England vs Sri Lanka Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd ODI, Headingley
Match summary
Sri Lanka won by 16 runs: England 305/9 (50 ov), Sri Lanka 321/6 (50 ov). Player of the match: Kusal Mendis.
Our preview of England vs Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI at Headingley, Leeds on 24 September 2026: likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | Sri Lanka tour of England 2026 |
| Date | 24 Sep 2026 |
| Start time | 11:30 am GMT / 12:30 pm local |
| Venue | Headingley, Leeds |
| Status | Result |
| Result | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs |
| Player of the match | Kusal Mendis |
| Our pick | England ✗ |
| Toss pick | England |
Matches in this series
Match preview
England and Sri Lanka meet again in the second ODI of the series, at Headingley in Leeds on Thursday 24 September, with a lunchtime start.
England, led by Harry Brook, are expected to field a strong batting group of Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Brook himself and Jos Buttler, with Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed and Jamie Overton adding all-round options. Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue lead the pace attack.
Sri Lanka are expected to be captained by Kusal Mendis, who also keeps wicket. Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka and Janith Liyanage make up the batting, while Dunith Wellalage, Dushmantha Chameera, Sachindu Colombage, Asitha Fernando and Dilshan Madushanka form the bowling group.
Seam movement early on could make the first overs a challenge, but the batting should ease once the ball gets older. Seamers should stay important throughout, and a chase can become harder if the surface slows.
Headingley usually offers a good batting surface with consistent bounce and decent pace, so strokes come more easily once batters are in. The quicker bowlers can find swing and seam with the new ball, particularly under cloud, which can make the early overs tough. Batting normally gets more comfortable as the game goes on, and spin may come into play if the pitch slows.
Pleasant at around 18–19°C for the 12:30 pm local start, with sunny spells, dry conditions and a very low chance of rain. Visibility should be good and the risk of interruption is minimal.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 245–265 | 305/9 (50 ov) |
| Second innings | 225–245 | 321/6 (50 ov) |
England
England have the batting depth and pace options to beat Sri Lanka again, so our preview picks them at Headingley.
Toss pick: England
FAQ
Where is the 2nd England vs Sri Lanka ODI?
At Headingley in Leeds on 24 September 2026, with a 12:30 pm local start.
Who is expected to win?
Our preview picks England and expects them to win the toss.
What is a competitive total?
Around 250 or more batting first, with 270 or more putting the batting side in a strong position.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
England
- Tom Banton
- Ben Duckett
- Joe Root
- Harry Brookc
- Jos Buttlerwk
- Will Jacks
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jamie Overton
- Gus Atkinson
- Jofra Archer
- Josh Tongue
Sri Lanka
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamindu Mendis
- Kusal Mendisc, wk
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Charith Asalanka
- Janith Liyanage
- Dunith Wellalage
- Dushmantha Chameera
- Sachindu Colombage
- Asitha Fernando
- Dilshan Madushanka
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of England and Sri Lanka that we covered: England 4, Sri Lanka 0 wins.