30/01Result
1st T20I (N), England tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Jan 30 2026
England won by 11 runs (DLS)
Player of the Match
Adil Rashid
Adil RashidEngland
30/01Result
1st T20I (N), England tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Jan 30 2026
England won by 11 runs (DLS)
Player of the Match
Adil Rashid
Adil RashidEngland

END OF OVER:
15 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 125/4 (10 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.33, RRR: 5.00)

  • Harry Brook16 (18b)
  • Sam Curran1 (1b)
  • Dasun Shanaka2-0-12-1
  • Matheesha Pathirana4-0-18-1

11.45pm: Okay, doesn't look like we're getting the presentations, so that's a wrap here. Thanks for keeping us company, from myself, Matt and Sudeep. There'll be more to come from Madushka on the ground, and then it's back to the Pallekele International Stadium for game two on Sunday. G'night!

11.33pm: All over, England win by 11 runs on DLS method. Handshakes among the players by the dressing rooms. It's been a soggy night in Pallekele, but we did at least get some cricket in. Apart from a brief surge at the top of the SL innings, England were always on top and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series

Ach, the rain has returned, and the players are going off. England, by the way, are two 11 runs ahead of the DLS par score off 114. Looks to be pretty heavy, actually. I think that may be that for this one

14.6
1
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, cutter worked into the leg side
14.5
1
Shanaka to Curran, 1 run, fullish from over the wicket, played with a dead straight bat back past the stumps at the other end

Sam Curran the new man

14.4
W
Shanaka to Salt, OUT, Salt departs, slogged to long-on! Another slower ball and he can't get the power required. This one is safely held by the substitute, Wellalage, coming in off the rope

PD Salt c sub (DN Wellalage) b Shanaka 46 (71m 35b 3x4 2x6) SR: 131.42

14.3
1
Shanaka to Brook, 1 run, length ball on off, 105kph/65mph, punched out to the cover sweeper
14.2
2
Shanaka to Brook, 2 runs, pace off into the pitch, Brook nudges into the gap at midwicket for a brace
14.1
0
Shanaka to Brook, no run, slower ball, squirted to short third

Three overs to come, 14 needed by England. Shanaka brings himself back on

END OF OVER:
14 | 5 Runs | ENG: 120/3 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.57, RRR: 5.00)

  • Phil Salt46 (34b)
  • Harry Brook12 (14b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana4-0-18-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-36-0
13.6
0
Pathirana to Salt, no run, another slingy yorker, did it flick the pad? Salt moved across and missed with a swipe to leg. Inside the guideline again, so not a wide. Shanaka seemed to be thinking about a review but doesn't go there in the end
13.5
0
Pathirana to Salt, no run, short with pace off, 130kph/80kmph outside off. Salt lets it go
13.4
0
Pathirana to Salt, no run, speared full down leg, but inside the guideline as Salt moved across
13.3
4
Pathirana to Salt, FOUR, pummelled back down the ground, more pain for the bowler. Full outside off, he's across his stumps and belts it straight, giving long-on no chance
13.2
1
Pathirana to Brook, 1 run, dropped, another dolly put down! Honked in the air but straight to deep cover. Nissanka is the fielder running in, gets both hands to it but massacres the chance and Brook gets a life. He almost had two goes at it

"Salt proving why he is the best in the world," declares Jason, "can fly out the blocks like Abhishek Sharma but also mature enough to put his ego away like this."

13.1
0
Pathirana to Brook, no run, Brooks steps away, Pathirana goes full at the stumps, 144kph/89mph. Drilled to cover

Pathirana also gets a fourth

END OF OVER:
13 | 10 Runs | ENG: 115/3 (20 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.84, RRR: 5.00)

  • Harry Brook11 (12b)
  • Phil Salt42 (30b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-36-0
  • Maheesh Theekshana3-0-31-0
12.6
1
Hasaranga to Brook, 1 run, spinning away in the channel and Brook goes back to haul one more through cow corner
12.5
1
Hasaranga to Salt, 1 run, flattish legbreak, 84kph/52mph and clipped down to long-off
12.4
2
Hasaranga to Salt, 2 runs, worked out wide of long-on and they push hard for two
12.3
1
Hasaranga to Brook, 1 run, beaten in the flight coming down, swishes away from his body and is lucky to see the googly take the inside edge to short fine leg
12.2
4
Hasaranga to Brook, FOUR, Brook gets one away, reversed high over shor third. Not the most convincing connection, but it clears the man in the ring
12.1
1
Hasaranga to Salt, 1 run, spinning away outside off, slapped down to long-off

Hasaranga to bowl out

Match Coverage

All Match News

England 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st36JC ButtlerPD Salt
2nd12PD SaltJG Bethell
3rd39PD SaltT Banton
4th36PD SaltHC Brook
5th2SM CurranHC Brook