श्रीलंका vs इंग्लैंड, दूसरा टी-20 Commentary, Live Updates

Four!

No run.

1 run.

Darted down the leg, Charith Asalanka looks to block but misses.

LEG BYE! Flighted around the pads, Charith Asalanka gets it brushed off his pads for a leg bye.

Fired wide of off, Charith Asalanka cuts this to point for a dot.

Charith Asalanka walks out next in the middle for Sri Lanka.

OUT! LBW! Trapped right in front of the stumps. A couple of leggies, going away, and then a quicker googly from Adil Rashid gets the better of Dasun Shanaka. Googly, on off, Dasun Shanaka looks to slog across the line but misses completely as DS fails to read Adil. The ball hits the Lankan skipper on his back pad and a gentle appeal was only required for the umpire to raise his finger. Dasun Shanaka sends this upstairs and the Ball Tracker shows three reds with the ball clattering into the leg-pole. Dasun Shanaka has to walk back.

Flighted on off, turning a long way away from the batter. Adil Rashid goes for a sweep but misses.

Seam up, full and wide of off, Dasun Shanaka swings and misses.

Full and on off, Pathum Nissanka punches this in the gap for a single.

Flighted wide of off, Dasun Shanaka leaves it.

Darted onto the pads, Pavan Rathnayake works this to mid-wicket for a run.

Quicker one, on middle and off, Dasun Shanaka rocks back and punches this on the bounce to long on for a strike rotation.

Floated around off, Dasun Shanaka blocks.

Dasun Shanaka walks out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kusal Mendis departs to a spinner once again. Tossed up, around middle and off, Kusal Mendis goes for a sweep after going down on a knee. Gets a leading edge back to Adil Rashid at the short fine leg region. Adil Rashid makes no mistake and holds onto it. Kusal Mendis departs for 32 off 17.

Fired into the batter, around middle and leg. Pavan Rathnayake works this through mid-wicket for a single.

DROPPED! Good length, wide of off, Pavan Rathnayake has a go at it, away from his body. Pavan edges this slightly to the left of the fielder at short third and the player drops it. A single taken.

Pavan seems to be toying with the field. Full and wide of off, Pathum Nissanka delays the drive and opens his bat face. Guides this past point to his right for a couple.

FOUR! Much better from Pavan Rathnayake and a lot more authoritative as well. Back of a length on middle and off, Pavan Rathnayake stays deep inside the crease and pulls this in front of square through mid-wicket for four this time.

SIX! Pavan gets a touch of fortune and the ball sails over the fence. Short and around off, Pavan Rathnayake looks to pull this in front of square towards mid-wicket but gets it top-edged into the crowd towards fine leg.

Full and wide of off, Kusal Mendis smashes this grounded to sweeper cover for a single.

SIX! GO FETCH THAT! Short and into the batter, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis stays deep inside the crease, gets underneath it and hooks this over the fnce towards the deep square leg region for a massively hit six.

WIDE! That is a bit hard on the bowler. Good length wide of off but touch and go with the tramline. Kusal Mendis leaves it and the umpire calls it a wide. Jamie Overton is not pleased with this decision.

Pavan Rathnayake is the next batter out in the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kamil Mishara gives in after getting a good start. Pushed through around the pads from Will Jacks. Kamil Mishara stays leg side and goes through with the flick. Hits this a bit straighter and straight into the hands of Jamie Overton at the wide long on region. Jamie Overton makes no mistake and holds onto it.

Fired into the batter, going down the leg. Kamil Mishara rocks back and looks to work this away off his bac foot but misses and gets rapped on the back pad.

Short and into the batter, around leg. Kusal Mendis flat bats this to deep square leg for a single.

Pushed through on leg, Kamil Mishara rolls this down to long on for a single.

Top-spinner, around off, Kusal Mendis sweeps this through square leg for one.

Full and on off, Kamil Mishara punches this to sweeper cover for one.

DRINKS! We have reached the halfway mark of the Lankan innings and Dasun Shanaka would be delighted with the way his troops have batted so far. 102 off the first 10 overs at the loss of just one wicket and Sri Lanka are ahead in this contest till this point. The batters now have a platform from which they can launch an onslaught towards the last 10 overs.

FOUR! 100 comes up for SL. Googly, into the stumps, Kusal Mendis reads this perfectly and hops onto the back foot. KM ends up smashes this wide to the left of the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Tossed up, around off, Kamil Mishara milks this through square leg for a run.

