Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd T20I at Kandy, SL v ENG, Feb 03 2026 - Match Result

RESULT
3rd T20I (N), Pallekele, February 03, 2026, England tour of Sri Lanka
128/9
(19.3/20 ov, T:129) 116

England won by 12 runs

Match centre Scores :  Sudeep Poojar •  Comms :  Alan Gardner
Scorecard summary
England1 Inn
128/9(20 overs)
58 (48)
25 (21)
Sri Lanka2 Inn
116/10(19.3 overs)
26 (26)
4/11 (3.3)
23 (12)
3/14 (4)
View full scorecard
Cricinfo's Most Valuable Players of the Match
PlayerTeam
TI
B. Impact
Bowl
ENG88.812.323/14
ENG87.7690.590/9
ENG70.54- 2.764/11
SL47.2- 0.625/24
ENG37.734.331/25
View full list

10.44pm: Presentations time in Pallekele. Sam Curran is named Player of the Match and Player of the Series: "It was different, third time on the same wicket. We felt 130-135 would be a decent score. We have some amazing spinners, it was a really fun game. [Hat-trick after tough start in game one] Always nice, very up and down. Most importantly a fantastic series win. [Batting No.6] Great to be in the side and try to contribute. The confidence is good. We came on some different surfaces, so we've been challenged and should be proud of 3-0."

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: "Very disappointed. I think we could have taken it deeper. We could have done that better. [Improvements in series] Lot of positives, today Chameera and Theekshana bowled well. Going forward we need to address a lot of areas, we need to make it right going into the World Cup. We can take the positives. We lost 3-0, as captain I need to address the areas really well to play a good World Cup. We are looking forward to it, we desperately want to deliver something special. [Issues] We talked about playing spin, accessing both sides of the wicket, that's the [main] area of concern. The bowling unit, Chameera delivering, Pathirana and Theekshana, the bowling attack looks good. Pavan Rathnayake showed some talent [with the bat] this series, so that is good for us. I would like to wish England all the best for the World Cup."

England captain Harry Brook: "That was awesome, great win to be part of, the way the boys kept fighting to the end. We've shown we can adapt to surfaces, tonight was a tricky one to bat on. Sam got us to a decent total and then the way the spinners bowled, 16 overs against SL in their own conditions was an awesome effort. The World Cup is here, so when we have the opportunity to play here we have the experiences to carry over. Been an awesome tour, hopefully come back here a few more times."

And that is that for England's tour of Sri Lanka. Andrew Miller's report will tell the tale of a remarkable England defence, and then it's on to the T20 World Cup, which starts in a few days' time. We'll be back for all that. For now, from myself, Matt and Sudeep, it's goodnight and good luck. Cheerio!

10.30pm: Uff, Sri Lanka. How did you lose that? It looked to have decisively tipped their way when Dunith Wellalage hit the first ball of the 18th over for four, leaving them needing 17 off 17. But he went in unfortunate fashion, the first of three wickets in an over, as Jacob Bethell became England's unlikely hero with the ball. Will Jacks also picked up three-for, the spinners sharing 9 for 75 from 15.3 overs. England pull off their lowest successful defence in T20Is. All perfect conditioning for a World Cup in this part of the world... though SL won't go into the tournament in the mood to party after that

19.3
W
Bethell to Theekshana, OUT

top-edged to short third, England win! Bethell holds his nerve, Dawson holds the catch. SL crumble on a dust bowl to go down 3-0 - and extend their losing run against England to 11 consecutive T20Is!

Maheesh Theekshana c Dawson b Bethell 2 (6b 0x4 0x6 10m) SR: 33.33

13 off four

19.2
1
Bethell to Pathirana, 1 run

fired in straight, 95kph on the stumps, inside-edged for one

"Can this pitch be entered into the turner prize?" Very good, Robert

19.1
Bethell to Pathirana, no run

looped up, big old swing, hit on the back leg... given! But Pathirana reviews. Looks like some inside edge here. Yep, umpire Kottahachchi has to change his call. Think they ran one, but won't get it, either

Over19
2 runsNeed 14 from 6b
SL 115/9CRR: 6.05  RRR: 14.00
M Theekshana 2 (5b)M Pathirana 1 (2b)
LA Dawson1/25 (4)

Tight over from Dawson, leaving Bethell to defend 14

18.6
Dawson to Theekshana, no run

floated up on leg, turns to hit the pads. Buttler asks the question, but none too enthusiastically

Umair: "Shambolic series this from Sri Lanka. Just withdraw from the World Cup at this point. So so embarrassing."

18.5
Dawson to Theekshana, no run

flat and spinning through again as Theekshana swings for the hills... and misses!

