The second ODI of the three-match series between Sri Lanka (SL) and England (ENG) is scheduled to be played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday, January 24. The head-to-head record between the two teams in ODIs is level at 38 apiece.
The Lankans took a 1-0 lead by winning the first ODI by a narrow 19-run margin. Opting to bat first, the hosts posted 271/6 in their quota of 50 overs on the back of an unbeaten 93-run knock from Kusal Mendis. Janith Liyanage contributed with 46 as well.
Adil Rashid secured three wickets to his name.
Half-centuries from Ben Duckett and Joe Root meant England were on track in their chase. However, their dismissals sparked a collapse from which the Harry Brook-led unit could just not recover. Dunith Wellalage, who had earlier in the match played a cameo with the bat, won the Player of the Match award for 2/41 as well as a couple of catches while not bowling.
SL vs ENG Match Details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI, England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Date and Time (IST) | Saturday, January 24; 2:30 pm |
| Venue | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Broadcast & Live Streaming Details | Sony Sports Network & SonyLIV, Fancode (app & website) |
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo: Pitch Report
Spinners reigned supreme in the series-opening clash, picking up 11 of the 16 wickets to fall across both innings. A similar pattern is likely to unfold at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday as well. Batting for both teams outside the initial powerplay only becomes increasingly difficult as the match progresses. The average first innings score in the 185 ODIs played at the venue is 230, indicating how difficult it is for batters.
SL vs ENG Head to Head ODI Record
| Matches Played | 80 |
| Won by Sri Lanka | 38 |
| Won by England | 38 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 3 |
| First-ever Fixture | February 13, 1982 |
| Most-recent Fixture | January 22, 2026 |
SL vs ENG Predicted Playing XIs
Sri Lanka (SL):
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando
England (ENG):
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid
SL vs ENG Probable Best Performers
Probable Best Batter: Joe Root
Returning to white-ball cricket after nearly three months, Root looked quite composed at the crease for his 61 in the first match. He was able to efficiently rotate strike and picked the gaps with ease. The senior pro can be expected to play another crucial knock.
Probable Best Bowler: Dunith Wellalage
Wellalage will understandably be overjoyed with his performance in the previous match. He contributed in every department and was one of the major reasons for Sri Lanka's win. The left-arm spinner will be eager to carry forward with his good form.
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176922555686129924.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-176922552466316184.webp)
/images/ppid_a911dc6a-image-17692220264231288.webp)
