Sri Lanka vs England | England tour of Sri Lanka, 2026 | 2nd ODI

That brings us to the end of a compelling encounter here in Colombo. England's impressive 5-wicket victory has levelled the series at 1-1, ensuring a thrilling conclusion to this 3-match ODI series. There is now everything to play for in the decisive final ODI, which you can catch on 27th January 2026 at 9 am GMT. We will be here with all the pre-match build-up and updates an hour earlier. Until then, thank you for joining us, and cheers for now.

England captain Harry Brook expressed significant relief and satisfaction in securing an away victory, especially on what he described as a very difficult track he has ever played on. He highlighted the importance of adapting quickly to the challenging conditions by focusing on strike rotation and situation management rather than free scoring. Brook was full of praise for his bowling unit, calling their effort to dismiss the home side on a familiar surface outstanding, noting the effectiveness of using six spin options and constant rotation to build pressure. He also praised Will Jacks, who performed well in the middle order and with the ball, and reserved specific praise for Joe Root, labeling him an exceptional player whose ability to find gaps and manage the game was incredible. Overall, Brook viewed it as a great team win and hopes to build momentum from this result.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka felt his side were short by at least 30 runs, identifying key dismissals, including the run-outs of Kusal Mendis and himself, as crucial turning points that hampered their total. He acknowledged the need for smarter play in pushing for runs but also cited the intense heat as a factor in conserving energy. Asalanka credited the English batters, particularly Joe Root, for his exceptional play through the middle overs, for nullifying all of Sri Lanka's bowling efforts. He did, however, express pride in his team's significant improvement in fielding over the past two years. Looking ahead to the series finale, Asalanka expressed excitement, emphasizing the need to execute the basics and the necessity for one of their batters to score a big hundred to secure the series.

Joe Root has been named Player Of The Match. Root expressed his affection for playing in Sri Lanka and voiced pleasure in securing a win on what he described as a very difficult surface. He candidly admitted the pitch was challenging for ODI cricket, highlighting the key to batting success as playing the ball as late as possible and maintaining a calm presence at the crease. Root praised the team's ability to adapt from their first game mistakes, executing a plan focused on maximizing the Powerplay, building significant partnerships, and ensuring batters remained in for long periods. He attributed their ability to build momentum and adjust to the conditions to experience gained from playing extensively in the subcontinent, emphasizing the need for precise footwork and early reading of the ball, and voiced his ultimate satisfaction with securing the victory.

Time for the presentation ceremony ...

Earlier, in a dominant bowling display, England bundled out Sri Lanka for 219 in 49.3 overs. The English bowlers, particularly the spinners and those utilizing clever changes of pace, successfully choked the Sri Lankan innings. A cautious start by Sri Lanka in the first Powerplay was quickly stifled by the introduction of spin, which led to the dismissals of Pathum Nissanka and a crucial run-out of Kusal Mendis. Despite a resilient 66-run fourth-wicket partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and captain Charith Asalanka, England maintained control through the middle overs. The death overs saw wickets fall in clusters as Sri Lanka attempted a late push, ultimately falling well short of a potentially imposing total. Joe Root, Rehan Ahmed, and Jamie Overton were among the wicket-takers as England restricted their opponents to 219 all out.

Sri Lanka, once again, relied heavily on their spin battery, with captain Charith Asalanka deploying five spinners in a bid to replicate their first-match success. While Dhananjaya de Silva and Jeffrey Vandersay each picked up two wickets, and Asitha Fernando chipped in with one, the total was simply not enough. The English batters learned from their previous mistakes, building crucial partnerships, including a solid 34-run stand between Jos Buttler and Will Jacks to seal the win and nullifying the threat of the turning ball. In the end, England chased the target with ease, denying Sri Lanka the opportunity to clinch the series with a game to spare, and setting up a mouth-watering final ODI.

The anchor of this successful chase was undoubtedly Joe Root for his phenomenal application on a track that offered significant assistance to the spinners. Root took the sting out of the Sri Lankan attack with a perfectly measured innings. After the makeshift opener Rehan Ahmed fell early and a 68-run second-wicket stand with Ben Duckett steadied the ship, Root dropped anchor. He navigated the challenging middle overs with expert precision, rotating the strike effectively and punishing the rare loose delivery. His match-defining 81-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Harry Brook was the final nail in the coffin for the hosts. Root's departure on 75, just before the finish line, dragged his side to the verge of victory.

England have comprehensively defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets to level the ODI series at 1-1. The visitors exhibited a stark contrast in batting application compared to their first-match collapse, chasing down the target of 220 with remarkable composure. The victory was defined by patience on a challenging, spin-friendly surface.