T20 World Cup 2026: Will Jacks Stars Again as England Dismantle Sri Lanka by 51 Runs

Will Jacks delivered another match-winning all-round performance as England dismantled Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their Super Eight opener at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 22, 2026. After Phil Salt’s lone hand of 62 off 40 balls helped England post a modest 146 for 9, Jacks took three crucial wickets for 22 runs in four overs as the co-hosts were skittled out for just 95 in 16.4 overs.

Jacks’ spell included back-to-back dismissals of Kusal Mendis (4) and Pavan Rathnayake (0), while Jofra Archer (2 for 20) and Adil Rashid (2 for 13) ensured Sri Lanka never recovered from 34 for 5 in the powerplay. The victory marked England’s 12th consecutive win against Sri Lanka in T20Is and moved Harry Brook’s side to the top of Super Eight Group 2.

Match Summary

Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to field first on a sticky, slow pitch that had been affected by rain all week in Kandy. England struggled to find momentum as wickets fell regularly, with Jos Buttler (7 off 14) continuing his struggles and Harry Brook (14) dismissed lbw on his 27th birthday. Salt battled humid conditions and appeared to suffer from dehydration but reached his first fifty of the World Cup off 36 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes. Dunith Wellalage removed Buttler, Brook and Salt to finish with 3 for 26, leaving England reeling at 106 for 6 after 14 overs.

Jacks contributed a vital 21 off 14 balls with four boundaries before being caught by Wellalage. England mustered just 40 runs from the final five overs to reach 146 for 9. In reply, Sri Lanka never got going as Archer struck twice in the powerplay, removing both openers including the in-form Pathum Nissanka (9) who failed to clear Jamie Overton at deep midwicket. Jacks then wreaked havoc with back-to-back wickets in the fourth over — a caught-and-bowled from Mendis followed by Rathnayake charging and being pouched at cover by Tom Banton.

Wellalage staved off the hat-trick but lasted only 10 balls before falling to Jacks for 10. At 34 for 5 after the powerplay, Sri Lanka were devoid of hope. Dasun Shanaka’s lone battle (30 off 24) ended when he holed out to a relay catch on the boundary off Rashid, and the hosts were bowled out for 95 in 16.4 overs when Rashid cleaned up Dilshan Madushanka with a googly.

Match Scorecard

Result: England won by 51 runs Player of the Match: Will Jacks (3 for 22 in 4 overs; 21 off 14 balls) England’s record: 12th consecutive T20I win against Sri Lanka England’s position: Top of Super Eight Group 2 (2 points)

First Innings: Salt’s Lone Battle Lifts England to 146

Struggling Start — 37 for 2 in Powerplay

England went into the interval at 37 for 2 after the first six overs, a patchy start typified by a labored 7 off 14 from Jos Buttler, before he was trapped lbw attempting a reverse sweep off Wellalage. The pitch was sticky and slow after rain all week in Kandy, making strokeplay difficult.

Salt Battles Through

Phil Salt battled humid conditions and appeared to suffer from dehydration but reached his first fifty of the World Cup off 36 balls in the 13th over. The opener hit six fours and two sixes, completing an eighth T20I fifty while running out of puff before he holed out to long-off off Wellalage.

Salt was not at his most fluent on a slow pitch but his efforts proved vital. He was the only batter to truly fire in hot and humid conditions.

Wellalage’s Triple Strike

Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage was introduced during the powerplay and made immediate impact. He trapped the out-of-form Buttler (7) and captain Brook (14 on his 27th birthday) — both lbw — before removing Salt caught in the deep after facing 40 deliveries. Wellalage finished with 3 for 26 from his four overs.

Jacks’ Crucial Contribution

Will Jacks contributed a vital 21 off 14 balls with four off-side boundaries before he sliced Dilshan Madushanka (2 for 25) to Wellalage. His innings proved pivotal in pushing England beyond 140.

Jacob Bethell and Tom Banton (run out by a superb direct hit from Shanaka) failed to convert starts, while Sam Curran (11) was caught in the deep. England mustered just 40 runs from the final five overs to reach 146 for 9.

England Batting Performance

37/2: Powerplay 68/4: Halfway mark 106/6: After 14 overs (Salt dismissed) 146/9: Final total Last 5 overs: 40 runs

Sri Lanka Bowling Performance

Second Innings: England Bowlers Demolish Sri Lanka

Powerplay Collapse — 34 for 5

Sri Lanka imploded to 34 for 5 in the powerplay, as Will Jacks took three wickets — including two in as many deliveries in the fourth over — and Jofra Archer’s two strikes included in-form opener Pathum Nissanka (9 off 8).

Archer’s Early Strikes

The searing pace of Jofra Archer accounted for both openers. Pathum Nissanka, who had scored a century and 62 in his last two knocks against Australia and Zimbabwe, failed to clear Jamie Overton at deep midwicket. Archer finished with 2 for 20 in three overs.

Kamil Mishara (6) also fell to Archer, leaving Sri Lanka reeling.

Jacks’ Devastating Spell

Will Jacks wreaked havoc, bowling four overs off the reel. He caught-and-bowled Kusal Mendis (4) with a leading edge, then had a charging Pavan Rathnayake (0) pouched at cover by Tom Banton from successive deliveries.

Dunith Wellalage staved off the hat-trick but lasted only 10 balls before also falling to Jacks for 10, caught at mid-on by Overton. Jacks finished with match figures of 3 for 22 in four overs.

“I love responsibility with the ball,” said Jacks post-match. “It encourages me to get into the game and perform better. Bowling in the powerplay is something I’ve done a lot so it’s not foreign to me — when we get on a surface like that I know what I need to do.”

Shanaka’s Lone Battle

Dasun Shanaka fought a lone battle, scoring 30 off 24 balls. The Sri Lanka captain took on leg-spinner Adil Rashid but holed out to a superb relay catch on the boundary — Jacks took the catch and tossed the ball to Banton before stepping over the boundary.

Kamindu Mendis, Dushan Hemantha (5, hit wicket off Jamie Overton) and others offered little resistance.

Rashid Wraps It Up

Adil Rashid wrapped things up by cleaning up Madushanka with a big-spinning googly that ripped through the gate to splatter his stumps. Rashid finished with 2 for 13 in 3.4 overs. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 95 in 16.4 overs — their third-lowest T20 World Cup total.

Sri Lanka Batting Performance

34/5: Powerplay 95: All out in 16.4 overs Third-lowest: T20 WC total for Sri Lanka

England Bowling Performance

Match-Winning Performance: Will Jacks — Third Player of Match Award

Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Miller and Bowling Masterclass Lead South Africa to Win Over India

FAQs