TWO WIDES! Full and wide outside off. Kusal leaves it and the batter fails to gather this clean. A single taken by the batters on this wide on.

LEG BYE Wrong'un around the pads. Kamil Mishara looks to block this around mid-wicket but misreads the wrong'un and gets beaten. The ball clips the top of the back foot, which is leaning a bit. A massive appeal for LBW but the umpire turns it down. Harry Brook, the skipper of England, sends this upstairs and the replay shows that this has pitched outside leg on the Ball Tracker. England loses a review.

Fuller, wide of off, Kusal Mendis sits down and sweeps this down to long on for one.

Tossed up, much slower from Adil Rashid. Kamil Mishara rolls this down the ground for a single.

Tossed up, around off, Kamil Mishara pushes this to extra cover.

On a length, in the line of the stumps. Kamil Mishara punches this through mid off for one.

Hard length on off, Kusal Mendis drops this around covers and rotates.

Short and wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this square on off for a run.

Hard length on off, Kamil Mishara hits this well but straight to the fielder.

FOUR! Enough width on offer from Jamie Overton and Kamil Mishara makes him pay. Slower one, wide outside off, Kamil Mishara slashes hard at it and gets it away through the gully region for a boundary. Kamil Mishara moves to 30 off 19.

Good length wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this through the backward point region for a couple.

FOUR! That's been worked fine for four as well. Darted around the pads, Kusal Mendis steps across and paddles this behind the stumps for a boundary to close this Liam Dawson over.

Darted into the batter, Kusal Mendis goes back and nudges this through mid-wicket for a brace.

Fired onto the pads, Kamil Mishara tucks this to short fine leg for a single.

SIX! This has sailed over the fence. Tossed up, wide of off, Kamil Mishara goes down on a knee and slog sweeps this up and over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a huge six.

Pushed through on middle and off, Kusal Mendis punches this through mid off and takes a run.

Quicker one, on middle and off, Kamil Mishara cuts this to deep point for a strike rotation on the first ball of the over.

FOUR! Kusal Mendis is reading Adil Rashid like his favourite book. Short and into the batter, Kusal Mendis was up for it as he rocks back and away and pulls this through the gap around cow corner for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Wrong'un around middle and off, Kusal Mendis reads this well and goes down on a knee. Plays the slog sweep but keeps it ground and hits the gap between deep mid-wicket and wide long on for four.

Flighted around off, Kamil Mishara pushes this down to long off for a run.

Tossed up, on middle and off, Kamil Mishara blocks.

Pushed through on the pads, Kusal Mendis flicks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Flighted on off, Kusal Mendis jams this out.

Hard length, into the batter. Kamil Mishara goes for a flick but misses and gets thud on the front pad.

WIDE! Short and wide down the leg. Wided.

On a length around off, taking pace off it. Kusal Mendis tucks this to the right of mid on and rotates.

Good length on middle and off, Kusal Mendis blocks this out.

Kusal Mendis is the next batter in for Sri Lanka.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Full and wide outside off, Pathum Nissanka chases this and has a go at it away from his body. The ball gets an inside edge that is chopped back onto the stumps. Pathum Nissanka departs after scoring 34 off 22.

Good length around off, Kamil Mishara dabs this gently off his front foot and the batters take one.

Back of a length on off, Pathum Nissanka plays this late and dabs this to third man for a run.

Darted onto the pads, Kamil Mishara bumps this to short fine leg.

Darted on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka works this away for a strike rotation.

Floated into the batter, Pathum Nissanka punches this back to the bowler.

WIDE! Darted down the leg. Wided.

SIX! This has gone the distance. Tossed up, around off, Pathum Nissanka steps a long way across and goes for the slog sweep. Pathum does flick his wrists as he makes contact with the ball and intentionally hits this behind square on leg for a biggie.

Fired into the batter, Kamil Mishara drills this down to long on for a strike rotation.

Short and wide of off, Kamil Mishara cuts this well but straight to point.

Fired onto the pads, Kamil Mishara rolls this down to long on for a run.

FOUR! A boundary after a while. Juicy full toss from Liam Dawson, wide outside off. Kamil Mishara strides towards the flight of the ball, opesn his bat face at the last moment and drives this square on off for four.

Tossed up, going across the batter. Kamil Mishara miscues it to covers.

Pushed through on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka tucks this through square leg for a run.

