Sri Lanka and England meet in the third match of the Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, October 22. Both sides lost their opening games to Pakistan, so this is a vital chance for either team to register their first win and stay alive in the race for the final.
The match begins at 1:00 PM local time in Rawalpindi, which is 1:30 PM IST. Pakistan have already won both of their matches, while Sri Lanka and England are still searching for their first points in the tournament.
Rawalpindi has produced high-scoring conditions in the opening two matches of the series. The surface has generally been good for batting, with full value for shots in the first innings, although there has been some variable bounce under lights later in the game.
Dew is expected during the second innings, which is why both teams preferred to chase after winning the toss in the earlier matches. However, Pakistan’s bowlers showed that dew alone does not make defending a total impossible. A score around 300 or above should give the batting side a strong advantage.
The weather in Rawalpindi is expected to remain suitable for a full ODI. The main concern is evening dew rather than rain, which could make the ball slippery for bowlers and help batters in the chase. Both captains are likely to bowl first if they win the toss.
This game matters because both Sri Lanka and England began the tri-series with defeats. Sri Lanka went down by 37 runs against Pakistan after reaching 268 while chasing 306, while England were bowled out for 215 chasing 303 and lost by 87 runs.
SL vs ENG Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd Match |
| Series | Pakistan ODI Tri-Series 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, October 22, 2026 |
| Local Time | 1:00 PM PKT |
| IST Time | 1:30 PM IST |
| Venue | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi |
| Format | 50-over day-night ODI |
ENG vs SL Live Streaming Info
- Pakistan: Stream on PCB Live; local reports also list Tapmad and Tamasha. TV coverage is reported on PTV Sports and Geo Super.
- India: VETO is listed for live streaming. Reports differ on other services and TV availability, so check the platform’s current match listing before kickoff.
- Sri Lanka: Siyatha TV is reported as free-to-air coverage; Dialog TV subscribers can check ThePapare 1, and PEO TV subscribers can check PEO Sports 1. Mobile streaming is listed through Dialog Play.
- USA and Canada: The match is listed on Willow by Cricbuzz via TrillerTV.
Live Streaming Info:
The ENG vs SL 3rd ODI match will be live on TamashaWeb.
Live Score Info:
Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI 2026: ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
Current Form
Sri Lanka’s recent form reads LLWLW, while England come into this match with LWLWW from their last five completed ODIs. England won their most recent bilateral ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-1 in September, but Sri Lanka showed in that series that they can challenge England when their batting clicks.
Sri Lanka’s chase against Pakistan had promise. Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake scored fifties, and the team was 210 for 4 before losing momentum. England, on the other hand, were well placed at 120 for 1 in their chase before Arafat Minhas’ 6 for 40 triggered a dramatic collapse.
Key Talking Points
England’s middle order needs to handle spin much better. Harry Brook’s side struggled against left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, and Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage and Sachindu Colombage will look to exploit similar pressure.
Adil Rashid is under scrutiny after an expensive return against Pakistan. He conceded 55 runs in eight overs, and England may expect a sharper performance from their experienced leg-spinner.
For Sri Lanka, Avishka Fernando has a chance to make an impact after being dismissed early on his return to ODI cricket. Kusal Mendis will also want his batters to convert starts into match-defining scores on a batting-friendly Rawalpindi surface.
Head-to-Head Record
Sri Lanka and England have played 85 ODIs. England lead the head-to-head with 42 wins, while Sri Lanka have won 39 matches; four games ended without a result.
| Last Five ODI Meetings | Result |
|---|---|
| September 27, 2026, The Oval | England won by 223 runs |
| September 24, 2026, Headingley | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs |
| September 22, 2026, Chester-le-Street | England won by 89 runs |
| January 27, 2026, Colombo | England won by 53 runs |
| January 24, 2026, Colombo | England won by 5 wickets |
England have clearly had the upper hand recently, winning four of the last five meetings. However, Sri Lanka’s 16-run win at Headingley proved they can beat this England side when their top order and spinners perform together.
Sri Lanka Team Analysis
Sri Lanka’s biggest strength is their spin attack. Dunith Wellalage, who took 3 for 49 in Sri Lanka’s win at Leeds, and Sachindu Colombage can trouble England’s batters if the pitch offers any grip. Dasun Shanaka adds balance as an all-rounder, while Kusal Mendis remains the key batting figure.
Their weakness has been consistency in the middle overs. Against Pakistan, Sri Lanka lost their way from a strong position, and they cannot afford another soft collapse. The return of Dushmantha Chameera, if confirmed, would strengthen their pace attack alongside Asitha Fernando and Eshan Malinga.
Probable XI: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (c & wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Eshan Malinga.
England Team Analysis
England’s batting depth remains their major strength. Tom Banton made 57 and Ben Duckett 45 against Pakistan, while Joe Root, Harry Brook, Will Jacks and Sam Curran give the lineup experience and flexibility. Joe Root is also 64 runs away from becoming the first English batter to reach 8,000 ODI runs.
Their main concern is spin compatibility and death-over control. England were dismantled by Arafat Minhas in their opening defeat, and Rashid’s form is another talking point. If their top order gets a big partnership, England have enough power to post or chase a 300-plus total.
Probable XI: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue.
Match Prediction
England start as slight favourites because of their stronger recent record against Sri Lanka and their deeper batting lineup. Their top order looked in better touch against Pakistan, and players such as Banton, Duckett and Root can take advantage of Rawalpindi’s quick outfield and true batting surface.
That said, Sri Lanka should not be underestimated. Their spinners are capable of choking England’s middle order, and if Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis or Janith Liyanage gets a substantial score, Sri Lanka can push the game deep. The team that wins the toss is likely to bowl first, but the side that handles the middle overs better will probably win.
Prediction: England to win a close, high-scoring contest, with the chasing team holding a slight advantage due to expected dew.