops back to him for a simple catch.
20/2 now. England keeping themselves interested.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:10:39 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: 4, 4, out! Poor shot from Nissanka
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Big wicket! Nissanka is in great touch, but that's a poor choice of shot after consecutive boundaries from him. He had Archer under the pump, but flicks a ball off his pads aerially, and right to the sole man on the leg-side boundary. He'll be disappointed with that wicket.
15/1 after 2.4.
- 22 Feb 2026, 05:03:39 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Back for the chase
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: 147-run chase, and Sri Lanka won't want to complicate things. At just over 7, the required rate will never be too much of a concern. Wickets are what will matter.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:47:46 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: England end on 146/9
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Overton manages to hammer one six off Chameera, but that's all as the yorkers are spot-on after that ball.
146/9 at the end of the innings then. England will need to pull something out of their hat to defend this – Sri Lanka will back themselves to take the points.
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:41:58 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: One more! Archer goes first ball
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Now nine down! Another low full toss and Archer can't clear the ring on the off-side. Well taken by Hemantha.
One over left, one wicket left. Can Overton get England to 150?
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:39:37 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: 4, 4, out! Madhushanka takes crucial Jacks wicket
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Jacks could have played a really important cameo to help England even dream of getting to 160, but that is shattered! He picks the extra cover boundary a couple of times in the over, but Madhushanka persists with the wide-of-off gameplan. A low full toss that Jacks goes hard at, but gets not enough distance on. Nicely taken by the sweeper on the off-side.
135/8 with 7 balls to play.
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:31:39 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: 7 down! Theekshana strikes again
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Last over of spin for Sri Lanka, and Theekshana makes it count! Dawson tries to take it on but it's straight into the air, and easily taken at short cover.
124/7. Running out of batting options.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:19:42 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Salt departs! Runs out of energy, 3rd for Wellalage
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: And there goes Salt! Tries to hammer it down the ground but not enough power behind that. Easily settles into the hands of long-off.
England now 106/6 with 5 overs to play. Need Will Jacks to rescue them.
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:10:18 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: ANOTHER WICKET! Curran picks out long-on off a slower ball
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: No no no! It looked like a partnership was finally brewing but Sam Curran has thrown it away. Tries to hammer Chameera down the ground, but the cutter completely outfoxes him. Sliced, and easily taken.
94/5 now.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 04:05:24 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Phil Salt reaches fifty – only batter able to get going
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Very good innings from Phil Salt with wickets tumbling around him. He is breathing heavy and struggling with the conditions at the moment, but conserving his energy at the moment.
Curran takes on leg-spinner Hemantha, tonks him for six over midwicket. Much more of that needed.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:55:50 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: GONE!!! Wellalage removes Brook, huge moment
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Spin continues to be the death of England! Wellalage keeps it simple, within the width of the stumps, and Brook simply misses a straight one and is given LBW. Takes it to DRS, it's umpire's call on wickets hitting, but that's enough.
England in deep trouble halfway through. It's 68/4 at the 10th over mark.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:48:32 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Nearly another run-out but England get 6 via overthrows instead!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Nearly another suicide run and England have gotten away with one massively! Salt is struggling to get back for the second, but there is too much heat on the throw in from long-off, and the backing up is poor. Runs away for two plus four overthrows, and what could have been four down is a big boost instead.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:42:30 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: BULLSEYE! Shanaka runs out Banton!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: All going wrong for England! Banton pokes it to Shanaka at mid-off and sets off for a run, but it's too risky! The captain with a lovely pickup and three stumps to aim at, and he hits – Banton well short and Sri Lanka are bouncing!
49/3, Sri Lanka's plan working perfectly.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:34:46 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Sensational powerplay for Sri Lanka, 37/2!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Sri Lanka dominate the powerplay. Plenty of spin bowled through it, and now with the field restrictions out of the way, it will be about keeping the England batters quiet and forcing them to make mistakes.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:28:07 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: THEEKSHANA STRIKES WITH FIRST BALL! Bethell is gone
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Theekshana introduced and strikes immediately! Bethell tries to attack him, but he is undone in attempting to do that – catches a thick outside edge, and loops to Madhushanka who takes a good catch at backward point.
