England will take on Sri Lanka in the third and final ODI at the Kennington Oval in London on Sunday, September 27. With the three-match series level at 1-1, both teams will be aiming to produce a complete performance and claim the series.
England won the opening ODI in Chester-le-Street by 89 runs, but Sri Lanka responded strongly in Leeds. Kusal Mendis’ century helped the visitors post 321/6 before their bowlers restricted England to 305/9, securing a 16-run victory.
The result has set up a decisive finale in London. England will look to make better use of home conditions, while Sri Lanka will be confident after overcoming a strong England batting lineup in the second ODI.
ENG vs SL: Match details
| Match | England vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of England 2026 |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 27, 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM IST / 10:30 AM local |
| Venue | Kennington Oval, London |
| Series | Three-match ODI series |
| Live streaming | FanCode |
| TV broadcast | Sony Sports Network |
Kennington Oval: Pitch report
The Oval traditionally offers a good surface for stroke-making, although the new ball can provide movement for the seamers. Batters who spend time at the crease should find opportunities to score, while bowlers will need to maintain disciplined lines and lengths.
The conditions could make the opening overs particularly important, with both teams likely to look for early wickets before the pitch becomes easier for batting.
ENG vs SL: Head-to-head ODI record
England and Sri Lanka have faced each other 81 times in ODIs. England have won 39 matches, while Sri Lanka have recorded 38 victories. Three matches ended without a result and one was tied.
| Matches | England | Sri Lanka | Tied | No result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 81 | 39 | 38 | 1 | 3 |
ENG vs SL: Predicted playing XIs
England
- Ben Duckett
- Tom Banton
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook (C)
- Jordan Cox (WK)
- Will Jacks
- Rehan Ahmed
- Gus Atkinson
- Jamie Overton
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamindu Mendis
- Kusal Mendis (C & WK)
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Charith Asalanka
- Janith Liyanage
- Dunith Wellalage
- Sachindu Colombage
- Eshan Malinga
- Asitha Fernando
- Dilshan Madushanka
ENG vs SL: Probable best performers
Probable best batter: Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett has provided England with positive starts in both matches. He scored 32 off 29 balls in the first ODI before making 67 off 63 deliveries in Leeds.
With the series on the line, England will again rely on Duckett to attack the new ball and give the middle order a strong platform.
Probable best bowler: Gus Atkinson
Gus Atkinson has taken three wickets across the first two matches and has maintained an impressive economy rate. His ability to extract movement with the new ball could be important against Sri Lanka’s top order.
Atkinson will be expected to keep the scoring under control during the powerplay while looking for early breakthroughs.
ENG vs SL: Match prediction
England have home advantage and will be determined to respond after their defeat in Leeds. Their batting lineup contains considerable experience, with Joe Root, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler providing plenty of firepower.
Sri Lanka, however, have shown that they can challenge England after bouncing back in the second ODI. Kusal Mendis’ century and a strong team effort with the ball gave them the series-levelling victory.
The final could come down to how both teams handle the new ball and whether their middle orders can build momentum after the powerplay.
England will have the edge at home, but Sri Lanka have enough confidence and recent momentum to make the series decider a closely contested match.
