When Sri Lanka takes on England in the second ODI of the ongoing three-match series on Saturday, January 24, it will aim to maintain its early momentum. This match was played at Colombo’s R. It will be played at the Premadasa Stadium, where the host team will enter the competition after winning the opening ODI.
Sri Lanka started the ODI series with a 19-run win over England in Colombo on Thursday. After electing to bat first, the hosts scored 271 runs for 6 wickets with the help of Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 93 runs. England struggled despite a late push from Jamie Overton and R. All out for 252 runs in 49.2 overs at Premadasa Stadium.
This article provides a detailed preview of SL vs ENG 2nd ODI, including free live streaming details, pitch and weather report, head-to-head records and key stats.
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI Preview:
Date and Place:
The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the second ODI of the series between Sri Lanka and England on Saturday, January 24.
Sri Lanka vs England Teams:
Sri Lanka team: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjay de Silva, Charith Asalanka (captain), Kamindu Mendis, Zenith Liyange, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahesh Theekshana, Ishan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Velalej, Pawan Rathnayake, Milan Priyanath. Rathnayake, Sadira Samarawickrama
England squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (w), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Brydon Carse, Tom Banton, Rehan Ahmed.
SL vs England Probable XI:
England’s playing eleven: Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Sri Lanka’s playing eleven: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Dhananjay de Silva, Charith Asalanka (captain), Zenith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Velalage, Pramod Madushan, Mahesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI Key Matches:
Wanindu Hasaranga vs Joe Root
Wanindu Hasaranga is the “trump card” for the hosts, especially dangerous on home soil where his variations are lethal. With 111 wickets in 68 ODIs, he will be looking for big wickets.
Joe Root is England’s all-time leading run-scorer (7391 runs). Root is known for playing spin brilliantly and using sweep shots to spoil the rhythm. If Root gets settled, he may be “unlucky”, but if Hasaranga nets early, England’s spine could be broken.
Mahesh Theekshana vs Ben Duckett
Ben Duckett will aim to “beat the home team right from the start” with his attacking play. However, their attacking intent will be tested by the moves of Mahesh Theekshana.
With 79 wickets at an average of 28.03, Theekshana’s powerplay and mysterious spin in the middle overs is designed to trouble stroke-makers. Duckett will try to hit over the top, while Theekshana will hunt for mistimed slices.
Charit Asalanka vs Adil Rashid
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka is a strong opponent who controls the middle order and looks to command the innings.
He is likely to face Adil Rashid, England’s main spinner with 235 wickets. Rashid often breaks partnerships in the middle overs. Asalanka’s skill in reading googly and rotating the strike will be crucial if Sri Lanka is to set or chase a big target.
Zenith Liangz vs Sam Curran
Zenith Liyanage has emerged as a reliable finisher for Sri Lanka, with an impressive average of over 45 and the ability to provide the “finishing touch”. He will face the death bowling skills of Sam Curran.
Curran arrives with confidence from his ILT20 and BBL stints, offering angle and variety of left-arm pace. Lianeze will look to launch him into the stands, while Curran will aim to trouble him with yorkers and cutters.
Key players of Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI:
Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mahesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
England – Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid
SL vs ENG 2nd ODI – Free Live Streaming & Telecast Details
TV broadcasting in India: The 2nd ODI match between Sri Lanka and England will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network across India.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans can watch the match live on SonyLIV and FanCode app and website. An active subscription may be required.
Match date: The second ODI match will be played on Saturday 24 January.
venue: This match will be held at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
How to watch on television: Viewers can watch Sony Sports Network channel for live telecast of SL vs ENG 2nd ODI.
How to watch online on mobile and web: The live streaming will be available on mobile devices and web browsers through SonyLIV and FanCode platforms.
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI Weather & Pitch Report – Colombo
SL vs ENG: Weather report in Colombo:
The weather in Colombo is expected to be favorable for cricket for the second ODI. It is expected to be mostly sunny, with daytime temperatures around 32 °C, making R. Warm playing conditions will be available at the Premadasa Stadium.
There is no rain forecast on the match day, reducing the chances of disruption. With clear skies expected, fans can expect a full-fledged competition without weather-related delays.
R. Sri Lanka vs England pitch report at Premadasa Stadium:
Hopefully R. The pitch at Premadasa Stadium will return to the same condition before the match goes ahead. With good bounce on the surface, batsmen can score freely in the beginning.
However, black clay wickets become slower over time, allowing for increased grip and turn as well as play for the spinners, especially during the middle overs. Due to limited swing or seam movement, the fast bowlers are unlikely to get much help, especially in day-night matches.
As pitches deteriorate, spin becomes the main factor, making team selection important. Both sides are likely to rely heavily on spinners, with Sri Lanka having a slight edge due to familiarity with home conditions and the surface.
SL vs England Head-to-Head Records
| statistics | Matchbox | won sl | England won | Drag | Tied up | N.R. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| overall | 80 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| in sri lanka | 27 | 17 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| last 5 odi | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
SL vs ENG head-to-head record: key stats
According to ESPNcricinfo, Sri Lanka and England have played each other 80 times in ODIs, with the rivalry evenly balanced. Both the teams have won 38-38 matches, while one game was tied and three had no result.
The two sides have faced each other 27 times in matches played in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka has the upper hand at home with 17 wins, while England has won nine matches. A match on Lankan soil ended without any result.
R. At the Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka have been particularly dominant. The teams have met each other there 11 times, in which Sri Lanka has won 10 matches and England has managed only one win.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records: Last 5 Matches
Sri Lanka has had more success in recent ODI matches against England. In the first ODI of the ongoing series, they defended their score at home in Colombo and won by 19 runs.
Before the current series, Sri Lanka had defeated England by eight wickets while chasing a small target in the 2023 World Cup in Bengaluru.
Series in England during 2021. England dominated the first two matches and took control early in the series. In the second ODI, England won the series by eight wickets.
England won the first ODI by five wickets after successfully chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 185 runs. There was no result in the third ODI of that 2021 series, as the match ended early due to rain.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Record – Last 5 Matches Results:
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Sri Lanka won by 19 runs in Colombo on 22 January 2026
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Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets in Bengaluru on 26 October 2023
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No results in Bristol on 4 July 2021
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England won by 8 wickets at The Oval on 1 July 2021
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England won by 5 wickets at Chester-le-Street on June 29, 2021
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI – Conclusion:
During the second ODI between Sri Lanka and England, teams may prefer to bat first and score a competitive total, as R. Scoreboard pressure could play an important role at the Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka will look to continue their positive start to the series and continue their disciplined approach with both bat and ball, especially during the middle overs, where conditions could be spin-friendly.
Sri Lanka has a slight advantage after winning the initial match and playing on home ground. However, they have enough experience and depth to bounce back if England execute their plans well.
Both teams enter this series after tough performances in their previous ODI matches in November 2025. England suffered a heavy defeat against New Zealand, while Sri Lanka had to go through a tough series where they were completely defeated by Pakistan.
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