PREVIEW

By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka will go hard pressed against an already on a 2-1 ODI series high given a head to head 4 wins to England’s by far the better 10 triumphs when the two sides face off in the first of the 3 match T20 series tonight at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium. Added to which of course the current in cracking form England captain Harry Brooks driven ODI series leveling scorching unbeaten 136 belting of the Lankan attack that had host trump card spin wizard Wanindu Hasaranga in the fold who went expensive for just the one wicket, and another key performer Dunith Wellalage who went wicket-less for big runs.

Going on names and paper, England boasting of the highest T20 International score of 304 for 2 in hounding South Africa in September 2024, with the No 2 ranked upfront Phil Salt tipped to open with the aggressive Jos Butler will be quite a force the recalled Lankan skipper and his charges will buck to the winning stakes.
On a spin heavy top wicket how well Sri Lanka’s batsmen garner themselves where big scores are the defining decisive driving line will be key to Sri Lanka coming on top against the likes of England’s frontline spinners Adil Rashid and Liam Lawson who had to do in shifting the scales England’s way from a 0-1 early setback in the ODI series on a usually highly favourable track at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka will on paper book form be largely looking to their upfront opener the Mr Reliable Pathum Nissanka to deliver with the bat on a 149.6 high strike rate pedigree since 2025 though a recent form dip will be something he will need to get on top of he is to top the English.
The interesting drafting of young Pavan Rathnayake to the squad more or less influenced by his scorching maiden ODI ton against England could well be the tip of the iceberg for Brook and company if the Lankan camp lets saner counsel prevail and lets loose this cracking fearless batsman against the English.
The omission of Kamindu Mendis for Kusal Janith Perera is a highly talking point given Perera’s loose form run of late.
It will be upon skipper Dasun Shanaka to lead from the front with the bat which he did late than never in batting Sri Lanka to victory by a cameo 48 vs Australia in the final ODI.

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Dhananjaya De Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

England 1 Phil Salt, 2 Jos Buttler (wk), 3 Jacob Bethell, 4 Tom Banton, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Sam Curran, 7 Will Jacks, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Liam Dawson, 10 Jofra Archer, 11 Adil Rashid.