Sri Lanka vs England HIGHLIGHTS 1st T20: ENG win rain curtailed tie by 11 runs (DLS) in Pallekele
England win the 1st T20I by 11 runs due to the DLS method and take a 1-0 lead in the series.
 "SL vs ENG 1st T20I ends in the favour of England")
SL vs ENG 1st T20I ends in the favour of England
In a rain-affected encounter, England emerged victorious by 11 runs against Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. The match was decided under the DLS method, with England’s score of 125/4 from 14 overs proving enough to chase Sri Lanka’s target of 134, despite the interruption.
The match started with England in chase of 134, and Philip Salt was the standout performer with a blazing 46 runs off 34 balls. Salt was aggressive from the start, smashing a six off the first ball he faced and adding 14 runs off Maheesh Theekshana’s first over. His confident stroke play included a brilliant six over square leg and four boundaries through the offside. He looked set for a half-century but was dismissed by Dasun Shanaka, caught down the ground for 46, breaking the rapid partnership.
However, England's chase suffered a slight hiccup with Jos Buttler falling for 17 runs, bowled by Eshan Malinga, after a brief yet explosive cameo that included four boundaries. His departure triggered a mini-collapse as Tom Banton also fell for 7, leaving England at 60/2. Despite these setbacks, Harry Brook and Salt kept the score ticking along, until rain halted the match.
With 9 runs needed from 12 balls, the game was nearly decided, with England ahead on DLS.. Sri Lanka had no way to catch up, and as the rain continued, the match was called off, giving England the win by 11 runs under the DLS method.
England’s run chase, led by Salt’s brilliance and solid contributions from Buttler and Brook, ensured they comfortably took control of the match, despite the rain delays.
Sri Lanka vs England 1st T20: Playing 11
Sri Lanka Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
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
11:34 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: England win by 11 runs (DLS)
England have taken a 1-0 lead in the T20I series against Sri Lanka as rain interrupts the play again and England win the tie by 11 runs due to being ahead on DLS.
11:29 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Play stopped due to rain!
The rain returns as England need 9 runs in 12 deliveries. With the DLS target being 123 and England currently on 125.4 the win is almost certin for England tonight now.
11:24 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Salt misses out on his fifty!
Salt departs on 46 as he is caught down the ground with Shanaka taking his first wicket on the night.
11:21 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Fifty approaching for Salt!
Salt's looking to accelerate now, finding the boundary with a crisp drive down the ground past long-on. Pathirana has been attempting to mix up his pace but has struggled to find consistent success in this over.
Salt, nearing his half-century, will be key in pushing the score further. Brook, on the other hand, needs to get going if England are to finish with a flourish.
Salt, nearing his half-century, will be key in pushing the score further. Brook, on the other hand, needs to get going if England are to finish with a flourish.
11:13 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG need 29 runs from 30 balls!
Salt is in fine touch, dispatching a full delivery over square leg for six with a smooth whip of the wrists.
He looks to be in control, but Brook has been unable to get going, struggling against Theekshana's flight and turn. Salt and Brook continue to rotate the strike, but with a slight slowing down of the run rate, England will need to accelerate soon if they are to reach their target comfortably.
He looks to be in control, but Brook has been unable to get going, struggling against Theekshana's flight and turn. Salt and Brook continue to rotate the strike, but with a slight slowing down of the run rate, England will need to accelerate soon if they are to reach their target comfortably.
11:09 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG need 37 runs in 36 balls!
Hasaranga continues his spell but has struggled to break through.
Brook is beaten by a googly, and the pressure is building as England's run rate slows slightly. Salt, however, is still finding a way to rotate the strike with a couple of quick singles, including a neat flick through midwicket for two.
England will look to accelerate in the next few overs as the pressure continues to mount with wickets in hand.
Brook is beaten by a googly, and the pressure is building as England's run rate slows slightly. Salt, however, is still finding a way to rotate the strike with a couple of quick singles, including a neat flick through midwicket for two.
England will look to accelerate in the next few overs as the pressure continues to mount with wickets in hand.
10:59 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Banton departs!
England lose their 3rd wicket as Pathirana takes his 1st wicket of the night.
10:56 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG 86/2 after 9 overs!
Theekshana continues his spell, but the boundaries keep flowing for England.
