The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium is set to host the third and final T20I of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and England on Tuesday, February 3. With the visitors having already sealed the series, the hosts will be hoping for a consolation victory ahead of the upcoming ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
England, led by Harry Brook, have dominated the first two games to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. The Three Lions secured victory via the DLS method in rain-curtailed matches. Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, will need to find a winning combination before the global showpiece event begins later this week.
The article provides a preview of the SL vs ENG 3rd T20I, covering live streaming details, pitch analysis, weather forecast, predicted playing XIs, and key stats and records.
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I Preview:
Date and Venue: The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium will host the third and final T20I between Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, and England, led by Harry Brook, on Tuesday, February 3.
SL vs ENG Squads:
Sri Lanka are still struggling to find consistency with the bat. Captain Dasun Shanaka is under pressure to deliver as both leader and finisher. The batting relies on Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, and Charith Asalanka.
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga, Kusal Perera, Dushmantha Chameera, Kamindu Mendis, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake
England, in contrast, look settled and confident. Captain Harry Brook has led aggressively, while Jos Buttler adds extra power to the lineup.
England have a strong balance with all-rounders Sam Curran and Will Jacks. Spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson have been effective in all phases of the game in Sri Lankan conditions.
England Squad: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Ben Duckett, Luke Wood, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Rehan Ahmed
SL vs ENG Probable XIs:
With the series in the bag, England might experiment with their playing XI, giving game time to bench players like Luke Wood. Sri Lanka, who are desperate for a win, might pick their best possible side without tinkering with the batting order.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana.
England Playing XI: Phil Salt, Will Jacks, Jos Buttler (wk), Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Jamie Overton.
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I Key Battles
In T20 cricket, player matchups often define the outcome. Here are the key player battles to watch in the third T20I between Sri Lanka and England.
Phil Salt vs Dushmantha Chameera
This is a contest between explosive power and raw pace in the power play. Phil Salt has scored 394 runs in his last nine matches at a strike rate of 173.56. He looks to dominate from ball one.
Dushmantha Chameera is Sri Lanka’s strike bowler. He has taken nine wickets in his last seven games at an economy rate of 7.39. If Chameera uses his pace and bounce to remove Salt early, Sri Lanka can control the game. If Salt survives, England are likely to dominate the middle overs.
Jos Buttler vs Wanindu Hasaranga
Jos Buttler destroys both spin and pace in the format. He has scored 247 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 27.44 and a strike rate of 190.
Wanindu Hasaranga, who has taken 13 wickets in his last 10 games, is Sri Lanka’s best option to stop him. Hasaranga’s variations and googlies are his main weapons. Buttler will look to attack, while Hasaranga will try to trap the English captain LBW or caught in the deep.
Pathum Nissanka vs Adil Rashid
Pathum Nissanka is the anchor of the Sri Lankan lineup. He has scored 310 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 34.44 and a strike rate of 144.85. He needs to bat deep for the hosts to post a competitive total.
England leg-spinner Adil Rashid is in sublime form, with 16 wickets in his last eight matches at a strike rate of 11.25. Rashid controls the middle overs, and if he removes Nissanka early, Sri Lanka’s batting order could crumble.
Kamil Mishara vs Jofra Archer
Young Kamil Mishara has scored 241 runs in his last eight matches at a strike rate of 140.11. He likes to take the game on and will have to deal with the accuracy of Jofra Archer.
The right-arm fast bowler relies on his accuracy and early swing. Mishara will try to unsettle Archer’s rhythm, while Archer will use his experience to force a mistake from the youngster.
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I Key Players:
Sri Lanka – Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis
England – Harry Brook, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I – Free Live Streaming and Telecast Details
TV Broadcast in India: The third T20I between Sri Lanka and England will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans can watch the match live on the SonyLIV app and website on mobile devices and web browsers.
Match Date: The third T20I will be played on Tuesday, February 3.
Venue: The match will take place at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.
Time: The match is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM IST.
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I Weather and Pitch Report – Pallekele
SL vs ENG: Weather Report in Pallekele
The weather in Kandy for the third T20I on Tuesday is expected to be cloudy, with a chance of thunderstorms. According to AccuWeather, the temperature will hover around 24°C, with high humidity levels of 80-85% during match hours in the evening.
Rain interruptions are highly likely, which could lead to a shortened game. The cloud cover may assist swing bowlers early on. The toss-winning captain might consider chasing in rainy conditions.
SL vs ENG Pitch Report at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
The pitch at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium typically favours batters in the early part of the innings. However, the surface might hold some moisture if it rains. Spinners usually come into play as the game progresses. The average first-innings score at the venue is around 167.
With the DLS method likely to come into effect, captains are expected to opt to bowl first. Chasing gives teams the advantage of adjusting their scoring to revised targets, an approach that worked in England’s favour in previous games.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records
| Stats | Matches | SL Won | ENG Won | Draw | Tied | NR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| In Sri Lanka | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Last 5 T20Is | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
According to ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka and England have played each other 16 times in T20 Internationals. England hold the upper hand in the rivalry with 12 wins, while Sri Lanka have managed to secure victory in just four encounters. There have been no tied matches or no-results in their history.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records: Last 5 Matches
England have dominated the recent meetings between the two sides, winning all of the last five T20Is. Sri Lanka have struggled to beat the English unit, with their last victory in this format coming several years ago. The visitors have continued their winning momentum into the ongoing series.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records – Result of the Last 5 Games:
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England won by 6 wickets in Pallekele on February 1, 2026
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England won by 11 runs in Pallekele on January 30, 2026
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England won by 4 wickets in Sydney on November 5, 2022
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England won by 26 runs in Sharjah on November 1, 2021
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England won by 89 runs in Southampton on June 26, 2021
SL vs ENG 3rd T20I – Conclusion:
The third and final T20I of the ongoing three-match series between Sri Lanka and England could depend heavily on the toss, with rain expected in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, are under pressure to avoid a series whitewash and regain confidence before the much-awaited T20 World Cup on home soil. England, meanwhile, have winning momentum, with a settled batting order and a disciplined bowling attack after taking a 2-0 lead.
England are better placed to win again due to their depth and power across the lineup, along with their spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. Unless Sri Lanka produce something extraordinary, the Harry Brook-led team are favourites to seal a 3-0 series win.
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