Quicker one around middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka gets it edged just short of the bowler.

Fired onto the pads, Pathum Nissanka jams this out.

More spin from Harry Brook's England as Liam Dawson is brought into the attack.

Floated across the batter, Pathum Nissanka punches this through mid on for a single. Just 4 off this Will Jacks over.

Darted onto the pads from around the stumps by Will Jacks. The batter goes back and tucks this to the right of the bowler and looks to sneak a run. WJ does well to field this off his own bowling and throw this towards the keeper's end with Pathum Nissanka out of his crease. Pathum Nissanka puts in a dive and makes his ground as confirmed by the replay.

Floated around middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka rocks back and pulls this to the right of the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a couple.

Yorker, wide of off. Pathum Nissanka jams this out.

Tossed up, wide of off, Pathum Nissanka looks to sweep this through square leg but gets it edged onto the pads.

Darted into the batter, Kamil Mishara rocks back and tucks this through mid-wicket for a single.

Will Jacks replaces Sam Curran (1-0-14-0) in the attack.

Hard length on off, Kamil Mishara punches this to mid on and takes a quick run.

SIX! Kamil joins the party that Pathum is hosting so far. Good length on the pads, Kamil Mishara, stays leg side and flicks this right from the middle of his bat and gets the ball to sail over the fence towards deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Good length on middle and off, Kamil Mishara pushes this off the inside of his bat to mid on.

Short and wide of off, Pathum Nissanka cuts this to deep third for a run.

5 WIDES! Jofra Archer bowls at 145 kph but errs in line and bowls it down the leg. Pathum Nissanka leaves it and the ball keeps going away from the keeper. Jos Buttler tries to gather this but the ball races to the fine leg fence for four plus wide.

SIX! That's been picked up and deposited into the stands. On a length around middle and leg, with a hint of inswing on offer. Pathum Nissanka stays leg side and picks it up with a flick. Deposits this over the fence towards the deep square leg region for a biggie.

Jofra starts with a full toss, around the pads. Pathum Nissanka gets it tucked towards the left of Adil Rashid at short fine leg for a couple of runs.

Jofra Archer to operate from the other end.

Hard length on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka dabs this gently towards mid off and races to the other end.

WIDE! On a length down the leg, shaping further down. Pathum Nissanka has a go at it but gets beaten. Wided.

Good length, around off, Pathum Nissanka blocks this out.

FOUR! EVEN BETTER FROM PATHUM! Short and wide outside off, Pathum Nissanka hops up on his toes and cuts this over the backward point region for a boundary. The umpire initially gestured a biggie but the replay confirmed that the ball had landed just inside the fence and then bounced over for four.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries from Pathum and Sam Curran has been put under pressure once again. Full and on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka goes a long way across and ramps this through the short fine leg region for a boundary.

FOUR! Intent from Pathum Nissanka and the ball races to the fence behind the stumps. On a length going across the batter. Pathum Nissanka jumps down the track and has a go at it. Gets it edged off the outside and the ball races to the third man region for four.

We are underway with a dot. Insiwinging delivery from Sam Curran, around middle and off, shaping back into the batter. Pathum Nissanka gets right behind it and keeps it out.

We are all set for the game to begin. Pathum Nissanka has walked out with his partner Kamil Mishara to open for the Lankan side. Sam Curran is set to bowl the first over of this contest.

PITCH REPORT - In his pitch report, Russel Arnold described the conditions as much drier and more pleasant than those of the previous game. Although it is the same surface used for the opener, Arnold noted that it appears fresh and exhibits almost no cracks. He highlighted that the pitch continues to offer variety for all players. Spinners can find turn, batters will be able to hit through the line, and fast bowlers have the opportunity to utilize their tactical variations. He specifically praised England's previous performance for their clinical execution of effective angles and lines. Given that Sri Lanka will be batting first, Arnold concluded that they must aim for a target of approximately 160 to remain competitive in this must-win clash.

Sri Lanka captain - Dasun Shanaka expressed satisfaction at batting first in the second T20I, noting that the used wicket should allow the ball to come onto the bat comfortably during the opening phase. Emphasising the need for clarity on such tracks, he highlighted the importance of using footwork to counter England's spin duo of Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson. The hosts made two tactical changes for the must-win encounter, bringing in Dunith Wellalage and Pavan Rathnayake for Maheesh Theekshana and Dhananjaya de Silva. With the 2026 T20 World Cup on the horizon, Shanaka reiterated that the team is using these final matches to experiment and find a collective rhythm, hoping for a strong performance from the batting unit to level the series.

