Sri Lanka vs England, 1st T20I, England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 - Commentary
England won by 11 runs (DLS method) - 17 overs game due to rain
SL
133(16.2)
ENG
125/4(15)
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No presentations so far. Rain would've taken it indoors and we might not have access. So that's all from this first T20I. Do join us on Sunday for the second match. Until then, it's goodbye!
No real concerns in the run-chase for England. Salt and Buttler got them off to a flier and despite a brilliant spell from Pathirana, the target wasn't very challenging. To make matters worse for the hosts, they dropped a couple of catches too. But what hurt them the most today was the batting collapse as they went from 76/1 to 133 all out. Adil Rashid the star for England, putting on a show with his flight and speed variations. Carried on from where he had left in the ODIs. His spell of 3/19 sparked the turnaround and restricted Sri Lanka to a below-par total. Stay tuned, we'll have the presentations shortly...
23:28 Local Time, 17:58 GMT, 23:28 IST: Rain coming down and players leave the field. England well ahead on DLS. They seem to be covering the full ground. That should be the game, and yes, we have confirmation. England win the first T20I and go 1-0 up in the series.
15
0 2 1 W 1 1 (5 runs)
ENG 125-4
Harry Brook
16(18)
Sam Curran
1(1)
Dasun Shanaka
2-0-12-1
14.6
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, gently tucked away through midwicket as Shanaka takes pace off again
14.5
Shanaka to Sam Curran, 1 run, another slower one in the slot, driven down the ground to get off the mark
Sam Curran, left handed bat, comes to the crease
14.4
W
Shanaka to Phil Salt, out Caught by (sub)Wellalage!! Salt departs just short of the finish line. Slower leg-cutter, it's floated up in the slot and he looks to whack it across the line. Only manages to slice it down to long-on. Phil Salt c (sub)Wellalage b Shanaka 46(35) [4s-3 6s-2]
Shanaka to Phil Salt, THATS OUT!! Caught!!
14.3
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, slower length ball on leg, Brook backs away and punches to sweeper cover
14.2
Shanaka to Brook, 2 runs, dug in short, Brook pulls through square leg and is back for two
14.1
Shanaka to Brook, no run, slower leg-cutter, Brook looks to flick it away but gets a soft leading edge rolling to short third
Dasun Shanaka [1.0-0-7-0] is back into the attack
14
0 1 4 0 0 0 (5 runs)
ENG 120-3
Philip Salt
46(34)
Harry Brook
12(14)
Matheesha Pathirana
4-0-18-1
13.6
Pathirana to Phil Salt, no run, slower dipping yorker, Salt steps across the stumps looking to whip it away but misses. The ball finishes down leg but he had moved across the stumps, umpire reckons it would've hit his pad in his original stance
13.5
Pathirana to Phil Salt, no run, slower short ball outside off, he looks to ramp but is beaten by the lack of pace
13.4
Pathirana to Phil Salt, no run, full toss angled in, Salt steps across the stumps, tries whipping it away but misses. Wasn't far from crashing into leg stump. Umpire makes the right call of not calling a wide
13.3
4
Pathirana to Phil Salt, FOUR, pitched up outside off, Salt steps across, hammers it down the ground and beats long-on to his left
13.2
Pathirana to Brook, 1 run, Nissanka drops a sitter! Bashed in on a short of length, Brook makes room, cuts in the air and it should've been taken at sweeper cover
13.1
Pathirana to Brook, no run, low full toss tailing in, Brook makes room and drives to cover
Matheesha Pathirana [3.0-0-13-1] is back into the attack
13
1 4 1 2 1 1 (10 runs)
ENG 115-3
Harry Brook
11(12)
Philip Salt
42(30)
Wanindu Hasaranga
4-0-36-0
12.6
Hasaranga to Brook, 1 run, on the shorter side, turning away outside off, Brook pulls through midwicket
