It will be the last One Day International match between Sri Lanka and England (SL vs ENG) ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, and the series is hanging in the balance with a 1-1 scoreline, as both of the teams have won one match each so far in the 3-match contest. Ahead of the 2026 World Cup, both of the teams will put their best to conclude the series on a positive note, which will be helpful to boost the confidence of the players.
England started off the series with a surprising defeat. Sri Lanka won the first ODI by 19 runs by scoring 271 runs for 6 wickets in the first innings. In the following game, the hosts managed to score only 219 runs, which caused them a brutal defeat against the visitors. England won the 2nd ODI by 5 wickets and 22 balls to spare. The team which will win the third match will claim the ODI series as well.
This article provides a detailed preview of the SL vs ENG third ODI, covering free live streaming details, pitch and weather reports, head-to-head records, and key stats.
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SL vs ENG 3rd ODI Preview:
Date and Venue:
The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the third and final match of the series between Sri Lanka and England on Tuesday, January 25.
SL vs ENG Squads:
Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Pramod Madushan, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, and Sadeera Samarawickrama.
England Squad: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (w), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood, Brydon Carse, Tom Banton, and Rehan Ahmed.
SL vs ENG Probable XIs:
England Playing XI: Tom Banton Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, and Maheesh Theekshana.
SL vs ENG 3rd ODI Key Battles:
Dhananjaya de Silva vs Ben Duckett:
The opening pair of the England cricket team is in a bit of an unstable stage. Though Ben Duckett has been performing well in the series. The opener has scored 62 and 39 runs in the first and second matches, respectively. For the home team, it was Dhananjaya de Silva, who looked promising both with the ball and with the bat. The all-rounder can cause serious damage to the England batting side if he finds his rhythm at the correct moment. Silva can be the trump card for the hosts in the third ODI match.
Joe Root vs Asitha Fernando:
If we consider Dhananjaya de Silva as the trump card for the Sri Lanka cricket team, then it has to be Joe Root who can shift the momentum of the third match for England at any moment, under any circumstances. If the surface in Colombo acts a little bit slow, then it can test the batter’s patience and techniques heavily. As Root mainly depends on his skills and a calm mindset, he can do the needful. On the other side, Asitha Fernando has emerged as one of the most consistent bowlers for the team. He picked up wickets in the previous two matches as well.
Charith Asalanka vs Adil Rashid:
Skipper Charith Asalanka is one of the main cogs of the Sri Lankan batting line-up. The batter can control the pace of the game, which makes him a crucial factor of the match. As he comes to bat mainly as a middle-order batter, he is likely to face England’s experienced spinner Adil Rashid. Rashid, who has 235 ODI wickets in the bag, has mastered the technique of breaking partnerships.
Janith Liyanage vs Sam Curran
Nowadays, limited-overs matches are often decided by the finishers. And Sri Lanka has their own finisher in the form of Janith Liyanage. He can add some valuable runs as a lower-order batter. Same for Sam Curran. The England all-rounder is capable of playing major knocks and can also take wickets with his seam bowling. England skipper Harry Brook would love to see some toe-breaking yorkers and cutters from Curran.
SL vs ENG 3rd ODI Key Players:
Sri Lanka – Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando.
England – Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid.
SL vs ENG 3rd ODI – Free Live Streaming and Telecast Details
TV Broadcast in India: The SL vs ENG 3rd ODI will be broadcast live across India on the Sony Sports Network.
Online Live Streaming in India: Fans who want to watch the match through online platforms should keep an eye on the SonyLIV and FanCode apps and websites. An active subscription may be required.
Match Date: The second ODI will be played on Saturday, January 24.
Venue: The R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the SL vs ENG 3rd match.
How to Watch on Television: If you want to see the match on a TV screen, then you have to turn on Sony Sports Network channels for the live telecast.
How to Watch Online on Mobile and Web: Live streaming will be available via the SonyLIV and FanCode platforms on mobile devices and web browsers.
SL vs ENG: Weather Report in Colombo:
On the match day, the weather in Colombo can be wet, as there is a forecast for a significant amount of rain along with heavy thunderstorms during the early hours of the match. The weather is expected to improve before the match. But clouds can be there over the stadium.
SL vs ENG Pitch Report at R. Premadasa Stadium:
The pitch at the R. Premadasa Stadium is expected to be on the slower side, which can make batters’ tasks difficult. Because of the pitch, the toss can also take a crucial role in deciding the winner of the match. Because of the heavy weather, pacers can also deliver some fiery overs during the initial stage of the match.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records
|
Stats |
Matches |
SL Won |
ENG Won |
Draw |
Tied |
NR |
|
Overall |
81 |
38 |
39 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
|
In Sri Lanka |
27 |
17 |
9 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Last 5 ODIs |
5 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records: Key Statistics
After playing the 2nd match of the series, these two teams faced each other in the format 81 times. England has the slight advantage over Sri Lanka, as they have claimed 39 wins, while Sri Lanka has been victorious on 38 occasions.
Like the overall stats, the all-time ODI stats between Sri Lanka and England also look almost similar, as in the previous 5 occasions, both of the teams have claimed 2 wins each with one no result.
At the R. Premadasa Stadium, Sri Lanka has the advantage by a huge margin. The teams have faced off there 12 times, with Sri Lanka winning 10 matches and England managing just two victories.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records: The Last 5 Matches
If we talk about the last five matches between these two teams, they have the same number of wins against each other. Both Sri Lanka and England got victories twice over their recent 5 encounters, with one match without a result.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records – Result of the last 5 games:
- England won by 5 wickets in Colombo on January 24, 2026.
- Sri Lanka won by 19 runs in Colombo on January 22, 2026.
- Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets in Bengaluru on October 26, 2023.
- No Result in Bristol on July 4, 2021
- England won by 8 wickets at The Oval on July 1, 2021.
SL vs ENG 2nd ODI – Conclusion:
The toss, the weather, and the nature of the pitch – all of these factors can make the contest more entertaining for the cricket fans. It will be interesting to see how the weather in the morning remains. In the later hours of the day, too, the weather could have an impact on the patch. Usually, the deck in Colombo is known for its spin-friendly nature and slow pace. It is not among those grounds where batters used to enjoy a good pace on the pitch.
There is no doubt that the match is going to be very exciting, as a total of 22 players will be brawling for a win. Sri Lanka, as the home team, knows the ground very well, but the recent stats are not reflecting that. According to the stats, both of the teams have also had the same number of wins in recent times, as well as overall.
Read More: Sri Lanka Playing XI vs England Playing XI – 3rd ODI, England tour of Sri Lanka 2026
