England wrapped up the T20I series 3-0 over Sri Lanka with a twelve-run victory in the third and final match at Pallekele, completing their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Defending a modest total on a spinning surface, England produced a disciplined bowling performance to dismiss Sri Lanka for 116, with their spinners accounting for nine of the ten wickets that fell.
Asked to bat first after winning the toss, England found themselves in early trouble on a slow pitch at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium. Ben Duckett was trapped by Dushmantha Chameer for a golden duck, while Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton and captain Harry Brook were all dismissed for single figures as the visitors slumped to 60 for 6.
Sam Curran leveled the innings with a career-best 58 to reduce England to 128 for 9 with a defiant knock down the order. Sri Lanka’s bowlers took full advantage of the conditions, with Chameera finishing 5 for 24 and removing Curran with the penultimate ball of the innings.
England struck early with the ball when Luke Wood removed Kamil Mishara for a duck in the first over before Liam Dawson had Pathum Nissanko caught at cover for 23. Adil Rashid bowled Pavan Rathnayake as the hosts looked to build momentum.
Sri Lanka looked well placed at 90 for 4 but a decisive spell from Will Jacks turned the match around. Jacks dismissed Kusal Mendis, Kaminda Mendis and Janith Liyanage to crack the middle order before Bethell took control late in the innings.
The left-arm spinner took three wickets in the 18th over, dismissing Dunitha Wellalage, Chameera and Dasun Shanaka, and came back to remove Maheesh Theekshana to finish with career-best figures of 4 for 11. The Jacks finished at 3 for 14 as Sri Lanka were bowled out with three balls remaining.
“The way the spinners bowled, 16 overs against Sri Lanka in their own conditions, was an amazing performance,” Brook said. “We showed we can adapt to the surfaces and that’s something we can take to the World Cup.”
The win marked England’s lowest successful defense in men’s T20 internationals and confirmed a comprehensive series clean sweep.
England, two-time world champions in the format, will open their World T20 campaign against Nepal on Sunday, February 8, while Sri Lanka will face Ireland later in the day.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
February 3, 2026