18.4
Dawson to Theekshana, no run

driven into the pitch, 93kph/58mph and turning through to Buttler outside off

18.3
1
Dawson to Pathirana, 1 run

skewed into the off side, Wood can't get to this one! Looped off a leading edge but he's unable to scamper forward fast enough from point and they get another single

18.2
Dawson to Pathirana, no run

fired full on leg stump, Pathirana pops it back in the air to Dawson's right... he has to get around Theekshana and can't get a hand under the ball!

18.1
1
Dawson to Theekshana, 1 run

flipped through mid-on off the back foot, there's nearly a mix-up but they get one

Matheesha Pathirana is last man. Liam Dawson to bowl, 16 needed

Over18
5 runs, 3 wicketsNeed 16 from 12b
SL 113/9CRR: 6.27  RRR: 8.00
M Theekshana 1 (1b)
JG Bethell3/10 (3)

"Well, Sri Lanka's lower-middle order leaves a lot to be desired," muses Odinlass

17.6
W
Bethell to Shanaka, OUT

stumped, Buttler is sprinting off in celebration! Bethell snags his third of the over, turning one down the line of fifth stump and Shanaka is stranded! Absolute bedlam amongst the England players, though the rest of Pallekele International Stadium has gone rather quiet

Dasun Shanaka st †Buttler b Bethell 4 (6b 0x4 0x6 15m) SR: 66.66

Brings the captain on strike

17.5
1
Bethell to Theekshana, 1 run

angled in flat and whipped away to deep midwicket

Maheesh Theekshana is in at No.10

17.4
W
Bethell to Chameera, OUT

dollied to cover! England have another! Chameera props forward tentatively and plops the simplest of catching chances straight to Brook. Bethell roars and wags a finger. SL are tottering with the finish line still just out of sight

Dushmantha Chameera c Brook b Bethell 0 (2b 0x4 0x6 1m) SR: 0
17.3
Bethell to Chameera, no run

darted on fourth stump, 94kph/59mph and dabbed into the covers

Dushmantha Chameera walks in, 17 needed from 16

17.2
W
Bethell to Wellalage, OUT

slog-swept, the ball bobbles into the air, and Buttler runs around to take the catch in front of the stumps! The TV umpire is going to check this. Looks like brilliant work from the keeper. Wellalage is unlucky, as he slammed the ball into his front leg and it looped up to the leg side. Buttler was alert to the chance, and sprinted around to take the catch in the tips of his gloves! Another twist

Dunith Wellalage c †Buttler b Bethell 9 (14b 0x4 0x6 18m) SR: 64.28
17.1
4b
Bethell to Wellalage, 4 byes

full outside off, Wellalage chops down on it, squeezes out four to deep third! Pace on the ball, took the edge and then ricocheted off Buttler's pad, but the man in the ring couldn't catch up. Vital boundary for SL

Rate just over a run a ball. Bethell for a third over

Over17
5 runsNeed 21 from 18b
SL 108/6CRR: 6.35  RRR: 7.00
MD Shanaka 4 (5b)DN Wellalage 9 (12b)
AU Rashid1/25 (4)

That's Rashid done. Can SL keep it together?

16.6
2
Rashid to Shanaka, 2 runs

pushed through and Shanaka was down on one knee to sweep, gets it past short fine leg for a couple more

16.5
1
Rashid to Wellalage, 1 run

flatter and quicker on the stumps, turned to leg

16.4
1
Rashid to Shanaka, 1 run

floated up and swept for one through backward square leg

16.3
Rashid to Shanaka, no run

big-turning leggie on middle and leg, Shanaka sweeps and is hit on the pads. Doing too much? Maybe hit the gloves, actually

16.2
1
Rashid to Wellalage, 1 run

floated up, 77kph/47mph and worked off the front pad

Best performances - batters
Spike GraphWagon Zone
SM Curran
58 runs (48)
6 fours1 six
Productive shot
pull
20 runs
5 fours0 six
Control
86%
BKG Mendis
26 runs (26)
4 fours0 six
Productive shot
cut shot
5 runs
1 four0 six
Control
88%
Best performances - bowlers
PVD Chameera
O
4
M
0
R
24
W
5
ECO
6
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
1W
2W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
1W
JG Bethell
O
3.3
M
0
R
11
W
4
ECO
3.14
FTYFGSGS
OFFLEG
RHB
2W
1W
LEGOFF
LHB
1W
Match details
TossEngland, elected to bat first
Season2025/26
Player Of The Match
Player Of The Series
Series resultEngland won the 3-match series 3-0
Match numberT20I no. 3683
Hours of play (local time)19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.30, Interval 20.30-20.50, Second Session 20.50-22.20
Match days3 February 2026 - night (20-over match)
TV Umpire
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Win Probability
ENG 100%
ENGSL
100%50%100%ENG InningsSL Innings

Over 20 • SL 116/10

Maheesh Theekshana c Dawson b Bethell 2 (6b 0x4 0x6 10m) SR: 33.33
W
England won by 12 runs
AskESPNcricinfo Logo
Instant answers to T20 questions