
Sri Lanka Vs England 3rd T20I Highlights: Having already lost the first two games, Sri Lanka would be finish with a consolation win in the third and final T20I against England today. The rain in Kandy played a big part in both the games so far. For England, it has been a great turnaround in white-ball after a humiliating Ashes campaign.
After winning the ODI series, Harry Brook's men would like to enter the T20 World Cup 2026 on a winning momentum. With the series already in pocket, England might give their bench strength some gametime before the mega event.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (c), Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (capt), Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood
Jacob Bethell gets another as England register the third win of the 3-match T20 I series. Maheesh Theekshana goes for a shot but edges it straight to Liam Dawson, who takes a clean catch.
Sri Lanka get bundled out at 116 runs and England win by 12 runs.
Jacob Bethell takes three wickets in the 19th over as Dasun Shanaka is stumped by Buttler. Shanaka misses the shot, and Buttler whips off the bails cleanly. SL need 16 runs off last 12 deliveries with just 1 wicket in hand.
Jacob Bethell removes Chameera with a sharp delivery. Chameera goes for a shot but edges it straight to Brook, who takes a safe catch.
SL 128/8 after 17.4 overs.
Jacob Bethell traps Dunith Wellalage, who goes for a sweep but edges it. Jos Buttler produces a superb catch, diving forward at full speed to take it cleanly. The third umpire confirms the dismissal.
SL 112/7 after 17.2 overs. They need 17 runs off 15 balls
Sri Lanka are in the final stretch of their chase, needing 21 runs from 18 balls. Dunith Wellalage (9 off 12) and Dasun Shanaka (4 off 5) are at the crease, looking to finish the innings strongly. The required rate is 7 runs per over, and a couple of quick boundaries could seal the game.
Will Jacks continues his excellent spell, removing Janith Liyanage. Liyanage goes for a shot but edges it to Jacob Bethell, who takes a comfortable catch. SL 97/6 after 15.1 overs.
Will Jacks claims a big wicket as Kamindu Mendis is trapped lbw. Mendis tries to play across the line against an arm ball but is beaten by the pace, hitting right on the knee roll. The umpire’s decision stands after a review, and Sri Lanka lose a key batter. SL 90/5 after 13.1 overs.
Sri Lanka stay on track but lose wickets. With 64 needed off 60 balls, the chase is finely balanced. Kamindu Mendis and Janith Liyanage are at the crease, steadying things as the required rate stays manageable at 6.4.
Will Jacks makes an immediate impact. Kusal Mendis 26 (26) looks to attack but miscues it, and Adil Rashid takes a safe catch. SL 62/4 after 9.1 overs.
Adil Rashid strikes at the end of the over as he bowls Pavan Rathnayake with a sharp delivery. Rathnayake departs for 13 off 15, and Sri Lanka lose another wicket at 8.6.
SL 62/3 after 9 overs. They need 67 runs off 66 balls.
Dawson comes into the attack and makes an immediate impact. He picks up a wicket of Nissanka as Sri Lanka move to 37/2 after 5 overs. Kusal Mendis holds firm on 12 off 13, while Pavan Rathnayake is just getting started on 2 off 3.
Sri Lanka reach 14/1 after 3 overs as they begin the chase cautiously. Kusal Mendis looks to settle in on 5 off 9, while Pathum Nissanka shows intent with a six to move to 9 off 7. The required rate stays manageable at 6.76, with Sri Lanka needing 115 runs as they look to rebuild after the early wicket.
England strike early. Wood bowls a short ball, Mishara 0(2) goes for the pull but mistimes it. Duckett moves to his left and takes a comfortable catch.
SL 1/1 after 0.3 overs.
England limp to 128/9, with Adil Rashid (7) and Luke Wood (1) finishing the innings. A dominant bowling effort puts Sri Lanka firmly in control.
