England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Sep 24, 2026: commentary
| Sri Lanka | 321/6 | 50.0 ov |
|---|---|---|
| England | 305/9 | 50.0 ov |
Sri Lanka win by 16 runs
Result
Sri Lanka win by 16 runs
What the reporting says
England lead the three-match T20I series 2-0 and have already clinched it, with one game left to play.
Sri Lanka dropped Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage, bringing in debutant Tharindu Rathnayake and Dilshan Madushanka.
Tom Banton is in hot form, finishing unbeaten on 52 from 24 balls with 2 fours and 4 sixes.
Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson was England's best bowler with 3/32.
England chased 146 in only 12.1 overs, winning by six wickets at Cardiff.
Sri Lanka made one change, bringing in Nuwan Thushara for Dushmantha Chameera; England kept an unchanged XI.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
ENG 1ST
- 50.0
Over 50. 2 runs. Bowler: Dilshan Madushanka. England: 305/9(rr 6.10)
- 49.6
Dilshan Madushanka to Jofra Archer. Off cutter length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, inside edge to short fine leg for no runs, fielded by Fernando. Sri Lanka win by 16 runs in a thrilling contest, keeping the series alive. England made a blistering start to the chase, with Tom Banton scoring 73 and Ben Duckett contributing 67. Jos Buttler then kept England in the hunt with a fine 69, but an injury disrupted his momentum and made it hard to capitalise fully. Will Jacks provided valuable support with 52, but England ultimately fell short. Dunith Wellalage was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers with three wickets, while Eshan Malinga and Dilshan Madushanka claimed two each. It was a gripping finish, setting up the next ODI as the series decider.
- 49.5
Dilshan Madushanka to Jofra Archer. Off cutter length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to long on for no runs, fielded by Mendis.
- 49.4
Dilshan Madushanka to Jofra Archer. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to extra cover for no runs, mis-fielded by Asalanka.
- 49.3
Dilshan Madushanka to Jofra Archer. Length ball, middle stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control to long on for no runs, dropped catch by Mendis, fielded by Wellalage.
- 49.2
Dilshan Madushanka to Josh Tongue. Full toss, middle stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed to point for 1 run, fielded by Silva.
- 49.2
Wide Dilshan Madushanka to Josh Tongue. Reverse Swing-Out full toss, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed for 1 run, fielded by Mendis.
- 49.1
OUT! Caught. Dilshan Madushanka to Jos Buttler. Reverse Swing-Out length ball, middle stump moves in front Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Mendis. Neatly taken by Kamindu Mendis.
- 49.0
Over 49. 1 run. Bowler: Eshan Malinga. England: 303/8(rr 6.18)
- 48.6
Eshan Malinga to Jofra Archer. Off cutter half volley, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed back to bowler for no runs.
- 48.5
Eshan Malinga to Jofra Archer. Reverse Swing-In full toss, to leg on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to long on for no runs, fielded by Vimukthi.
- 48.4
OUT! Caught. Eshan Malinga to Will Jacks. Reverse Swing-In length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Vimukthi. Liyanage stays calm under pressure and completes the catch cleanly.
- 48.3
Eshan Malinga to Will Jacks. Reverse Swing-In yorker, outside off stump on the front foot driving, thick edge to short third man for no runs, fielded by Madushanka.
- 48.2
Eshan Malinga to Jos Buttler. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off for 1 run, fielded by Mendis.
- 48.1
Eshan Malinga to Jos Buttler. Off cutter length ball, wide outside off stump moves in front Scoop, missed for no runs, fielded by Mendis.
- 48.0
Over 48. 13 runs. Bowler: Asitha Fernando. England: 302/7(rr 6.29)
- 47.6
SIX! Asitha Fernando to Will Jacks. Reverse Swing-In length ball, off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over long on for 6 runs.
- 47.5
Asitha Fernando to Jos Buttler. Reverse Swing-In half volley, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to deep mid wicket for 1 run, shy attempt by Silva.
- 47.4
OUT! Caught. Asitha Fernando to Jamie Overton. Reverse Swing-In full toss, middle stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid off, caught by Asalanka. Charith Asalanka pulls off a breathtaking catch!
- 47.3
Asitha Fernando to Will Jacks. Reverse Swing-In half volley, middle stump on the front foot Slog, Played to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Silva.
- 46.5
OUT! Caught. Eshan Malinga to Gus Atkinson. Off cutter back of a length, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Rathnayake. Rathnayake keeps his composure and completes the catch.
- 39.5
OUT! Caught. Dilshan Madushanka to Rehan Ahmed. Short, wide outside off stump on the back foot pulling, Gloved, caught by Mendis. Rehan Ahmed departs without troubling the scorers.
- 28.1
OUT! Caught. Sachindu Colombage to Joe Root. Leg spinner length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed to short extra cover, caught by Rathnayake. Right into the hands of Pavan Rathnayake.
