1
1
3
6
6
1
= 18
Match Details
ENG vs SL, 2nd T20I, SL vs ENG 2026 summary
ENG
146-4(12.1)
England won by 6 wickets 🏆
SL
(20.0)145-9
+
P'ship : 10(7)
A special moment for Aneurin…
Malinga has his man finally and…
Jos Buttler, the first player to…
Sri Lanka stumble after…
England have won the toss and…
Commentary
All
Highlights
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Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
Will England complete a clean sweep on Sunday? Or will Sri Lanka bounce back to break a streak that is now over 12 years long? We will find out together. For now, this is Darpan signing off on the behalf of Dev, Kartik, Pritam, Ghanendra and Aman. See you soon!
The hosts would obviously want to keep up the good work. They have an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series and might as well celebrate hard tonight. (Hopefully, not in a nightclub.) Jos Buttler, who became the first man to complete 15,000 T20 runs will surely be the fulcrum of the party.
It has now been 4,502 days since Sri Lanka's last win over England in T20I cricket. It came on May 20, 2014. Given how things have transpired over the last two games, the hopes of the jinx finally breaking in Manchester on September 19 are not too high either. But then, there is always hope, especially in a sport that has long been regarded as "the game of glorious uncertainties".
Harry Brook (England captain): "(His thoughts on the performance) I think tonight was a special performance tonight. Clinical. They (Sri Lanka) got off to flyer. The way we dragged it back was outstanding. Good performances from everybody. Jammo (Jamie Overton) bowled 4 overs on trot, it is never easy. Liam Dawson, the Player of the Match, was obviously outstanding.
(On picking three seamers) We looked ay the stats and it suggested that spins plays a part here, but we still knew that the bounce will play its part too. So we picked up the tall bowlers and they responded well. Then, Banton was special at the end, finishing things off.
(On Liam Dawson) Awesome bowler, great bloke. He gets the game. Very experienced.
(On Buttler completing 15,000 runs in T20 cricket) Ridiculous. Long may it continue. He has been phenomenal for over 15 years. He is a man you want on your side on a cricket field.
(Plans for the next match in Manchester) More of the same. Adapt to the conditions We did that well here. They were completely different (from Southampton). We talk about it and we want to continue getting better at it."
(On picking three seamers) We looked ay the stats and it suggested that spins plays a part here, but we still knew that the bounce will play its part too. So we picked up the tall bowlers and they responded well. Then, Banton was special at the end, finishing things off.
(On Liam Dawson) Awesome bowler, great bloke. He gets the game. Very experienced.
(On Buttler completing 15,000 runs in T20 cricket) Ridiculous. Long may it continue. He has been phenomenal for over 15 years. He is a man you want on your side on a cricket field.
(Plans for the next match in Manchester) More of the same. Adapt to the conditions We did that well here. They were completely different (from Southampton). We talk about it and we want to continue getting better at it."
Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): "(Assessing their team's performance today) I mean, ah, really disappointed about the performance. When we started in the powerplay, we were in the game. We scored close to 60-odd runs. I think after that we lost wickets at regular intervals which was very disappointing.
(Any change in approach with the bat from the first game to this one?) We just didn't play good cricket today neither did we play good shots. So, that is the key. At the same time, they were too good.
(Improvements needed ahead of the 3rd T20I) I mean not just for the next match. When we are going to play them, as a team we need to improve in a lot of things. We are not upto the mark. That's why we are in the 9th position. We have to take that call. We have to improve our game a lot."
(Any change in approach with the bat from the first game to this one?) We just didn't play good cricket today neither did we play good shots. So, that is the key. At the same time, they were too good.
(Improvements needed ahead of the 3rd T20I) I mean not just for the next match. When we are going to play them, as a team we need to improve in a lot of things. We are not upto the mark. That's why we are in the 9th position. We have to take that call. We have to improve our game a lot."
Liam Dawson (Player of the Match): (On the key to his success with the ball) "I think trying to keep it simple, bowling good lines, bowling good lengths. The pitch offered a little bit tonight, so yeah, quite simple, you have to do.
(On his role in the team) Yeah, I think obviously with Jacksy [Jacks] and Rash [Rashid] as well, I'm probably more the defensive option. But yeah, Jacksy bowls in the Powerplay sometimes - I come in the Powerplay, very varied, and then today's obviously the attacking one. So yeah, we've got all bases covered, which is good.
(On adapting to the conditions) I think you come here knowing that it's obviously a big square, so I actually don't mind bowling here. You can still bowl into the wicket. So yeah, it's not too bad. It's a decent wicket and obviously good to get the win.
(On his approach heading to Manchester) No, not really. Keep it simple, keep bowling sort of how I do, bowl defensively to get wickets, and hopefully do that and do well."
(On his role in the team) Yeah, I think obviously with Jacksy [Jacks] and Rash [Rashid] as well, I'm probably more the defensive option. But yeah, Jacksy bowls in the Powerplay sometimes - I come in the Powerplay, very varied, and then today's obviously the attacking one. So yeah, we've got all bases covered, which is good.
(On adapting to the conditions) I think you come here knowing that it's obviously a big square, so I actually don't mind bowling here. You can still bowl into the wicket. So yeah, it's not too bad. It's a decent wicket and obviously good to get the win.
(On his approach heading to Manchester) No, not really. Keep it simple, keep bowling sort of how I do, bowl defensively to get wickets, and hopefully do that and do well."
Player of the Match: Liam Dawson
Quickest 125+ Run Chases by England in T20Is (By Overs):
11.4 vs Australia, Dubai, 2021 (T-126)
12.1 vs Sri Lanka, Cardiff, 2026 (T-146), Tonight*
12.4 vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2013 (T-140)
13.5 vs India, Bristol, 2026 (T-159)
14.0 vs New Zealand, Chester-le-Street, 2023 (T-140)
11.4 vs Australia, Dubai, 2021 (T-126)
12.1 vs Sri Lanka, Cardiff, 2026 (T-146), Tonight*
12.4 vs New Zealand, Wellington, 2013 (T-140)
13.5 vs India, Bristol, 2026 (T-159)
14.0 vs New Zealand, Chester-le-Street, 2023 (T-140)
Most Consecutive Wins against an Opponent in Men’s T20Is:
17 - Uganda vs Rwanda, 2021-23
15 - Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2008-21
14* - England vs Sri Lanka, 2016 - Present*
17 - Uganda vs Rwanda, 2021-23
15 - Pakistan vs Zimbabwe, 2008-21
14* - England vs Sri Lanka, 2016 - Present*
1:55 AM IST & 9:25 PM Local Time: That’s it! The streak continues! Make that 14 consecutive T20I victories for England against Sri Lanka. The hosts were simply too hot to handle as England made light work of the run chase, cruising to a convincing 6-wicket victory with 47 balls to spare. England have now taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, with one game still to go.
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