Chameera strikes again! Sam Curran holes out to Nissanka, giving Chameera a brilliant five-wicket haul on series debut. Curran falls for 58 (48), and England lose a crucial wicket at the death.
ENG 127/9 after 19.5 overs.
England are in deep trouble as they slip to 118 for 8 after 19 overs. Sam Curran continues to fight it out in the middle with a gritty 54 off 45 balls, holding the innings together with five fours and a six. At the other end, Adil Rashid is just settling in on 2 off 3 deliveries.
Sam Curran hits half-century off 44 balls including four boundaries and a six. ENG 114/8 after 18.4 overs.
Chameera strikes again! He takes the pace off and draws the miscued shot. Jamie Overton looks to go big but only manages a top-edge, and Janith Liyanage settles under it to take a comfortable catch.
ENG 109/8 after 17.5 overs.
Dawson 14 (20) looks to force the pace but mistimes it. Chameera gets one to hold in the surface, Dawson chips it straight to Kamindu Mendis, who takes a safe catch.
ENG 107/7 after 17.2 overs
Chameera strikes again and England sink further. The change of pace continues to do the damage for Sri Lanka as Will Jacks is caught at short mid-wicket.
Jacks is through his flick too early and ends up spooning it off the inner half. Pathum Nissanka makes no mistake with a simple catch.
England’s batters look completely out of sync with the pace and grip on offer, and the innings is falling apart.
Will Jacks 60/6 after 10.3.
England struggle in their innings after opting to bat, slipping to 59/5 at the halfway stage with a current run rate of 5.9.
Sam Curran is holding the innings together with 15 off 18 balls, including a boundary, while Will Jacks has a quick start with 3 off 3 balls.
England need a strong partnership now to rebuild and push the scoring rate closer to the par score.
Sri Lanka strike a huge wicket in the 7.4th over as Maheesh Theekshana cleans up Jos Buttler. The spinner delivers a 97 kph back-of-a-length delivery outside off, which pitches and turns sharply, beating the batter’s defense.
Buttler is caught in the crease and departs for 25 off 21 balls, including two fours and a six.
ENG 47/5 after 7.4 overs.
Sri Lanka continue their fine bowling display as Pathirana picks up his second wicket in the 5.4th over. Brook attempts a quick shot but is outfoxed by Pathirana’s clever delivery.
The batter edges the ball and it is comfortably taken by Janith Liyanage in the field. Brook departs for 4 off 3 balls, including a boundary, and England are under early pressure.
ENG 34/4 after 5.4 overs.
Sri Lanka continue to dominate the powerplay as Chamika Wellalage delivers a brilliant piece of bowling in the 4.6th over to dismiss Tom Banton. Banton attempts to slog across the line, but Wellalage’s slower delivery lands perfectly on middle and leg, turning away just enough to beat the outside edge and crash into the top of off stump.
Banton departs for 7 off 7 balls. ENG 28/3 after 5 overs
Sri Lanka grab an early breakthrough in the 2.6th over as Pathirana removes Jacob Bethell. Pathirana deceives the batter with a slower full-length delivery at 126 kph, angling just outside off stump.
Bethell reaches out for a big drive but mistimes the shot, giving an outside edge straight to Kusal Mendis behind the stumps. He departs for 3 off 7 balls, and England immediately feel the pressure with an early wicket.
Sri Lanka strike in the very first over as Dushmantha Chameera removes Alex Duckett for a golden duck on 0.2. Duckett faces a back-of-a-length delivery angling on leg stump and attempts to defend, but the ball skids off the pitch and strikes him on the inside edge.
Sri Lanka immediately opt for a review, and the replays confirm the decision. UltraEdge shows a flat line, and ball-tracking indicates three reds hitting middle and middle, leaving Duckett walking back without scoring.
ENG 2/1 after 0.2 overs.
Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana
Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Luke Wood, Adil Rashid
Hello and welcome to the live updates of the England vs Sri Lanka third and final T20I of the series.