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Sri Lanka vs England, 1st T20I Match Summary

SL vs ENG, 2026 - T20 Summary

Sri Lanka vs England Scorecard
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Match Ended   
133 (16.2/17)
125/4 (15.0/15)
England beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs (DLS method)
SL 133/10
Bat Top Batsmen
37 (20)
  • 4x4s
  • 2x6s
  • 185SR
23 (20)
  • 3x4s
  • 1x6s
  • 115SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
ECON 4.75
4
OVERS
19/3
R/W
Bowler
ECON 12.66
3
OVERS
38/3
R/W
ENG 125/4
Bat Top Batsmen
46 (35)
  • 3x4s
  • 2x6s
  • 131.42SR
29 (15)
  • 3x4s
  • 2x6s
  • 193.33SR
Bowl Top Bowlers
Bowler
ECON 12.00
2
OVERS
24/2
R/W
Bowler
ECON 6.00
2
OVERS
12/1
R/W
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That's a wrap, folks! A delayed Presentation ceremony, which was forced to be held indoors due to the rain, but it is all well and done now. It was a rain-marred contest but we did get to see some great entertainment as well. There are still two matches left in this series and the second T20I between Sri Lanka and England will be played at Pallekele once again. That game will be played on Sunday, February 1 and is scheduled to begin at 1.30 pm GMT. You can join us a lot sooner for the build-up as well. Till then, take care and goodbye!
Harry Brook, the captain of England - Brook starts by saying that the execution was on point tonight and they stuck to their guns with the ball, even when the opposition batters got off to a flying start. Adds that it is all about building for the next game and they are looking forward to the upcoming World Cup in similar conditions. Applauds the way Sam Curran came back and is happy he got the hat-trick. Also applauds Adil Rashid and calls him a master of his craft. On Phil Salt, Brook says that he is a powerhouse and can take the game away in the Powerplay.
Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka - Shanaka addressed the team's recurring batting collapses, expressing sadness and the belief that the team could have performed better despite positive intent. He emphasized the necessity of using their feet against quality spinners like Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. He stressed that T20 cricket demands taking the attack to the opposition with specific, proactive options, noting the team must anticipate what is coming. Shanaka acknowledged the batters' caliber against spin but highlighted the need to deliver during matches, urging players to utilize their opportunities and justify their selection. Regarding the bowling, he described Matheesha Pathirana as a world-class bowler who had a normal bad patch, and was pleased with his performance in the recent game
Adil Rashid is the Player of the Match for his spell of 4-0-19-3. Rashid says that it is nice to get the win and feels they bowled well as a bowling unit. Adds that each game varies and today it was all about bowling slower and it came off for him. Mentions that he likes to take one game at a time and they aren't looking too far ahead.
Time for the Presentation ceremony...
Tightening the screws - Sri Lanka are usually rock solid at home but they are just starting to fall apart right before the start of a home T20 World Cup. Maybe it is just nerves but Dasun Shanaka and his troops need to show more consistency in all three facets of the game. Just like with the bat, there were a few bright spots with the ball. Matheesha Pathirana was outstanding and showed that he can bowl with the new ball as well. Eshan Malinga proved to be a wicket-taker as well but the spinners were off the boil. Both Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga were slow to get into their groove and didn't create many chances. A couple of catches did go down, though, and both of them were pretty straightforward, which will irk the coach even more.
Gearing up for the mega event - Just the performance England would have wanted as they take their first step towards the upcoming T20 World Cup. It was a brilliant comeback with the ball and now, with the bat, the visitors have looked largely unbothered. Phil Salt hit a six off the first ball of the chase and England never looked back. They lost a few wickets along the way but Salt played an anchoring knock, ending up just 4 short of a half-century and a breezy cameo worth 29 off just 15 balls from Tom Banton in the middle overs, was enough to seal a comfortable win.
An unfortunate end to proceedings - There it is, the official decision has been taken. The rain has had the final say, and the match is called off. England win by 11 runs (DLS Method). Actually, the on-air commentators now confirm that the DLS par score was actually 114 runs and not 123. Handshakes in the dressing room and even without this latest edition of the rain, it is very unlikely that the result would have been any different. After losing the first match of this tour, England have simply been on top of their game. Their recent white-ball record, especially away from home, has been under scrutiny but they have now taken a 1-0 lead in the T20I series after sealing the ODI series as well. A bit underwhelming from Sri Lanka, only managing to do well in patches and they will look to bounce back stronger.
