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Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI [Source: X]
Sri Lanka and England are ready to lock horns with each other after a nail-biting series decider is set to take place on January 27 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. With England and Sri Lanka both winning 1-1, the SL vs ENG 3rd ODI is set to decide the series fate live from 2:30 PM IST.
After Sri Lanka won the first match by 19 runs in a low-scoring ODI, England dominated the second game of the series. England secured a five-wicket victory after comfortably chasing a modest target of 220, getting the job done in 46.2 overs with five wickets in hand.
The SL vs ENG series is now perfectly poised for an engaging decider, with the final match set to draw attention to key players such as England’s Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Adil Rashid, along with Sri Lanka’s Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka.
Sri Lanka vs England current form (last 5 matches)
| Team | Form |
| Sri Lanka | L, W, L, L, L |
| England | W, L, L, L, L |
SL vs ENG: Key player battles
Joe Root vs Asitha Fernando
Joe Root anchored England's chase with a composed 75 off 90 balls, steering them from 88/2 to within sight of victory. Asitha Fernando eventually won the battle by trapping him lbw, a massive wicket at that stage, but it came too late to shift the result, as England needed only 48 more runs with 5 wickets in hand. Hence, another battle between the two might be interesting in 3rd ODI.
Charith Asalanka vs Adil Rashid
Sri Lanka's captain Charith Asalanka fought hard for 45 off 64 balls in a rebuilding effort after early losses. Adil Rashid, England's premier spinner, outfoxed him with a key dismissal, breaking the backbone of the middle order and restricting Sri Lanka to 219. Rashid clearly dominated this leg-spin vs left-hander contest and might again in the upcoming clash.
Harry Brook vs Jeffrey Vandersay
Harry Brook looked set to accelerate after a steady start, scoring 42 off 75 balls in partnership with Root. Jeffrey Vandersay, the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers (2/45), won this battle by dismissing him lbw, preventing a potentially match-finishing stand and can be decisive in the upcoming match too.
Sri Lanka vs England top performers
Most runs for SL vs ENG
Kusal Mendis (406), Kusal Perera (338)
Most wickets for SL vs ENG
Dhananjaya de Silva (8), Dushmantha Chameera (6)
Most runs for ENG vs SL
Joe Root (1314), Jos Buttler (634)
Most wickets for ENG vs SL
Adil Rashid (20), Sam Curran (6)
Sri Lanka vs England toss prediction
The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo typically offers a well-balanced pitch. Early on, the surface provides even bounce, allowing batters to play freely and trust their shots. As the match progresses, however, the pitch tends to slow down and becomes more demanding.
Fast bowlers usually get little help in terms of seam or swing and must depend heavily on variations to be effective. Widely regarded as a spinner-friendly venue in subcontinental conditions, spinners are expected to dominate the middle and later stages of the game.
Considering these factors, the captain winning the toss is likely to opt to bat first and take advantage of the better early conditions.
Sri Lanka vs England 1st innings score prediction
Powerplay: 40/1
Final score: 270
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd innings score prediction
Powerplay: 50/1
Final score: 280
SL vs ENG top players prediction
SL's top players
Probable best batters
Dhananjaya de Silva, Pathum Nissanka
Probable best bowlers
Jeffrey Vandersay, Dhananjaya de Silva
ENG’s top players
Probable best batters
Harry Brook, Joe Root
Probable best bowlers
Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton
Who will hit the most sixes in the SL vs ENG match?
Joe Root
Who will hit the most fours in the SL vs ENG match?
Dhananjaya de Silva
Sri Lanka vs England Match Winner Prediction: Who Will Win The 3rd ODI?
Both England and Sri Lanka have shown solid form in the first two matches, with each side bouncing back well after challenging conditions. Given the home surface and the clear advantage of spin, which could prove decisive at key moments, both teams are expected to push each other hard in the series decider.
However, with home crowd support and a strong record in familiar conditions, Sri Lanka enter the third ODI against England as slight favourites.
