Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI – England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 This is the 2nd ODI of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and England. The match takes place on January 24, 2026, starting at 2:30 PM local time (2:30 PM IST) at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Expect a slower surface at Premadasa that typically favors spinners, with teams batting first winning 56% of games and average scores around 230-250. Weather will be cloudy with temperatures near 29°C and just a 2% chance of rain, setting up a full match.
Sri Lanka hold a 1-0 series lead after their 19-run win in the opener, where Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 93 anchored a total of 271 for 6, defended thanks to tight bowling on a turning track. England fell short in the chase despite fifties from Ben Duckett and Joe Root, making this game crucial for them to level the series and stay alive ahead of the decider. A win here would put Sri Lanka on the brink of a rare home series triumph over England, boosting confidence after mixed recent results.
Sri Lanka’s recent ODIs show resilience at home: W L L L W, with the first ODI victory halting a skid and highlighting their spin depth. England, meanwhile, are L L L L W in their last five but struggled away recently, losing to West Indies earlier and showing ODI vulnerabilities that could jeopardize their 2027 World Cup qualification push. Momentum swings to the hosts, who know Premadasa’s tricks inside out.
Mendis’ form is electric after his 93*, and Dunith Wellalage’s all-round fireworks (25* off 12 and wickets) earned him player of the match honors. England’s Adil Rashid troubled Sri Lanka with 3-44, adding to his strong record here, while Joe Root and Duckett must fire up top to counter the spin. Watch for spin battles, as the pitch suits tweakers over pacers.
SL vs ENG Match Details
- Match: 1st ODI Match
- Teams: Sri Lanka vs England 1st ODI
- Date: 22 January 2026
- Time: 2:00 PM 9:00 AM GMT / 2:30 PM LOCAL
- Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
SL vs ENG Live Streaming Info
Catch the Sri Lanka vs England 1st ODI live from various broadcasters depending on your location, with coverage starting around 2:30 PM IST.
- In India, tune into Sony Sports Network (Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 5) or stream on Sony LIV and FanCode.
- Pakistan viewers can watch on PTV Sports, A Sports, or Ten Sports, with streaming available on Tapmad and Tamasha.
- For Sri Lanka, options include Siyatha TV, Channel Eye, and SLRC on TV, plus Sri Lanka Cricket YouTube and Dialog ViU online.
- UK fans have TNT Sports 1, Sky Sports Cricket, and talkSPORT on television, alongside Discovery+, Sky Go, and NOW TV for streaming.
- In South Africa, SuperSport covers it on TV and via their app, while
- Australia might check Fox Sports for TV (TBD) and Kayo Sports for live streams. Subscriptions often apply, and VPNs can assist with geo-blocks where permitted.
How to Watch the Match for Free:
On TV: The match is available free on DD Sports if you have a DD Free Dish connection; this lets you watch the game without any extra subscription fee.
On apps/sites: Live streaming is officially on JioCinema/Disney+ Hotstar (as per current rights), but these usually require at least a basic mobile or bundled plan; full live action is not generally free, though highlights are often available at no cost after the match.
Live Streaming Info:
The 1st ODI will be live on TNT Cricket.
Probable XIs
Sri Lanka Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana
England Probable XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Head-to-Head Summary
In 79 ODIs, England lead narrowly with 38 wins to Sri Lanka’s 37, plus 1 tie and 3 no-results. Over the last 10 meetings, England have 6 wins to Sri Lanka’s 4. Recent clashes have been tight, with Sri Lanka’s last win before this series coming in the 2023 World Cup, but specifics on the prior five are sparse—England edged most, though the hosts now hold the edge at Premadasa.
Sri Lanka Team Analysis
Sri Lanka’s strength lies in their spin-heavy attack and middle-order solidity, with Mendis (380 runs at 47.50 avg here) and Charith Asalanka providing stability. Weaknesses include top-order fragility if openers falter, but recent momentum from Wellalage’s all-round prowess and Pramod Madushan’s 3 wickets in the opener bolsters them. Key players: Mendis, Wellalage, Asalanka.
England Team Analysis
England boast batting depth with Root (consistent anchor) and Buttler, plus Rashid’s spin wizardry (3-44 last game). Their weakness is adapting to subcontinental turns, exposed in the chase collapse, despite Curran and legspinners chipping in. Recent away form is patchy, but Brook’s captaincy and Root/Duckett’s fifties offer hope.
Probable Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka look favorites to take a 2-0 lead, leveraging home conditions, spin edge, and boosted confidence from the opener—bat first if they win the toss and defend around 260 on this spinner’s paradise.