Sri Lanka vs England HIGHLIGHTS 2nd T20I: ENG beat SL by 6 wickets (DLS) to clinch series
England chased down 168 runs (DLS target) in another rain curtailed game that gave them an unassailable 2-0 lead on the night.
 "England clinch the T20I series with a 2-0 unassailable lead")
England clinch the T20I series with a 2-0 unassailable lead
England sealed a 6-wicket win in the rain-affected 2nd T20I, securing a 2-0 lead in the 3-match series and clinching the series with a dominant chase of 168 (revised DLS target) in Pallekele.
After a brief rain delay, England’s chase was reduced to 17 overs, and the DLS target was set at 168. Sri Lanka, batting first, posted a competitive total but were restricted by England's bowlers. England's chase was disrupted early by the loss of opener Phil Salt, dismissed by Matheesha Pathirana for just 2 runs in the first over. However, Jos Buttler (39) and Jacob Bethell (13) steadied the ship before Buttler's departure.
England were 51/2 after the powerplay, thanks to an entertaining partnership between Buttler and Bethell, who found the boundary regularly, with Buttler reverse sweeping and driving with authority. The next major partnership came between Tom Banton and Buttler, with Banton playing a crucial role in taking England closer to the target. Banton, in particular, brought up a well-made half-century and played some stylish strokes, including a reverse sweep for a six and several boundaries.
The match took a turn when Wanindu Hasaranga’s bowling spell, though economical, couldn’t stem the flow of runs as Banton continued to dominate. As the required run rate dropped, England continued to pile on runs in the middle overs, and by the 12th over, they needed 51 runs from 30 balls. A flurry of boundaries from Banton and Sam Curran moved England closer to the target.
In a tense moment, Pathirana took the crucial wicket of Brook, but by then, England were in full control. Banton's aggressive 50 ensured the chase was on track, and a few timely boundaries from Curran and Banton sealed the victory with 6 wickets to spare, giving England an unassailable 2-0 series lead.
Sri Lanka vs England 2nd T20: Playing 11
England Playing 11: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler(w), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook(c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid
Sri Lanka Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Charith Asalanka, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
11:33 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG clinch the T20I series!
England win the rain curtailed encounter by 6 wickets as Banton's half century helps England clinch the 3-match series by chasing down 168 (DLS target) with an unassailable 2-0 lead on the night in Pallekele.
11:23 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: 50 for Banton!
Banton gets his half century as England only need 11 runs in the final 2 overs now.
11:19 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG need 19 runs to win from 18 balls!
In the 14th over, Wanindu Hasaranga bowled a costly spell, conceding 17 runs. The over began with Banton hitting a full delivery on leg stump to deep mid-wicket for a single. Hasaranga followed up with a wide outside off, which Banton left alone.
Then, a misfield at short third allowed Banton's poke at a legbreak to race to the boundary, adding four runs. Another wide followed, this time a googly slipping down leg.
Sam Curran then punched a googly to sweeper cover for a single, before pulling a short delivery through mid-wicket for four. Banton ended the over with a powerful pull through extra cover for another boundary, showcasing great timing and strength.
Then, a misfield at short third allowed Banton's poke at a legbreak to race to the boundary, adding four runs. Another wide followed, this time a googly slipping down leg.
Sam Curran then punched a googly to sweeper cover for a single, before pulling a short delivery through mid-wicket for four. Banton ended the over with a powerful pull through extra cover for another boundary, showcasing great timing and strength.
11:10 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Brook departs!
Pathirana gets the wicket of skipper Brook after he smashed for 2 back-to-back sixes. ENG lose their 4th wicket.
11:06 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG need 51 to win from 30 balls!
In the 12th over, Wanindu Hasaranga conceded 10 runs. Brook began with a single to deep mid-wicket. Banton followed with a single as well, making room to slap the flatter delivery to long-on.
Brook continued his good form, driving another delivery to the right of long-on for another single. On the fourth ball, Brook capitalized on a short delivery from Hasaranga, pulling it powerfully over mid-wicket for a massive six.
Banton then played a quick single to long-on, completing the over with 10 runs. Despite the strong hitting, Hasaranga kept his composure, finishing with a tidy over.
Brook continued his good form, driving another delivery to the right of long-on for another single. On the fourth ball, Brook capitalized on a short delivery from Hasaranga, pulling it powerfully over mid-wicket for a massive six.
Banton then played a quick single to long-on, completing the over with 10 runs. Despite the strong hitting, Hasaranga kept his composure, finishing with a tidy over.
11:03 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG need 61 runs to win from 36 balls!
In the 11th over, England scored 14 runs off Matheesha Pathirana. The over started with Brook driving a full delivery for a quick single. Banton followed with a single as well, and Brook then received a wide delivery, which was ruled as a bumper too high.
Brook responded with a powerful drive to backward point for four. On the next ball, he launched a shot over long-off for a huge six.
Banton then played a toe-ended drive to long-on for a single. The over concluded with Brook getting a wide delivery, but Pathirana had already conceded 14 runs.
Brook responded with a powerful drive to backward point for four. On the next ball, he launched a shot over long-off for a huge six.
Banton then played a toe-ended drive to long-on for a single. The over concluded with Brook getting a wide delivery, but Pathirana had already conceded 14 runs.
10:53 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Wellalage gets Buttler!
buttler departs on 39 as he is caught down the gorund courtesy of a Wellalage delivery
10:51 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG need 87 runs to win from 48 balls!
In the 9th over, England added 12 runs off Hasaranga’s bowling. Buttler worked a ball to deep square leg for a single, and Banton followed with a quick single to long-off. Banton then launched a full delivery from Hasaranga for a massive six over deep mid-wicket, nearly sending it out of the stadium.
Buttler then got a thick leading edge to short third for one, and followed it with a powerful shot to deep mid-wicket for a couple. The over concluded with Banton hitting a reverse sweep to deep backward point for a single, keeping the momentum going.
Buttler then got a thick leading edge to short third for one, and followed it with a powerful shot to deep mid-wicket for a couple. The over concluded with Banton hitting a reverse sweep to deep backward point for a single, keeping the momentum going.
10:45 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: ENG need 99 runs to win from 54 balls!
In the 8th over, England added 13 runs. Buttler struck a boundary to deep square leg off Liyanage's delivery. Banton then forced a high full toss from Liyanage to long-on for a single. Banton followed up with a thick outside edge off a slower full ball for another four past short third. Buttler then miscued a slower full delivery to long-off for a single.
In an unexpected moment, Eshan Malinga delivered a high full toss to Banton but immediately tumbled to the ground with a possible shoulder injury, leading to the physio’s intervention. Liyanage then took over from Malinga.
In an unexpected moment, Eshan Malinga delivered a high full toss to Banton but immediately tumbled to the ground with a possible shoulder injury, leading to the physio’s intervention. Liyanage then took over from Malinga.
10:42 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Malinga walks off!
Malinga walks off as he appears to have dislocated his shoulder
10:41 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Play resumes!
The play has resumed but another stoppage this time as Eshan Malinga looks in some pain after bowling the first delivery that also turned out to be above waist no ball.
10:32 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Revised conditions!
England's revised DLS target is set at 168, with play scheduled to resume at 22:40 local time.
10:29 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Covers removed!
The covers are off the ground as the game might be reduced to 17 overs now.
10:22 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Rain stops!
There is no rain at the ground now but the ground staff are at work to make the ground ready as soon as possible for resumption.
10:12 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 2nd T20I: Drizzling returns!
While the covers were being removed, drizzle has returned in Pallekele now with more delay expected now.
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First Published: Feb 01 2026 | 5:57 PM IST