- 23.3
OUT! L.B.W. Dunith Wellalage to Harry Brook. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, hit pad. The review confirms the wicket, and the batter's innings comes to an end.
- 21.6
OUT! Stumped. Dunith Wellalage to Tom Banton. Stock length ball, outside off stump down the track Slog, missed, by Mendis.
- 19.4
OUT! Bowled. Dunith Wellalage to Ben Duckett. Stock length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, missed. It sneaks through the gate and crashes into the stumps!
SLA 1ST
- 50.0
Over 50. 6 runs. Bowler: Jamie Overton. Sri Lanka: 321/6(rr 6.42)
- 49.6
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-Out half volley, down leg side on the front foot Slog, mis-timed to deep backward square leg for 1 run, fielded by Atkinson. That's the end of Sri Lanka's innings as they post a very competitive score of 321 on the board. Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis provided a solid start, scoring 25 and 54 respectively. Skipper Kusal Mendis then played a pivotal role with a brilliant 121 off just 100 balls, setting the platform for a defendable total. Pavan Rathnayake added a valuable 48, while Janith Liyanage contributed a well-made 32. England's bowlers fought hard for wickets, with Gus Atkinson and Rehan Ahmed claiming two each and receiving good support from their teammates. Join us shortly for England's run chase.
- 49.5
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Off cutter length ball, down leg side on the front foot slog sweeping, missed for no runs, direct hit by Buttler.
- 49.4
Jamie Overton to Sachindu Colombage. Off cutter back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, missed for 1 run, mis-fielded by Buttler, shy attempt by Buttler.
- 49.3
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Yorker, outside off stump moves in front working, Played to mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Banton.
- 49.2
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Off cutter length ball, down leg side on the back foot Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to long off for 2 runs, run save by Jacks, fielded by Brook.
- 49.1
Jamie Overton to Sachindu Colombage. Reverse Swing-In length ball, off stump backing away Slog, outside edge to short fine leg for 1 run, dropped catch by Buttler.
- 49.0
Over 49. 4 runs. Bowler: Jofra Archer. Sri Lanka: 315/6(rr 6.43)
- 48.6
Jofra Archer to Sachindu Colombage. Seaming in short, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket for 1 run, fielded by Duckett.
- 48.5
Jofra Archer to Dunith Wellalage. Half volley, middle stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed to mid on for 1 run, fielded by Brook.
- 48.4
Jofra Archer to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-Out length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, missed for no runs, fielded by Buttler.
- 48.3
Jofra Archer to Sachindu Colombage. Reverse Swing-In yorker, off stump on the front foot working, Played to short mid wicket for 1 run.
- 48.2
OUT! Caught. Jofra Archer to Janith Liyanage. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to extra cover, caught by Root. Jofra Archer finally gets a wicket to his name today.
- 48.1
Jofra Archer to Dunith Wellalage. Reverse Swing-Out half volley, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played to mid off for 1 run, fielded by Banton.
- 48.0
Over 48. 12 runs. Bowler: Jamie Overton. Sri Lanka: 311/5(rr 6.48)
- 47.6
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Back of a length, wide down leg side on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep backward square leg for 1 run, fielded by Atkinson.
- 47.5
Jamie Overton to Janith Liyanage. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot flick, hit pad to deep backward square leg for 1 run, fielded by Ahmed.
- 47.4
Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to silly mid off for 1 run, fielded by Root.
- 47.3
FOUR! Jamie Overton to Dunith Wellalage. Length ball, down leg side moves in front Scoop, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled past third man for 4 runs, mis-fielded by Tongue.
- 47.2
Jamie Overton to Janith Liyanage. Back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot glancing, Played in the air under control to fine leg for 1 run, mis-fielded by Tongue.
- 44.4
OUT! Run Out. Jofra Archer to Pavan Rathnayake. Off cutter length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, Played to cover for 1 run, fielded by Root, by Buttler. A terrible mix-up in the middle sees a wicket fall.
- 39.4
OUT! Caught. Rehan Ahmed to Charith Asalanka. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep square leg, caught by Atkinson. This time, Atkinson gleefully completes the catch.
- 35.5
OUT! Caught. Rehan Ahmed to Kusal Mendis. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the front foot slog sweeping, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep mid wicket, caught by Banton. The skipperâs fine innings comes to an end after a well-made 121.
- 29.1
OUT! Caught. Gus Atkinson to Kamindu Mendis. Back of a length, wide outside off stump down the track Slog, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to mid on, caught by Brook. Brook keeps his eyes on it and makes a simple catch.
- 9.1
OUT! L.B.W. Gus Atkinson to Pathum Nissanka. Seaming in half volley, outside off stump on the front foot flick, hit pad. Nissanka has to make a long walk back to the pavilion.