In a high-profile Super Eight clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, England and Sri Lanka resumed their long-standing cricket rivalry at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on 22 February 2026. Both teams came into the contest with strong intentions — England aiming to gain momentum for knockout qualification, and Sri Lanka looking to leverage home advantage and their recent form.
Sri Lanka, winning the toss, elected to bowl first — a tactical call seen often in conditions that could favour spin and variable overheads due to the looming rain possibilities.
At the early stage of the match (as shown above), England had reached 13/0 in 1.5 overs, with Jos Buttler and Phil Salt at the crease — indicating an aggressive start in pursuit of a big total.
Here’s a look at the most recent completed encounters between the two teams during their 2026 tour prior to this World Cup match:
England: 128/9 (20 overs)
Sri Lanka: 116 all out (19.3 overs)
Result: England won by 12 runs
Top Performers:
Sam Curran: ⭐ 58 off 48
Dushmantha Chameera: ⭐ 5/24 in bowling
This match was tightly contested, with Curran’s all-round performance playing a big role in England’s victory.
Sri Lanka: 133 (16.2 overs)
England: 125/4 (15 overs target)
Result: England won by 11 runs (DLS)
Player of the Match: Adil Rashid (3/19)
England chased under Duckworth–Lewis–Stern conditions in a rain-affected match and held their nerve to secure an early series advantage.
England: 357/3 (50 overs)
Sri Lanka: 304 all out (46.4 overs)
Result: England won by 53 runs
Harry Brook (136) and Joe Root (111) starred with the bat in this high-scoring ODI.
Across formats in recent months, England have generally held an upper hand over Sri Lanka, with strong batting displays and key bowling contributions. However, Sri Lanka’s home conditions and local knowledge have often kept contests closely fought. Latest reports during the T20 World Cup also highlighted weather as a major factor in the clash at Kandy.
Key Batsmen: Harry Brook, Joe Root (ENG); Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (SL)
Bowling Matchups: England spin trio vs Sri Lanka’s experienced lower order
Impact Factors: Rain interruptions and dew later in the match could influence innings totals.
