Pallekele, Feb 22 (UNI) Will Jacks produced a decisive allround display as England defeated Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their Super 8 Group 2 encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday, extending their unbeaten T20I streak against the Islanders to 12 matches.
On a surface offering grip and assistance to slower bowlers, England’s 146 for nine always looked competitive. It was Jacks, however, who ensured it became match-winning.
Earlier, asked to bat first, England were anchored by Phil Salt’s fluent 62 off 40 balls. Salt struck six fours and two sixes, reaching his half-century in 36 deliveries, and held the innings together even as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Sri Lanka’s spinners kept England in check. Dunith Wellalage removed Jos Buttler lbw before dismissing Harry Brook and Salt to finish with three for 26.
Maheesh Theekshana chipped in with two wickets, while Dilshan Madushanka struck twice at the death.
England’s middle order struggled to accelerate, and despite brief cameos from Jacks and Jamie Overton, they were restricted to 146 for nine in 20 overs.
Defending 146, England’s bowlers dismantled Sri Lanka for 95 in 16.4 overs, closing the contest with clinical precision.
Sri Lanka began brightly with Pathum Nissanka striking crisp boundaries off Jofra Archer, but the breakthrough came in the third over when Nissanka miscued a heave to Jamie Overton at deep mid-wicket.
Archer struck again soon after, removing Kamil Mishara with a sharp catch at gully as Sri Lanka lost four wickets in the space of 13 balls.
The decisive damage came from Jacks. The off-spinner removed Kusal Mendis with a simple return catch before dismissing Pavan Rathnayake for a golden duck. He later claimed Dunith Wellalage, who had briefly counterattacked with back-to-back boundaries, to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 34 for five inside the Powerplay.
Kamindu Mendis injected momentary life with a six and a four off Liam Dawson, but the left-arm spinner had the final word, inducing a leading edge that he calmly accepted in his follow-through.
Captain Dasun Shanaka attempted to revive the innings. He launched Jacks for a six over mid-wicket and later drove Jamie Overton straight for another maximum. Shanaka also hammered Dawson for a boundary down the ground, briefly lifting the spectators.
But wickets continued to tumble. Dushan Hemantha suffered the rare misfortune of hitting his own stumps off Overton’s short delivery, dragging his bat onto the timber in his follow-through. Dawson then bowled Dushmantha Chameera with a quicker delivery that crashed into middle stump, leaving Sri Lanka nine down.
The end came at 16.4 overs. Adil Rashid flighted a wicked wrong ’un outside off, tempting Dilshan Madushanka into an ambitious drive. The ball spun through the gate and shattered middle stump. As the bails lit up, England celebrated another comprehensive triumph — their 12th straight T20I win over Sri Lanka.
Brief scores:
England 146 for 9 in 20 overs (Phil Salt 62; Dunith Wellalage 3/26).
Sri Lanka 95 all out in 16.4 overs (Dasun Shanaka 30; Will Jacks 3/22).
England won by 51 runs.