England captain - Harry Brook opted to bowl first for the second consecutive match, expressing confidence in an unchanged lineup that he believes is perfectly suited to the current conditions and opposition. Reflecting on the series opener, Brook praised his team's ability to adapt under pressure, specifically highlighting how Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid spearheaded a vital comeback after the side struggled for runs early on. By sticking with the same XI, the skipper emphasized a strategy centered on tactical continuity, hoping his bowlers could replicate their previous success by securing early wickets to keep Sri Lanka under pressure.

England (Playing XI) - Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (C), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga.

TOSS - Harry Brook wins the coin flip and he has informed that England will be bowling first. 

Can Sri Lanka bounce back? Entering today’s match, Sri Lanka finds themselves in a quintessential must-win situation. To stay alive in the series and force a decider, the hosts must find a way to counter England’s versatile bowling attack and post a more formidable total. With the home crowd behind them at Pallekele, the pressure is on the Lankan lions to sharpen their execution and prove they can level the series against a confident English side. Toss and team new in a bit. 

Sri Lanka's batting woes - In the rain-shortened opener, the Sri Lankan batters had a tough time against a disciplined English attack. Despite Kusal Mendis top-scoring with 37, the hosts were bowled out for just 133. England’s bowlers were the stars of the show, with Adil Rashid spinning a web around the batters and Sam Curran taking a sensational hat-trick to break the backbone of the innings. The chase was never a problem for the English side, which had a lot of depth and firepower.

A warm welcome to cricket fans! Welcome to our coverage of this high-stakes encounter. As the cricketing world turns its eyes toward the Pallekele International Stadium, the atmosphere is electric. Fans are eager to see if the hosts can turn the tide in this thrilling three-match series. It is a beautiful day for cricket, and we are thrilled to have you with us for what promises to be a decisive clash between two powerhouse nations. 

... MATCHDAY ...

Match intro - The three-match T20I series moves into game two at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. After a rain-affected opener, both sides will be hoping for better weather and a more complete contest this time around. With the World Cup not far away, every outing carries added significance as teams fine-tune combinations and address lingering concerns. Playing spin a concern - Sri Lanka's vulnerability against quality spin remains a major talking point. In the shortened series opener, they found it difficult to get Adil Rashid away and Liam Dawon also to some extent. Their struggles against spin have surfaced repeatedly over the last year, and it is an area that cannot be brushed under the carpet.  Handling spin through the middle overs, rotating strike, and finding safe boundary options will be crucial if Sri Lanka are to be competitive at the global event. To address that issue, even within this series, we could see Kusal Perera come into the side for the second game, as the match-ups against Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid are favourable for him. On the bowling front, much will hinge on the availability and workload management of Dushmantha Chameera. He has been one of Sri Lanka's standout performers in T20Is in recent times and is expected to play a key role at the World Cup. The Sri Lankan think tank has been careful with his workload, which is why he was left out of the ODI squad and also missed the opening T20I. However, he could feature at some point in this series as Sri Lanka look to sharpen their pace attack. Rotation and readiness - England will be pleased with how the first game unfolded. Sam Curran continued his impressive run in the format with a hat-trick, underlining his value as a multi-dimensional option. It was a gamble from the England think tank to play Jofra Archer in a rain-affected match, with the added risk of injuries on a wet outfield, but there were encouraging signs as Archer gradually built up pace and rhythm. With only two games left before the World Cup, England are unlikely to risk him in both remaining matches. Josh Tongue's selection for the World Cup has also generated discussion, given that he is still uncapped in T20I cricket. Tongue could be given an opportunity in the second game, possibly in place of Archer if England choose to rest him. Ben Duckett did not feature after bruising his index finger in the third ODI and was rested for the opening T20I. That opened the door for Tom Banton, who will be keen to make the most of any further chances should Duckett remain sidelined. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - Sri Lanka - LWLLW | England - WWWWW. What to expect? England have now won 9 T20Is in a row against Sri Lanka, with the island nation's last victory in the format coming back in 2014. Rain is once again threatening to play spoilsport on Sunday. Any further interruptions would be far from ideal preparation for either side, especially with the World Cup approaching. Both teams will be keen for a full game to fine-tune combinations and build momentum, rather than have their plans disrupted by the weather yet again.