Oh, hang on! The rain has returned out of nowhere. England needed just 9 runs to win off the remaining 12 deliveries but it has started to rain pretty heavily. The covers are coming on and the current DLS par score is 123 as shown on the screen, which means England have pretty much won this game as the chances of a restart look very bleak.
Game stopped due to : Rain Stoppage
Over 15 : 125/4
5 Runs
  • 014.1
  • 214.2
  • 114.3
  • W 14.4
  • 114.5
  • 114.6
H. Brook
16 (18)
S. Curran
1 (1)
D. Shanaka
2-0-12-1
14.6
1
Dasun Shanaka To Harry Brook
Hard length on the pads, Harry Brook tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.
14.5
1
Dasun Shanaka To Sam Curran
On a length around off, Sam Curran punts this down the ground for a strike rotation.
14.4
W
Dasun Shanaka To Phil Salt OUT!
OUT! CAUGHT! Slower one, wide of off, and fuller. Phil Salt looks to get underneath it and slog this over the fence but fails to do it. Ends up chipping this straight to long on. Dunith Wellalage, on as a substitute, does well to run in front and dive in front to grab it. Salt vanishes just four short of his fifty.
14.3
1
Dasun Shanaka To Harry Brook
Good length on off, Harry Brook punches this to sweeper cover for a single.
14.2
2
Dasun Shanaka To Harry Brook
Short and on off, Harry Brook fends this to deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
14.1
0
Dasun Shanaka To Harry Brook
On a length shaping away from the batter, Harry Brook gets it edged to short third for no run.
Over 14 : 120/3
5 Runs
  • 013.1
  • 113.2
  • 413.3
  • 013.4
  • 013.5
  • 013.6
P. Salt
46 (34)
H. Brook
12 (14)
M. Pathirana
4-0-18-1
13.6
0
Matheesha Pathirana To Phil Salt
Slower one, on the pads, Phil Salt looks to flick but misse again but the ball brushes his shoe as the ball rolls back to the keeper.
13.5
0
Matheesha Pathirana To Phil Salt
Short and wide of off, Phil Salt initially looks to poke at it but bails out at the end.
13.4
0
Matheesha Pathirana To Phil Salt
Full and just down the leg, Phil Salt comes a long way inside the line and misses the flick. Not a wide.
13.3
4
Matheesha Pathirana To Phil Salt
FOUR! Hammered down the ground for four. On a length, curving away from the batter, Phil Salt thumps this down to the left of long on for a boundary.
13.2
1
Matheesha Pathirana To Harry Brook
Pathum Nissanka drops a straightforward catch at sweeper cover. Short and wide of off, Harry Brook backs away and lofts this straight into the hands of Pathum Nissanka at sweeper cover. Pathum runs in rapidly and ends up dropping this as he gets too close to the flight of the ball.
13.1
0
Matheesha Pathirana To Harry Brook
Full and on leg, Harry Brook backs away and punches this to short extra cover.
Over 13 : 115/3
10 Runs
  • 112.1
  • 412.2
  • 112.3
  • 212.4
  • 112.5
  • 112.6
H. Brook
11 (12)
P. Salt
42 (30)
W. Hasaranga
4-0-36-0
12.6
1
Wanindu Hasaranga To Harry Brook
Dragged length, turns away a fair bit from off. Harry Brook hangs back and swivels before jamming the pull down to wide long on for one more.
12.5
1
Wanindu Hasaranga To Phil Salt
Lobbed up around off, turns away a bit. Salt slaps it down to long off and rotates strike.
12.4
2
Wanindu Hasaranga To Phil Salt
Two is the call and two is what they get. Flatter delivery on middle, Salt presses back and tucks it neatly through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.
12.3
1
Wanindu Hasaranga To Harry Brook
The wrong'un now, on a length and outside off. Brook advances and gets an inside edge towards short fine leg for a single.
12.2
4
Wanindu Hasaranga To Harry Brook
FOUR! Up and over. Tossed up around off, Harry Brook sits down and goes for the reverse-sweep, getting more of a top edge on it but the ball sails over backward point for a boundary.
12.1
1
Wanindu Hasaranga To Phil Salt
Dragged length on middle, slower and turning away. Salt waits back and punches it down to long off for a single.
Over 12 : 105/3
8 Runs
  • 011.1
  • 111.2
  • 011.3
  • 611.4
  • 111.5
  • 011.6
H. Brook
5 (9)
P. Salt
38 (27)
M. Theekshana
3-0-31-0
11.6
0
Maheesh Theekshana To Harry Brook
Shortish length around off, jammed down straight to the cover-point fielder. 29 needed now off 30 balls.
