England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I, Sep 17, 2026: commentary
| Sri Lanka | 145/9 | 20.0 ov |
|---|---|---|
| England | 146/4 | 12.1 ov |
England win by 6 wickets
Result
England win by 6 wickets
Player of the match
LA Dawson (England)
Cricsheet · updated Wed, 7 Oct, 11:32
What the reporting says
Jamie Overton is picked in both England white-ball squads after an injury kept him out against India.
Sam Curran and Phil Salt miss the series through injury.
Jacob Bethell is rehabbing after knee surgery performed earlier this week.
Aneurin Donald gets a first call-up for the T20Is, while uncapped seamer Henry Crocombe is in the ODI squad.
England beat India 4-0 in the T20Is and 2-1 in the ODIs at home before this series.
Kusal Mendis leads the ODI squad with Charith Asalanka as vice-captain; Asitha Fernando and Sachindu Colombage are included.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
ENG 1ST
- 12.1
Over 13. 2 runs. Bowler: Eshan Malinga. England: 146/4(rr 11.23)
- 12.1
Eshan Malinga to Will Jacks. Off cutter full toss, outside off stump on the front foot working, Played to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Rathnayake. England seal the series with a dominant victory, leaving Sri Lanka with no answers to their batting firepower. The openers provided a blistering start, setting the tone for the chase. Harry Brook then chipped in with a quick-fire cameo, while Tom Banton anchored the innings superbly with a brilliant half-century. Sri Lanka's bowlers fought hard and gave their best effort, but they simply lacked the firepower to prevent England from comfortably reaching the target. Liam Dawson is the Player of the Match.
- 12.1
Wide Eshan Malinga to Will Jacks. Short, outside off stump on the back foot Leave, Left for 1 run, fielded by Mishara.
- 12.0
Over 12. 8 runs. Bowler: Dushmantha Chameera. England: 144/4(rr 12.00)
- 11.6
FREE HIT. Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on for 1 run, fielded by de Silva.
- 11.6
FREE HIT. Wide Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed for 1 run, fielded by Mishara.
- 11.6
No ball Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to square leg and it was a no ball, fielded by Mendis.
- 11.5
Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Back of a length, outside off stump down the track pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on for no runs, fielded by de Silva.
- 11.4
Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, Played to backward point for no runs, fielded by Rathnayake.
- 11.3
Dushmantha Chameera to Tom Banton. Short, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played in the air under control to deep backward point for 3 runs, run save by Silva.
- 11.2
Dushmantha Chameera to Will Jacks. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to deep backward point for 1 run, fielded by Mendis.
- 11.1
Dushmantha Chameera to Tom Banton. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, Played to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Dharmasena.
- 11.0
Over 11. 14 runs. Bowler: Tharindu Rathnayake. England: 136/4(rr 12.36)
- 10.6
OUT! Caught. Tharindu Rathnayake to Jordan Cox. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Igalagamage. Straight into the hands.
- 10.5
Tharindu Rathnayake to Tom Banton. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long on for 1 run, fielded by Shanaka.
- 10.4
FOUR! Tharindu Rathnayake to Tom Banton. Off break length ball, to leg on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed past deep square leg for 4 runs, mis-fielded by Dharmasena.
- 10.4
Wide Tharindu Rathnayake to Tom Banton. Off break length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot Leave, Left for 1 run, fielded by Mishara.
- 10.3
Tharindu Rathnayake to Jordan Cox. Stock length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed to long off for 1 run, fielded by Igalagamage.
- 10.2
SIX! Tharindu Rathnayake to Jordan Cox. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs.
- 10.1
Tharindu Rathnayake to Tom Banton. Stock length ball, middle stump on the back foot pulling, Played to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Silva.
- 6.6
OUT! Caught. Wanindu Hasaranga to Harry Brook. Leg spinner length ball, middle stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep square leg, caught by Dharmasena. Wanindu Hasaranga had a last laugh.
- 5.1
OUT! Caught. Dushmantha Chameera to Jos Buttler. Back of a length, outside off stump backing away pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to point, caught by Mishara.
- 4.4
OUT! Caught. Eshan Malinga to Aneurin Donald. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by de Silva. Slower ball does this trick.