Tom Banton steps up with a delightful off-break delivery, punching it over cover for a boundary, and the runs keep coming with singles from both batters. A misfield at cover gifts a free run to Salt, and England are looking comfortable at this stage.
The pair are building a solid partnership, keeping the scoreboard ticking as they approach the halfway mark of the innings.
Tom Banton steps up with a delightful off-break delivery, punching it over cover for a boundary, and the runs keep coming with singles from both batters. A misfield at cover gifts a free run to Salt, and England are looking comfortable at this stage.
The pair are building a solid partnership, keeping the scoreboard ticking as they approach the halfway mark of the innings.
10:49 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG 60/2 after 7 overs!
Shanaka keeps it tight, but Tom Banton gets a bit of width in the 6th over and slashes it past third man for a boundary.
He follows that with a quick single, working the ball into the off-side, while Salt adds another run with a crisp drive to sweeper cover.
He follows that with a quick single, working the ball into the off-side, while Salt adds another run with a crisp drive to sweeper cover.
Shanaka's tight line and length continue to challenge the batters, but Banton’s boundary gives England some momentum in the powerplay. The partnership is slowly starting to build.
10:38 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Malinga strikes again!
Eshan Malinga gets Bethell's wicket as he is caught at deep square. ENG lose their 2nd wicket within 6 overs!
10:34 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG 41/1 after 4 overs!
Pathirana continues to bowl tightly, putting pressure on Jacob Bethell. He starts with a sequence of deliveries beating the bat with pace and precision, including a brilliant Yorker that Bethell barely manages to squeeze out.
The Sri Lankan team opts for a review on a potential front-foot no-ball, but the UltraEdge confirms it was a clean bat touch, and they lose their review.
The Sri Lankan team opts for a review on a potential front-foot no-ball, but the UltraEdge confirms it was a clean bat touch, and they lose their review.
Bethell responds by finding the boundary, a lovely half-volley driven through the point region for four.
England remains steady but will need to accelerate soon as the Sri Lankan bowlers are keeping them in check.
10:29 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG 37/1 after 3 overs!
Eshan Malinga strikes with the big wicket of Jos Buttler who was looking dangerous. Buttler misses the slower delivery completely and is bowled out for 17 (10), with 4 boundaries to his name.
Malinga’s successful strike ends a flurry of boundaries, as Buttler had just hit 4 fours in the previous balls of the over, including a streaky edge and some brilliant placements.
Malinga’s successful strike ends a flurry of boundaries, as Buttler had just hit 4 fours in the previous balls of the over, including a streaky edge and some brilliant placements.
Jacob Bethell now comes to the crease, looking to settle in quickly after Buttler's departure. England has already lost one wicket, and they need to keep their momentum going as they move into the middle overs.
10:26 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Malinga strikes!
Malinga gets the breakthrough as Jos Buttler departs on 17 runs.
10:22 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: ENG 20/0 after 2 overs!
Matheesha Pathirana bowls a tight over with a couple of dots, but Buttler manages to get off strike with a single to deep point. Salt, still looking dangerous, faces a few deliveries but is unable to add more runs in this over.
There’s a wide in the over, and England have slowed slightly after the explosive start.
However, with the powerplay still in play, they're on track to score 60-plus if they continue attacking. Pathirana's pace will be key to containing this aggressive England lineup.
There’s a wide in the over, and England have slowed slightly after the explosive start.
However, with the powerplay still in play, they're on track to score 60-plus if they continue attacking. Pathirana's pace will be key to containing this aggressive England lineup.
10:15 PM
Sri Lanka vs England LIVE SCORE UPDATES 1st T20I: Salt strikes from Ball 1!
A blistering start for England as Philip Salt hits a big six followed by two consecutive boundaries off Maheesh Theekshana.
Salt took full advantage of a short and wide delivery, cutting it past backward point and flicking one past short fine leg.
He’s off to a rapid start, taking 14 runs off the first over. Jos Buttler is yet to face a ball, but Salt's aggressive start has set the tone for England's chase of 134.
Salt took full advantage of a short and wide delivery, cutting it past backward point and flicking one past short fine leg.
He’s off to a rapid start, taking 14 runs off the first over. Jos Buttler is yet to face a ball, but Salt's aggressive start has set the tone for England's chase of 134.
Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel
First Published: Jan 30 2026 | 5:58 PM IST