England will face Sri Lanka in the third ODI of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 22. Both teams will be looking to register their first victory of the tournament after losing their opening matches against Pakistan.
England, led by Harry Brook, will aim to bounce back after suffering a heavy defeat against the hosts in their previous outing. Their batting lineup features experienced players such as Joe Root and Ben Duckett, alongside attacking options Tom Banton, Jordan Cox and Will Jacks. England will need a more disciplined performance with both bat and ball to challenge Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be eager to recover from their defeat against Pakistan and get their campaign back on track. Under Kusal Mendis’s leadership, they will look to improve their batting consistency and use their bowling resources effectively against England.
With both teams under pressure to secure points, the contest could prove important to their chances of reaching the tri-series final. England’s batting depth will be tested against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack, while the team that adapts better to Rawalpindi’s conditions could gain the advantage.
ENG vs SL: Match Details
| Match Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | England vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI |
| Tournament | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, October 22, 2026 |
| Start Time (PKT) | 1:00 PM |
| Start Time (IST) | 1:30 PM |
| Start Time (GMT) | 8:00 AM |
| Toss Time (PKT) | 12:30 PM |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Format | One-Day International |
| England Captain | Harry Brook |
| Sri Lanka Captain | Kusal Mendis |
Team Overview
England
England will need a strong response after their 87-run defeat against Pakistan. Despite a promising opening partnership between Tom Banton and Ben Duckett, the team suffered a dramatic batting collapse while chasing 303.
Banton and Duckett are expected to retain their places at the top of the order, with Joe Root providing stability at number three. Root’s experience will be particularly valuable if England lose early wickets, while Harry Brook will be expected to lead the middle-order recovery.
Sam Curran and Will Jacks provide all-round options, giving England flexibility with both bat and ball. Jordan Cox is another important middle-order batter, while Jamie Overton adds depth to the lower order.
England’s bowling attack features Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker. Rashid’s spin could be particularly important against Sri Lanka, while Atkinson and Baker will look to make early breakthroughs.
England must improve their execution with the ball and avoid another middle-order collapse if they are to secure their first victory in the tournament.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will also be looking to recover after losing their opening match against Pakistan. Captain Kusal Mendis will need his experienced batters to deliver a more consistent performance against England.
Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando and Kamil Mishara offer opening options, while Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis can provide stability through the middle order. Dasun Shanaka adds valuable all-round ability and can accelerate the scoring rate during the closing overs.
Sri Lanka’s bowling attack includes Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka. Theekshana and Wellalage could play important roles in controlling the middle overs, while the pace bowlers will aim to put England’s top order under pressure.
Sri Lanka will need a disciplined bowling performance and stronger partnerships with the bat to challenge England. Their ability to exploit any weaknesses in England’s batting lineup could determine the outcome.
ENG vs SL: Head-to-Head ODI Record
England have historically held a narrow advantage over Sri Lanka in men’s ODI cricket.
| ODI Record | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 85 |
| England Won | 42 |
| Sri Lanka Won | 39 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Results | 3 |
England’s historical advantage is relatively small, and both teams have produced competitive encounters in recent years. Their previous ODI meetings suggest that the contest could be closely fought if Sri Lanka improve their performance from the opening match.
Top Players to Watch
Tom Banton — England
Banton will be important at the top of England’s batting order after scoring 57 against Pakistan. His ability to attack during the powerplay could help England establish a strong foundation and avoid putting too much pressure on the middle order.
Joe Root — England
Root remains one of England’s most reliable ODI batters. His ability to rotate the strike and build an innings makes him crucial if the team loses early wickets. He will be expected to anchor the batting lineup while allowing the more aggressive players to attack around him.
Harry Brook — England
Brook will be eager to respond after being dismissed for five runs against Pakistan. His attacking approach can change the momentum of a match, but England’s captain will need to balance aggression with the importance of building a substantial innings.
Adil Rashid — England
Rashid will be England’s key spin option. His ability to vary his pace and deceive batters in flight could prove decisive against Sri Lanka’s middle order, particularly if the surface offers assistance to spin.
Kusal Mendis — Sri Lanka
Mendis will be central to Sri Lanka’s batting plans. As captain and an experienced middle-order batter, he will need to provide stability and help his team build partnerships against England’s bowling attack.
Maheesh Theekshana — Sri Lanka
Theekshana could be one of Sri Lanka’s most important bowlers in the middle overs. His variations and ability to control the scoring rate could trouble England’s aggressive batters and create opportunities for further wickets.
Official Squads
England ODI Squad
Harry Brook (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, James Coles, Jordan Cox, Mason Crane, Henry Crocombe, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root and Josh Tongue.
Sri Lanka ODI Squad
Kusal Mendis (captain), Sahan Arachchige, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Avishka Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Janith Liyanage, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage.
Pathum Nissanka’s availability was initially conditional on medical clearance. His participation should therefore be checked against the latest team announcement before the final lineup is published.
ENG vs SL: Probable Playing XIs
The following lineups are predictions based on the officially announced squads. The final playing XIs will be confirmed at the toss.
England Probable XI: Tom Banton (wk), Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.
Sri Lanka Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (c and wk), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka.
Sri Lanka’s selection could depend on Nissanka’s fitness and the balance between pace and spin. England may also consider changes following their defeat to Pakistan, but the predicted XI above uses players from the announced tournament squad.
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium: Pitch Report
Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium generally offers a surface that allows batters to play their shots, particularly during the early stages of an ODI innings. Good bounce can help stroke-makers, while disciplined fast bowling may create opportunities with the new ball.
England will need to make better use of their powerplay opportunities after their collapse against Pakistan. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, could look to build partnerships before accelerating during the final overs.
Spinners may become increasingly important as the innings progresses, although the exact pitch behaviour for this match will depend on the prepared surface and conditions on the day. The toss could influence the teams’ strategies, but neither batting first nor chasing guarantees an advantage.
ENG vs SL: Live Streaming Details
| Country/Region | TV Broadcaster | Live Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | PTV Sports | PCB Live, Tapmad and Tamasha |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Cricket | Sky Go and NOW |
| India | No TV broadcaster listed | Veto |
| Bangladesh | T Sports | Tapmad |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV, Peo TV and Siyatha TV | Regional broadcaster platforms |
| North America | Willow TV | Willow digital platforms |
| Australia | Fox Cricket | Kayo Sports |
| MENA region | Cricbuzz | Cricbuzz digital platforms |
Availability may vary by subscription and territory. Viewers should check their local broadcaster’s schedule for the England vs Sri Lanka fixture.
ENG vs SL: Match Prediction
England will be under pressure to respond after their defeat to Pakistan, but their batting lineup has enough experience and depth to recover. Root’s stability, Banton’s attacking approach and Brook’s ability to accelerate could give England the edge if they build partnerships.
Sri Lanka have a capable bowling attack, with Theekshana and Wellalage offering spin options and Chameera providing pace. However, they will need a stronger batting performance to put England under sustained pressure.
England’s greater batting depth and the presence of experienced players such as Root and Rashid give them a slight advantage. Sri Lanka could still challenge them if their bowlers strike early and their top order produces a substantial partnership.
Today’s Match Prediction: England to win.
England are predicted to win the third ODI, provided they improve their batting discipline and avoid the collapse that cost them against Pakistan. Sri Lanka’s bowling attack could make the match competitive, but England have the resources to bounce back.
