England 146/9 vs Sri Lanka: Salt's Lone Battle Falls Short as Spinners Dominate T20 World Cup Super 8
Phil Salt's valiant 62 goes in vain as Dunith Wellalage's 3/26 restricts England to 146/9; Sri Lanka need 147 to win
England's batting vulnerabilities were exposed in the crucial Super 8 opener as they could only muster 146 for 9 in their 20 overs against Sri Lanka at Pallekele on Sunday. While Phil Salt waged a solitary battle with a well-crafted 62 off 40 deliveries, the rest of the English lineup succumbed to the guile of Sri Lanka's spinners, led by Dunith Wellalage's exceptional 3 for 26.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, celebrating his 150th T20I appearance, won the toss and immediately inserted England on a surface offering turn and variable bounce. The decision proved astute as England's top order, despite their recent 3-0 series win at this venue, found the going tough against disciplined spin bowling.
England First Innings Scorecard
| Batter | Dismissal | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phil Salt | c Hemantha b Wellalage | 62 | 40 | 6 | 2 | 155.00 |
| Jos Buttler (c) † | lbw b Wellalage | 7 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Jacob Bethell | c Madushanka b Theekshana | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Tom Banton | run out (Shanaka) | 6 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Harry Brook | lbw b Wellalage | 14 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Sam Curran | c Mishara b Chameera | 11 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Will Jacks | c Wellalage b Madushanka | 21 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Liam Dawson | c Shanaka b Theekshana | 6 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 54.54 |
| Jamie Overton | not out | 10 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Jofra Archer | c Hemantha b Madushanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Adil Rashid | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras (lb 2, w 3) | 5 | |||||
| Total (9 wkts, 20 overs) | 146 | |||||
Sri Lanka Bowling
| Bowler | O | M | R | W | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 26 | 3 | 6.50 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 21 | 2 | 5.25 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 25 | 2 | 6.25 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 8.50 |
| Dushan Hemantha | 4 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 9.50 |
Key Moments of the First Innings
- Powerplay Woes England crawled to 37/2 in the first six overs. Wellalage struck early to remove Buttler (7 off 14) lbw, while Theekshana dismissed Bethell (3 off 4) caught at mid-off.
- Mid-Innings Collapse From 50/2, England lost 3 wickets for 18 runs. Harry Brook (14 off 7) missed a googly from Wellalage, while Tom Banton (6 off 7) was run out by Shanaka's direct hit.
- Salt's Resistance Phil Salt reached his fifty off 36 balls in the 13th over, anchoring the innings with 6 fours and 2 sixes, but lacked support as wickets tumbled.
- Late Order Collapse Dilshan Madushanka struck twice in the 19th over, removing Jacks (21 off 14) and Archer (golden duck). Jamie Overton's unbeaten 10 pushed England to 146/9.
Fall of Wickets
16/1 (Buttler, 3.3 ov) • 37/2 (Bethell, 5.4 ov) • 49/3 (Banton, 7.2 ov) • 68/4 (Brook, 10.1 ov) • 94/5 (Curran, 12.4 ov) • 106/6 (Salt, 14.3 ov) • 130/7 (Dawson, 17.2 ov) • 135/8 (Jacks, 18.5 ov) • 135/9 (Archer, 18.6 ov)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the latest score of England vs Sri Lanka on 22 February 2026?
England scored 146/9 in 20 overs. Sri Lanka need 147 runs to win in the T20 World Cup Super 8 match at Pallekele.
Who is the top scorer for England today?
Phil Salt is the top scorer with 62 runs off 40 balls including 6 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 155.
How many wickets did Dunith Wellalage take today?
Dunith Wellalage took 3 wickets for 26 runs in 4 overs, dismissing Buttler, Brook, and Salt.
What is the target for Sri Lanka to win?
Sri Lanka need 147 runs to win at a required run rate of 7.35 per over.
Where is the England vs Sri Lanka match being played today?
The match is being played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka on February 22, 2026.