England and Sri Lanka meet in a crucial Super Eights encounter as both teams aim to strengthen their push toward the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Match 42 at Pallekele brings together England’s depth and experience against a Sri Lankan side that has impressed with aggressive batting and all-round consistency.
Match details
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
Time: 3:00 PM IST, 2:30 PM PST, 10:00 AM GMT
Team overviews
England
England qualified for the Super Eights after finishing second in Group C with three wins from four matches. They opened their campaign with a narrow four-run victory over Nepal before suffering a 30-run defeat against the West Indies. England responded strongly to that setback, recording controlled wins over Scotland by five wickets and Italy by 24 runs. Their batting unit has shown flexibility across conditions, while the bowling attack has adapted well after early inconsistencies. England now look to carry that regained momentum into the Super Eights stage.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka emerged as one of the standout sides of Group B, winning three of their four matches and scoring heavily throughout the stage. They beat Ireland by 20 runs, registered a commanding 105-run win over Oman, and produced a statement chase against Australia, overhauling a target of 181 with eight wickets in hand. Despite a late loss to Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka accumulated 750 runs in the group stage, underlining their batting strength. They enter the Super Eights with confidence and momentum.
Key players
England will rely on their power-packed batting lineup to set or chase competitive totals. The leadership group has focused on maintaining balance between aggression and control. Jamie Overton has stood out with the ball, providing breakthroughs while keeping runs in check, which has given England stability in the middle overs.
For Sri Lanka, Pathum Nissanka remains central to their plans. His consistency at the top has allowed the middle order to play freely. The bowling unit, led by spin and supported by disciplined pace options, has complemented the batting well in most matches.
Head-to-head record
England hold a clear advantage over Sri Lanka in T20 internationals. The two sides have met 17 times, with England winning 13 matches and Sri Lanka claiming four victories. No fixture has ended in a tie or no result. Their first T20 meeting took place on June 15, 2006, while the most recent encounter occurred on June 3, 2026.
Pitch report
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium traditionally offers batting-friendly conditions in T20 cricket. Scores above 150 remain common, with the surface providing good pace and carry once batters settle. Fast bowlers can extract some assistance early, but disciplined lines and lengths remain essential. Overall, conditions tend to favor batters, placing emphasis on execution from the bowling side.
Probable match scenarios
If England bat first, they will aim to capitalize on the surface by posting a strong total through powerplay aggression and controlled middle-overs batting. Sri Lanka, while chasing, will back their top order to maintain tempo and exploit any looseness in the attack. If Sri Lanka bat first, England’s bowlers will focus on early wickets to restrict scoring and prevent the game from drifting away.
Probable playing XIs
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan
Live streaming and broadcast
In India, the match will be broadcast live on JioStar Network channels and streamed on the JioHotstar app and website.
In Pakistan, viewers can watch live coverage on PTV Sports and A Sports, with digital streaming available on official platforms.
In the United Kingdom, Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Go will provide live coverage.
In Australia, the match will be available for live streaming on Prime Video.
Global audiences can follow the match through official ICC broadcast partners and regional digital platforms carrying the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Match prediction
England bring depth and experience into this Super Eights fixture, while Sri Lanka arrive with confidence built on high-scoring performances. With conditions favoring batting and both sides well matched, the toss and bowling execution could prove decisive. Based on recent trends, the team bowling first holds a slight advantage, making this a finely balanced contest.