SLA 1ST
- 20.0
Over 20. 4 runs. Bowler: Jofra Archer. Sri Lanka: 145/9(rr 7.25)
- 19.6
OUT! Caught. Jofra Archer to Tharindu Rathnayake. Off cutter back of a length, down leg side backing away Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Brook. Sri Lanka posted 145, a total that feels slightly below par after a blazing start from Pathum Nissanka, who lit up the innings with a sparkling 37. Charith Asalanka anchored the middle overs with a composed 31, while Wanindu Hasaranga's late 27 provided a much-needed boost. However, England's bowlers kept striking at regular intervals. Liam Dawson was the standout performer with impressive figures of 3 wickets, while Jamie Overton and Jofra Archer picked up two wickets apiece. Sri Lanka lost momentum in the latter stages. England will fancy their chances, needing 146 runs to win, but Sri Lanka's bowlers will believe early wickets can make this an intriguing chase.
- 19.5
Jofra Archer to Tharindu Rathnayake. Back of a length, down leg side backing away cutting, top edge in the air uncontrolled to third man for 2 runs, dropped catch by Baker.
- 19.4
Jofra Archer to Eshan Malinga. Slower ball back of a length, down leg side on the back foot pushing, missed for 1 run, shy attempt by Buttler, fielded by Overton.
- 19.3
OUT! Bowled. Jofra Archer to Dushmantha Chameera. Length ball, off stump backing away driving, missed. Middle stump went for a walk.
- 19.2
Jofra Archer to Tharindu Rathnayake. Full toss, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to backward point for 1 run, fielded by Baker.
- 19.1
Jofra Archer to Tharindu Rathnayake. Length ball, down leg side backing away Slog, missed for no runs, fielded by Buttler.
- 19.0
Over 19. no runs. Bowler: Sonny Baker. Sri Lanka: 141/7(rr 7.42)
- 18.6
Sonny Baker to Dushmantha Chameera. Off cutter back of a length, wide outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed to silly mid on for no runs.
- 18.5
Sonny Baker to Dushmantha Chameera. Length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to backward point for no runs, fielded by Jacks.
- 18.4
Sonny Baker to Dushmantha Chameera. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed back to bowler for no runs.
- 18.3
Sonny Baker to Dushmantha Chameera. Reverse Swing-In yorker, outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed for no runs, fielded by Buttler.
- 18.2
OUT! Caught. Sonny Baker to Wanindu Hasaranga. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to cover, caught by Dawson. End of a quick knock.
- 18.1
Sonny Baker to Wanindu Hasaranga. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed for no runs, fielded by Buttler.
- 18.0
Over 18. 3 runs. Bowler: Adil Rashid. Sri Lanka: 141/6(rr 7.83)
- 17.6
Adil Rashid to Wanindu Hasaranga. Leg spinner length ball, off stump on the back foot driving, Played to extra cover for 1 run, mis-fielded by Brook.
- 17.5
Adil Rashid to Tharindu Rathnayake. Leg spinner length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, Played to backward point for 1 run, mis-fielded by Archer.
- 17.4
Adil Rashid to Tharindu Rathnayake. Leg spinner full toss, outside off stump on the front foot reverse sweeping, hit pad to backward point for no runs, fielded by Dawson.
- 17.3
Adil Rashid to Tharindu Rathnayake. Leg spinner half volley, off stump on the front foot working, Played back to bowler for no runs.
- 17.2
OUT! Caught. Adil Rashid to Charith Asalanka. Leg spinner length ball, off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off, caught by Overton. Captain back to the hut.
- 11.4
OUT! Caught. Liam Dawson to Dasun Shanaka. Stock length ball, off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Donald. Aneurin Donald makes no mistake.
- 10.5
OUT! Bowled. Jamie Overton to Kamindu Mendis. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Steer, inside edge. Dragged on.
- 8.6
OUT! Caught. Jamie Overton to Pathum Nissanka. Back of a length, outside off stump down the track pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Brook. Set batter gone.
- 5.4
OUT! Caught & Bowled. Liam Dawson to Kamil Mishara. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled back to bowler, caught by Dawson. Two in two.
- 5.3
OUT! Caught. Liam Dawson to Lahiru Udara. Stock length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Overton. Jamie Overton uses his height and takes a comfortable catch.