England have come out all guns by defending a below par score at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. In this crucial Group 2 Super 8 clash, England posted a below par 146/9 in 20 overs and after that they needed early wickets and the spinners have led the way and has pushed the Lankan Lions on the back foot from where victory will be difficult to achieve.
Will Jacks takes 3 as Sri Lanka lose half their side inside the powerplay.Â
Chasing 147 for the win, Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara came out to open for Sri Lanka while Jofra Archer had ball in hand for England. Archer bowled a good first over. Will Jacks came to bowl the second over of the innings as Mishara broke the shackles as he rocked back and cutting it past the point fielder as the ball went away to the fence. Archer continued as Nissanka made room and played late to chop it between backward point and short third man for a boundary. Nissanka managed to get a boundary here as he helped it on its way past short fine leg fielder for a boundary.
Archer had the last laugh as he removed Nissanka for 9 off 8 balls with 2 fours to his name. Archer bowled it full outside the off-stump. Nissanka got into the front foot and tried to use his wrists while attempting to keep going. He whipped it hard but hit it towards the bigger part of the boundary. Overton ran back towards the fence and took a fine catch over deep midwicket. Kusal Mendis came out to bat next as he got off the mark with a boundary with a flick to deep backward square leg.
Jacks continued and he got the wicket of Kusal Mendis for 4 off 4 balls as he tossed the ball up full on the off-stump line. Mendis pressed forward and closed his bat face early and looked to nudge it across the leg side and got a leading edge to spoon it back to the bowler. Pavan Rathnayake came out to bat next and got out first ball for a golden duck.
It was flighted delivery full and outside the off-stump. Rathnayake charged down the track and lofted it downtown and got too close to the pitch of the ball and miscued it off the toe end of the bat as the ball was sliced in the air and high over covers. Banton ran back and took the catch.
Dunith Wellalage came out to bat next. He got off the mark soon. Archer continued and got rid of Mishara for 6 off 11 balls with one boundary to his name. Archer bowled a good length delivery on the middle stump line. Mishara stayed leg side of the ball and didn’t move his feet towards the pitch of the ball and went on driving on the up and got a thick outside edge that went down to third man where Overton took the catch inches from the ground. Kamindu Mendis came out to bat next as he got a boundary between slip and deep third man fence.
Jacks continued as Wellalage cracked him away for a boundary to backward point region and then got it past short fine leg for a boundary. Jacks removed Wellalage for 10 off 10 balls with 2 fours to his name. The tossed up full on the middle stump line. Wellalage got on the front foot and went against the spin and tried to heave it over midwicket and was not to the pitch of the ball and got it off the inner half of the bat and the ball sailed to mid-on where Brook took the catch. Dasun Shanaka came out to bat next.
At the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka were 34/5 in 6 overs with Shanaka unbeaten on 0 off 1 ball and Mendis unbeaten on 4 off 1 ball.
Kamindu Mendis falls as Sri Lanka sinks further in the chase.Â
Liam Dawson came into the attack next. He bowled a miserly first over. Will Jacks continued as Shanaka smashed the ball over deep midwicket for the maximum. Dawson continued as Kamindu went downtown over midwicket for the maximum. Dawson hit back and removed Kamindu for 13 off 11 balls with one four and one six to his name.
Dawson bowled a good length delivery on the off-stump line. Kamindu lunged forward and worked the ball into the leg side and it stuck in the surface as the ball popped up. The leading edge travelled back to the bowler. Dushan Hemantha came out to bat next and got off the mark as well. Adil Rashid came onto bowl next. He bowled a good first over. Sri Lanka were 56/6 in 10 overs with Shanaka unbeaten on 11 off 12 balls and Hemantha unbeaten on 2 off 3 balls.
What Lies Ahead.Â
The game has turned on its head. England are dominating Sri Lanka now as the hosts have gifted wickets and match away to England Will Jacks has run through them and others have chipped in too. Sri Lanka needs a miracle from their captain Shanaka to win this from here. England on top.
Also Read: ICC T20 WC 2026: Dunith Wellalage’s 3-Wicket Haul Restricts England Under 150.