Jacks’ All-Round Heroics and Archer’s Pace Lead Dominant Display in a commanding performance at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
England defeated co-hosts Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 2 clash. The two-time champions (2010 and 2022 winners) defended a modest total of 146/9 with ruthless bowling, restricting Sri Lanka to 95 all out in 16.4 overs.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to field first, confident in chasing under lights on a familiar home pitch that had favored spinners earlier in the tournament.
Their bowlers delivered early, with Dunith Wellalage claiming 3 wickets (including the prized scalps of Jos Buttler, Harry Brook, and Phil Salt) and Maheesh Theekshana grabbing 2, as England slumped to 68/4. Opener Phil Salt stood tall amid the collapse, smashing a gritty 62 off 40 balls (10 fours, 2 sixes) to anchor the innings.
Will Jacks provided a quick cameo of 21 off 14 balls (5 fours), while late contributions from Jamie Overton helped England reach a defendable 146/9 in 20 overs.The chase quickly unraveled for Sri Lanka.
England captain Harry Brook made a tactical masterstroke by introducing all-rounder Will Jacks in the powerplay. The off-spinner responded brilliantly, claiming three wickets to dismantle the top order, including key breakthroughs.
Jofra Archer struck with pace, removing dangerous opener Pathum Nissanka cheaply and adding another scalp. Sri Lanka lost 5 wickets inside the powerplay for just 34 runs, setting the tone for a dramatic collapse. Brief resistance came from Shanaka (around 30), but wickets continued to tumble—Dushan Hemantha fell via hit-wicket, and Liam Dawson cleaned up the tail.
A superb relay catch handed Adil Rashid his first wicket, sealing Sri Lanka’s fate at 95 all out.
This England vs Sri Lanka result boosts England’s campaign in Super 8 Group 2 (alongside Pakistan and New Zealand), showcasing their bowling depth and ability to defend under-pressure totals.
Jacks’ all-round contribution (3 wickets + handy runs) earned him player-of-the-match honors, while Archer’s express pace and Salt’s resilient fifty highlighted England’s balanced attack and top-order firepower.
Sri Lanka, despite home advantage, now face an uphill battle to progress from the group. The defeat highlights vulnerabilities against quality spin and pace in the powerplay.
Full scorecard highlights:
England: 146/9 (20 overs) – Salt 62 (40), Jacks 21 (14); Wellalage 3/26, Theekshana 2 wickets.
Sri Lanka: 95 all out (16.4 overs) – Jacks 3 wickets, Archer 2 wickets, Rashid 1.
Signpost News is an Imphal-based media house that focuses on delivering news and views from Northeast India and beyond.
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