Who won Sri Lanka vs England 1st ODI today? — Match result & turning points
Sri Lanka held their nerve under pressure to defeat England by 19 runs in the first ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka posted 271 for 6 in their allotted 50 overs. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 93 off 117 balls, holding one end as wickets fell around him. Janith Liyanage added 46, while Dunith Wellalage’s late cameo of 25 off just 12 balls gave the total a push in the final overs.
England’s
chase started shakily with an early wicket, but Ben Duckett and Joe Root helped the team bounce back by reaching fifties and keeping the target in sight. However, once the spinners were called in, England lost five wickets for just 36 runs. Jamie Overton’s late fight briefly gave some hope, but Pramod Madushan dismissed him at the death to seal the win.
Top batting performances of the match — Kusal Mendis
Kusal Mendis shines with a steady 93* 🏏
🇱🇰 post 271, thanks to his sublime innings!
Watch #SLvENG LIVE on #SonyLIV 📺📲 pic.twitter.com/9vK4bpV5N2— Sony LIV (@SonyLIV) January 22, 2026
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis made sure his bat did all the talking in the series opener. Walking in at No.3, Mendis scored 93* off 117, missing out on a well-deserved century by seven runs. The right-handed batter laced his knock with 11 boundaries, playing at a strike rate of 79.48. With wickets falling from one end, Mendis made sure to tackle the opposition bowlers brilliantly, helping the team post a respectable target.
Top bowling performances of the match — Dunith Wellalage
Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage was the best bowler on the day, finishing with figures of 2/41 in his quota of 10 overs. Wellalage claimed the wickets of Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran. England batters looked clueless while facing Wellalage, especially in the middle-overs.
Who was the Player of the Match?
Dunith Wellalage was adjudged the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. Earlier in the game, the youngster remained unbeaten on 25 off 12 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and a six, making sure the home team gets a required push to their total. With the ball, he claimed two wickets, in the form of Jacob Bethell and Sam Curran. Notably, Wellalage was exceptional on the field as he plucked three catches.
What is the next match?
Sri Lanka will take on England in the second ODI of the three-match series on Saturday, January 24, in the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