Sri Lanka have deserved this, they have been phenomenal. Spin back to cause England problems.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:25:53 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Salt squeezes a pair of boundaries through the off-side
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Excellent bowling from Madhushanka to keep Salt under the coop, and he will be hard done by to concede those two boundaries. First one is a thick outside edge that falls short of short third, evades his dip and runs away for four. Next ball is an out-of-control one-handed slice which Salt does well to manufacture into the gap.
32/1 after 5, some momentum for England.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:17:34 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: GOT HIM! Buttler's struggle ends, SL have their first
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: That's plumb! Buttler tries to break the shackles by pulling out the switch hit, but misses it altogether and is hit on the pad. Easy decision to give him out, and there's no review. Limps his way to 7(14), and limps his way off-field.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:15:27 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Buttler struggling, hat-trick of plays-and-misses
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Buttler looking out of sorts, can't get bat to ball three deliveries in a row. Eats up dot balls and looking short of rhythm.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:09:29 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: First six! Salt clears long-off
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: First attacking shot, Salt takes on the long-off fielder and gets it over him! Sri Lanka bring the spin on early via Wellalage, and Salt hits him over the long-off fence. Not a huge boundary, finds six.
13/0 after 2.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:06:58 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Sri Lanka defensive early, 4 off the first over
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Sri Lanka playing not to leak runs early rather than to pick up wickets. Don't want Salt and Buttler off to a runaway start, so two fielders out on the legside and they allow singles to get it going for starters.
- 22 Feb 2026, 03:01:30 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Action begins!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Salt and Buttler to open for England. Madushanka to bowl the first over for Sri Lanka.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:52:49 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: National anthems!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Time for national anthems as both teams walk into the middle!
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:38:24 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Playing XIs
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: ENG - Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
SL - Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:37:39 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: What did the captains say?
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: After winning the toss, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said, "We are gonna bowl first. Happy to chase. Very happy and confident. Boys are confident to play here. Couple of changes. Chameera and Mishara come in."
Meanwhile, England captain Harry Brook said, "We would have bowled first as well. We had an amazing series here against them. Looking forward to the challenge. We'll see how it plays and try to adapt as soon as possible. Same team."
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:33:30 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Toss time!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: It is toss time! Sri Lanka win the toss and opt to bowl!
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:15:50 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Toss delayed?
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: The toss could get delayed. It is expected to rain again around 2:30 PM.
- 22 Feb 2026, 02:04:01 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Head-to-head
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: In terms of head-to-head, England lead 13-4 in 17 T20Is vs Sri Lanka, and they have won every match in the last 11 meetings (since 2016). Three of those wins came in the series before this tournament.
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 01:45:42 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Bethell's finger injury
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: England are expected to go with the same playing XI, which they used in their last three games. But they are expected to be without Bethell's bowling. The spinner injured his finger against West Indies. He needs to take the field with a protective covering.
- 22 Feb 2026, 01:34:32 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Harry Brook on facing SL
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Speaking ahead of the match, England captain Brook said, “We obviously had a very good series against them here and on this particular ground as well, so we can take some experiences from that three-match series and hopefully use that in the game. They're obviously a strong side with a lot of confidence as well after a few very good wins and if we stick to our guns and play our best cricket there's no reason why we can't beat them.”
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 01:17:03 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Madushanka or Chameera?
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Madushanka has been roped in as Pathirana's replacement and he played against Zimbabwe, so did Madushan. If he features today, we could see Chameera rested.
- 22 Feb 2026, 01:07:25 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Rain update!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: The rain has cleared in Pallekele and the covers are coming off! Hopefully it doesn't return again now!
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 12:55:29 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: SL squad
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Dushmantha Chameera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara
- 22 Feb 2026, 12:38:05 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: ENG squad
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed
- {{^htLoading}}
- 22 Feb 2026, 12:26:17 PM IST
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Hello and good afternoon everyone!
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE Cricket Score: Welcome to our live coverage of today's first Super 8 match as Sri Lanka take on England. But it is currently raining and there is a high chance that this match could get washed out! Stay tuned!