Sri Lanka vs England Cricket Thriller: Live Score, Highlights & Key Moments

Pallekele, 1 February 2026 — England powered to a six-wicket (DLS) victory over Sri Lanka in the second T20I, clinching the three-match series 2-0 and sharpening their form ahead of next week’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka’s 189-5, built on Pavan Rathnayake’s brisk 40 off 22 and handy thirties from Kamil Mishara and Pathum Nissanka, looked imposing until rain sliced 20 minutes from the chase. The interruption left England needing 111 from 58 balls, yet Tom Banton’s unbeaten 54 (29) and Harry Brook’s 36 off just 12 lit up the DLS sprint. Brook smashed four boundaries and three sixes in a 26-run assault on Matheesha Pathirana that flipped the equation in 10 deliveries. Captain Jos Buttler (39) laid the early platform before falling to a diving catch at deep point, but England’s triple-spin combo of Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson and Will Jacks had already restricted Sri Lanka through the middle overs, sharing 3-81 in 12. Jofra Archer’s late yorkers (2-42) closed the hosts at least 15 short of par on a placid surface. Needing 16 from the final two overs, Banton pierced extra cover then watched Sam Curran launch Janith Liyanage for six to finish the job with two balls spare. The half-century was Banton’s first for England since 2022 and underlined his new finisher’s role in Ben Duckett’s injury absence. Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka rued a wet ball and a shoulder injury to seamer Eshan Malinga straight after the rain break, admitting “that swing of conditions cost us” as England recorded a ninth win in 10 T20Is under Brook’s leadership. The series concludes on Tuesday, but with the trophy secured and momentum surging, England’s focus already tilts toward their World Cup opener against Nepal in Guyana.