The 2022 champions defeated hosts Sri Lanka in Palekele by conceding just 95 goals.
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Published February 22, 2026
Will Jacks used bat and ball to rescue England from a poor start to a 51-run victory over Sri Lanka in a low-scoring Super Eight match at the Twenty20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, appeared to be on track on Sunday as they held England to a below-par 146-9 in their Group 2 match at the Palekele International Cricket Stadium.
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Jacks scored 21 useful runs at the bottom of the order and rallied to 3-22 as England beat Sri Lanka for an inside 95 in 17 overs.
“It motivates me to come into the game and perform better,” said Most Valuable Player Jacks.
“Bowling in the power play is something I’ve done a lot, so it’s not new to me.”
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka opted to field after winning the toss, but had reason to feel vindicated as England were slumping at 68-4 at half-time in the innings.
Jos Buttler’s 14-ball struggle ended with him attempting a reverse shot against spinner Danis Wellerage but missing the ball and being trapped LBW for seven times after the ball hit his pad.
Spinner Mahesh Teekshana dismissed the in-form Jacob Bethel for three, while Tom Banton was on his way to a dangerous single when he was succumbed to Shanaka’s direct throw from mid-off.
Harry Brook scored 14 points before Wellerage dismissed him LBW, a decision the England captain contested but could not overturn.
Phil Salt, 62, raced to a 36-ball fifty but holed out in the 15th over, giving Wellerage his third wicket of the match.
Jacks added a goal late on, but England fell short of 150 points.
Sri Lanka falls in pursuit
England needed a brave bowling effort and produced one to reduce Sri Lanka to 22-4 within five overs.
The Jacks left Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake out of consecutive games after Jofra Archer dismissed Sri Lanka’s in-form opener Pathum Nissanka.
Sri Lanka slumped to 34-5 after Archer removed Kamil Mishara and Wellerage became Jacks’ third victim.
The host team could not fully recover, with several frontline batsmen suffering soft dismissals.
Dushyant Hemanta’s bizarre hit-wicket dismissal meant Sri Lankan batsmen were dismissed for a total of five times.
Shanaka bravely scored 30 points, but Jacks relayed a deep catch to remove the Sri Lankan captain, effectively sealing England’s victory.
