T20 World Cup match preview | Sri Lanka-England face-off set to be a middle-overs tussle

Having endured an underwhelming run through the group stage, England will be rubbing its hands at the prospect of facing an injury-ridden Sri Lanka in its T20 World Cup Super Eight opener at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (February 22, 2026).

Already bruised by the upset against Zimbabwe, the horrors of a 0-3 sweep at the hands of England at the same venue just days before this World Cup will be a psychological double whammy for Sri Lanka.

England was bailed out by Sam Curran’s death bowling against Nepal and Italy, and lost to the West Indies.

But the next round could be the perfect occasion to align with its strengths once more.

Swashbuckling tee-offs from Phil Salt and Jos Buttler had been central to England’s T20 renaissance under Harry Brook in the last year. In this tournament, neither averages more than 15. If the duo survives Sri Lanka’s early spin barrage, England will thrive.

England’s middle-order has chipped in but its scoring rate has taken a hit in the absence of a launch pad.

Between the seventh and 15th overs, England has scored at just 7.77 per over, often leaving Will Jacks on his own to muster up a concluding flourish.

Sri Lanka’s middle-order has been caught up in a similar rut. It scored just 66 runs between seventh and 16th overs against Zimbabwe, which sapped the momentum out of its innings.

Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis have compensated at the death, hitting at strike rates of 200 and 225, respectively.

But doing so would be difficult against Curran, whose melange of cutters and variations have shrunk the hitting arcs of batters this World Cup.

He has conceded at just 8.25 per over at the death and picked three wickets.