Sri Lanka vs England Prediction & Match Preview – 2nd ODI, Colombo
Match summary
Preview of the 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and England at the R Premadasa Stadium: team news, likely XIs, pitch, weather and expected scores.
Match details
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI |
|---|---|
| Series | England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
| Date | 24 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 9:00 am GMT / 2:30 pm local |
| Venue | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Sri Lanka |
| Toss pick | England |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka will be pleased with how his bowlers worked together in the first match, when a strong collective effort through the middle overs helped them defend a modest total. The batting, however, was below par and needs to improve. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara gave a solid start, Kusal Mendis is in good touch, and Dhananjaya de Silva and Asalanka are there to support him, with Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake expected to supply quick runs lower down.
With the ball, Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan will try to break England’s top order early, while Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage, both impressive last time, aim to repeat their form. Asalanka and Jeffrey Vandersay play supporting roles.
England, led by Harry Brook, are looking to recover from an unexpected defeat in which a middle-overs collapse cost them a chase they were expected to manage. Ben Duckett looked in good touch and will partner Zak Crawley, with Joe Root holding the middle together alongside Brook and Jacob Bethell. Sam Curran was effective even on a flat pitch and will share the new ball with Jamie Overton, while Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson, strong in the middle overs last time, will look to repeat that. It is a must-win game for the tourists.
The R Premadasa surface is usually good for batting in white-ball cricket, with true bounce that lets set batters play their shots. Pacers may find some movement early, but it fades. Spinners have a big role in the middle overs, where changes of pace and flight control scoring. In day-night games dew can make chasing easier.
Around 2:30 pm local time on 24 January, Colombo is expected to be hot and humid at roughly 29 to 31°C with partly cloudy skies. There is a moderate chance of scattered showers, which could bring short interruptions, but a prolonged washout is not the main concern.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 270–290 | – |
| Second innings | 260–285 | – |
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s bowlers defended a modest total in the opener and spin should again matter in the middle overs at Colombo.
Toss pick: England
FAQ
Who does our preview pick in Sri Lanka vs England?
We lean towards Sri Lanka, whose bowlers did well in the first ODI, though England have the batting depth to bounce back.
Is rain a threat in Colombo?
There is a moderate chance of scattered showers in the afternoon, so brief interruptions are possible.
What is a good score batting first?
Roughly 285 or more would be a strong total on this surface, with spin in the middle overs likely to shape the contest.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Sri Lanka
- Charith Asalankac
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kamil Mishara
- Kusal Mendiswk
- Dhananjaya de Silva
- Janith Liyanage
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Dunith Wellalage
- Pramod Madushan
- Jeffrey Vandersay
- Asitha Fernando
England
- Harry Brookc
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Joe Root
- Jacob Bethell
- Jos Buttlerwk
- Sam Curran
- Rehan Ahmed
- Jamie Overton
- Liam Dawson
- Adil Rashid
Head-to-head
Earlier meetings of Sri Lanka and England that we covered.