The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage saw England beat Sri Lanka by 51 runs in Match 42 at Pallekele, Kandy, on February 22. England posted 146/9 in their 20 overs and then bowled out Sri Lanka for just 95. Will Jacks delivered a brilliant all-round display and won the Player of the Match award.
Phil Salt anchored the England innings with 62 runs off 40 balls. Sri Lanka’s spinners fought back hard, but England’s total proved too much. The Sri Lankan batting collapsed in the chase, with 5 wickets falling in the powerplay itself.
Match Summary: ENG vs SL
Here is the complete match summary of this Super 8 Group 2 encounter:
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| England Score | 146/9 (20 overs) |
| Sri Lanka Score | 95 all out (16.4 overs) |
| Match Result | England won by 51 runs |
| Best Batting (ENG) | Phil Salt – 62 off 40 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes) |
| Best Batting (SL) | Dasun Shanaka – 30 off 24 balls (1 four, 2 sixes) |
| Best Bowling (ENG) | Will Jacks – 3/22 in 4 overs (Econ: 5.50) |
| Best Bowling (SL) | Dunith Wellalage – 3/26 in 4 overs (Econ: 6.50) |
| Player of the Match | Will Jacks (ENG) |
England Innings: 146/9 in 20 Overs
England had a shaky start in the powerplay. They scored only 37 runs and lost 2 wickets in the first 6 overs. Jos Buttler fell for just 7 runs to Dunith Wellalage. Jacob Bethell also departed cheaply for 3 runs.
Phil Salt held one end together and reached his fifty off 36 balls. He smashed 5 fours and 1 six before getting out for 62. Captain Harry Brook made 14 off 7 balls at a strike rate of 200. Will Jacks contributed 21 runs off 14 balls with 4 boundaries. England crossed 100 in the 14th over and finished with a competitive total of 146/9.
Dunith Wellalage was the pick of Sri Lanka’s bowlers with 3/26. Maheesh Theekshana and Dilshan Madushanka grabbed 2 wickets each. The Sri Lankan spinners kept England in check throughout the innings.
Sri Lanka Chase: 95 All Out in 16.4 Overs
Sri Lanka’s chase was a disaster from the start. They lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay and managed just 34 runs. Pathum Nissanka fell for 9, and Kusal Mendis made only 4. Pavan Rathnayake was out for a duck. England’s bowlers strangled the run flow and picked up wickets regularly.
Captain Dasun Shanaka tried to fight back with 30 runs off 24 balls. He hit 1 four and 2 sixes before Adil Rashid dismissed him. Kamindu Mendis added 13 runs. Sri Lanka reached 50 in the 9th over but kept losing wickets. They were bundled out for 95 in 16.4 overs.
Key Highlight: Player of the Match – Will Jacks Dominates
The English all-rounder delivered a match-winning performance:
With the ball: 3/22 in 4 overs
With the bat: 21 off 14 balls (4 fours)
Jacks dismissed Kusal Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, and Pavan Rathnayake. His off-spin troubled the Sri Lankan batters throughout the innings. Jofra Archer and Liam Dawson also claimed 2 wickets each to complete the victory.