11.5
1
Maheesh Theekshana To Phil Salt
Flatter and full on off, punched away past the diving extra cover fielder and down to wide long off for a single.
15 OV
5 Runs
D. Shanaka to H. Brook P. Salt S. Curran
  • 014.1
  • 214.2
  • 114.3
  • W 14.4
  • 114.5
  • 114.6
14 OV
5 Runs
M. Pathirana to H. Brook P. Salt
  • 013.1
  • 113.2
  • 413.3
  • 013.4
  • 013.5
  • 013.6
13 OV
10 Runs
W. Hasaranga to P. Salt H. Brook
  • 112.1
  • 412.2
  • 112.3
  • 212.4
  • 112.5
  • 112.6
12 OV
8 Runs
M. Theekshana to H. Brook P. Salt
  • 011.1
  • 111.2
  • 011.3
  • 611.4
  • 111.5
  • 011.6
11 OV
4 Runs
W. Hasaranga to P. Salt H. Brook
  • 210.1
  • 110.2
  • 010.3
  • 010.4
  • 110.5
  • 010.6
10 OV
7 Runs
M. Pathirana to P. Salt T. Banton H. Brook
  • 19.1
  • W 9.2
  • 29.3
  • 09.4
  • 19.5
  • 1 WD 9.6
  • 1 WD 9.6
  • 19.6
9 OV
9 Runs
M. Theekshana to P. Salt T. Banton
  • 18.1
  • 18.2
  • 18.3
  • 48.4
  • 18.5
  • 18.6
8 OV
17 Runs
W. Hasaranga to P. Salt T. Banton
  • 07.1
  • 17.2
  • 47.3
  • 67.4
  • 67.5
  • 07.6
7 OV
7 Runs
D. Shanaka to P. Salt T. Banton
  • 16.1
  • 46.2
  • 06.3
  • 06.4
  • 16.5
  • 16.6
6 OV
5 Runs
W. Hasaranga to P. Salt T. Banton
  • 15.1
  • 15.2
  • 15.3
  • 15.4
  • 15.5
  • 05.6
5 OV
7 Runs
E. Malinga to P. Salt J. Bethell
  • 24.1
  • 14.2
  • 44.3
  • 04.4
  • 04.5
  • W 4.6
4 OV
4 Runs
M. Pathirana to J. Bethell
  • 43.1
  • 03.2
  • 03.3
  • 03.4
  • 03.5
  • 03.6
3 OV
17 Runs
E. Malinga to J. Buttler J. Bethell
  • 42.1
  • 42.2
  • 42.3
  • 42.4
  • W 2.5
  • 12.6
2 OV
6 Runs
M. Pathirana to J. Buttler P. Salt
  • 01.1
  • 4 LB 1.2
  • 01.3
  • 01.4
  • 1 WD 1.5
  • 11.5
  • 01.6
1 OV
14 Runs
M. Theekshana to P. Salt
  • 60.1
  • 40.2
  • 40.3
  • 00.4
  • 00.5
  • 00.6
Match Info
  • Venue Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy
  • Weather Clear
  • Toss England won the toss and elected to field
  • Result England beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs (DLS method)
  • Player of the Match Adil Rashid
  • Umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri (SL), Ravindra Kottahachchi (SL) and Nimali Perera (SL)
  • Referee Vengalil Narayanan Kutty (IND)
Match Notes
  • Innings Break: Sri Lanka 133/10 in 16.2 overs
  • Sri Lanka 100/6 in 11.6 overs
  • Referral 1 (10.4 ovs): ENG against J Liyanage (LBW) Successful (ENG: 2, SL: 2)
  • De Silva dropped on 9 by L Dawson in 10.2 overs
  • 2nd wkt Partnership: 50 off 27 balls between P Nissanka (17) and K Mendis (29)
  • Power play 1 (1-5): Sri Lanka 50/1
  • Sri Lanka 50/1 in 4.5 overs
  • K Mishara dropped on 9 by L Dawson in 1.5 overs
  • Match reduced to 17 overs per side
  • H Brook dropped on 12 by P Nissanka in 13.2 overs
  • England 100/3 in 11.4 overs
  • England 50/2 in 5.2 overs
  • P Salt dropped on 18 by K Mishra in 5.1 overs
  • Power play 1 (1-5): England 48/1
  • Referral 1 (3.1 ovs): SL against J Bethell (LBW) UnSuccessful (ENG: 2, SL: 1)
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