Sri Lanka Need 147 to Beat England – T20 WC 2026 Super 8 Live Score & Analysis
Sri Lanka need 147 runs to beat England in the 42nd Match of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8, Group 2 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy. England, batting first after losing the toss, were bowled out for 146/9 in 20 overs — a total that Sri Lanka’s bowlers thoroughly deserved after a disciplined team effort restricted England well below par. The win probability at innings break reads SL 69.48% vs ENG 30.52%, making the hosts clear favourites to chase this down. Stay updated with everything happening in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 right here.
Phil Salt was the only England batter who truly got going, but Sri Lanka’s spinners strangled the middle order and left England well short of a competitive total.
England Innings Summary – 146/9 in 20 Overs
England never found momentum after losing Jos Buttler early. Phil Salt kept them afloat with a fighting 62 off 40 balls, but once he fell in the 15th over, England’s lower order couldn’t accelerate.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | SR | How Out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | 62 | 40 | 155.00 | c Hemantha b Wellalage |
| Jos Buttler | 7 | 14 | 50.00 | lbw b Wellalage |
| Jacob Bethell | 3 | 4 | 75.00 | c Madushanka b Theekshana |
| Tom Banton | 6 | 7 | 85.71 | run out (Shanaka) |
| Harry Brook (c) | 14 | 7 | 200.00 | lbw b Wellalage |
| Sam Curran | 11 | 11 | 100.00 | c Mishara b Chameera |
| Will Jacks | 21 | 14 | 150.00 | c Wellalage b Madushanka |
| Liam Dawson | 6 | 11 | 54.55 | c Shanaka b Theekshana |
| Jamie Overton | 10* | 10 | 100.00 | not out |
| Jofra Archer | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | c Hemantha b Madushanka |
| Adil Rashid | 1* | 1 | 100.00 | not out |
England’s powerplay yielded only 37 runs for 2 wickets — a terrible start that put them on the back foot immediately. Harry Brook’s cameo at 200 SR hinted at what could have been, but his lbw off Wellalage ended any hope of England accelerating through the middle overs.
Sri Lanka Bowling – Wellalage Was the Star
Sri Lanka’s bowling was excellent all around, but Dunith Wellalage stood out as the match-winner with the ball.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 21 | 2 | 5.25 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 4 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
Wellalage’s three wickets removed Buttler, Brook, and Salt — England’s three most dangerous batters at different stages of the innings. Theekshana was miserly throughout, conceding just 21 from 4 overs with a 5.25 economy. Even Madushanka, who was the most expensive of the three frontline pacers, nailed the death with two crucial late wickets.
Dushan Hemantha was the only bowler who went for runs — 38 from 4 overs — but Sri Lanka barely needed those overs to matter given the collective damage done around him.
England’s Batting Collapse – Where It Went Wrong
England’s innings can be broken into three clear phases, and two of them went very badly.
Powerplay (Overs 1–6): 37/2 — Losing Buttler in the third over to a first-ball lbw was a massive blow. Jos Buttler at the top of the order is England’s engine — without him, the entire innings plays differently. Bethell’s dismissal for 3 soon after compounded the pressure.
Middle Overs (7–15): 57 runs, 4 wickets — Salt kept England alive with his half-century, but the rate never climbed fast enough. Brook’s seven-ball 14 at 200 SR showed England’s only glimpse of real intent, cut short too quickly. Curran’s run-a-ball 11 couldn’t accelerate either. By the time Salt fell for 62 in the 15th over, England had lost their best batter and were looking at a total well below 150.
Death (16–20): 52/3 — Jacks’ 21 off 14 gave England some late impetus, but two wickets in three balls at the end of the 18th over — Jacks stumped and Archer first ball — effectively ended any hope of pushing past 160. England finished 146/9.
Can Sri Lanka Chase 147?
On paper, 147 is a completely gettable target — especially at Pallekele, where Sri Lanka have the advantage of home conditions, a knowledgeable crowd, and players who know this pitch intimately. The win probability of nearly 70% for Sri Lanka reflects that reality.
Sri Lanka’s batting lineup has match-winners at every position:
- Pathum Nissanka — elegant top-order anchor who builds pressure on the bowling
- Kusal Mendis — destructive wicketkeeper-batter who can win games in 10 overs alone
- Kamindu Mendis — technically brilliant, composed in chase situations
- Dasun Shanaka (c) — big-hitting captain who thrives when the target is clear
England’s bowling attack — Archer, Rashid, Jacks, Dawson, Curran — is not without quality. Jofra Archer at full pace is always a threat and Adil Rashid’s legspin could trouble Sri Lanka’s middle order on a surface that’s already showing some turn. But Sri Lanka only need 7.35 per over. That’s a comfortable ask.
Check the Super 8 Group 2 points table and standings to see what this result means for both sides’ tournament progression.
Match Context – What’s at Stake in Super 8 Group 2
Both England and Sri Lanka need wins in the Super 8 to keep their semi-final hopes alive. Sri Lanka eliminating Australia in the group stage was one of the biggest stories of the tournament — they arrived in the Super 8 full of confidence and belief. England, meanwhile, came through their group but have looked fragile with the bat throughout.
A Sri Lanka win tonight would put them in pole position in Super 8 Group 2. For England, defeat would mean they need results to go their way from other matches. Browse the complete Super 8 fixtures and match schedule to track all four teams in Group 2.
Follow the chase live on the T20 WC 2026 live streaming page — this one could get interesting if England’s bowlers make early inroads.
FAQs – Sri Lanka vs England T20 WC 2026 Super 8
Q1. What is England’s score against Sri Lanka in T20 WC 2026 Super 8? England scored 146/9 in 20 overs. Phil Salt top-scored with 62 off 40 balls. Sri Lanka need 147 to win.
Q2. Who was England’s top scorer vs Sri Lanka? Phil Salt top-scored with 62 off 40 balls at a strike rate of 155.00, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes before being caught off Wellalage in the 14th over.
Q3. Who took the most wickets for Sri Lanka vs England? Dunith Wellalage took 3 wickets for 26 runs from 4 overs, removing Buttler, Brook, and Salt — England’s three key batters.
Q4. What is the win probability for Sri Lanka vs England at innings break? Sri Lanka are strong favourites at 69.48% win probability, with England at just 30.52% at the innings break.
Q5. Where is the Sri Lanka vs England Super 8 match being played? The match is being played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy, Sri Lanka — a home venue for the Islanders.
Q6. What does this Super 8 match mean for both teams’ semi-final chances? A Sri Lanka win puts them in a strong position in Super 8 Group 2. An England defeat leaves them needing other results to go their way to stay in semi-final contention
