Sri Lanka will face England in the 2nd ODI of the three-match series on January 24, 2026, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Sri Lanka leads the series 1-0 after winning the opener by 19 runs on January 22. England needs to win this match to stay alive in the series.
Sri Lanka were brilliant in all departments in the first ODI. Kusal Mendis scored a superb 93* to anchor the innings, while their spinners – Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Charith Asalanka – shared six wickets between them to choke England’s chase. England’s Ben Duckett (62) and Joe Root (61) put on a 117-run partnership, but five wickets fell for 35 runs as they collapsed against spin. Jamie Overton’s late cameo (34 off 17) gave England hope, but it wasn’t enough.
This article gives you a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this crucial ODI clash.
Sri Lanka vs England Match 2 Preview
R. Premadasa Stadium (Khettarama) in Colombo will host the 2nd ODI. The game starts at 2:30 PM IST (9:00 AM UK).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI |
| Date | 24 January 2026 |
| Time | 2:30 PM IST / 9:00 AM UK |
| Venue | R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Series | England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 |
Context: Sri Lanka leads the series 1-0 and is looking to seal the series with a game to spare. England are desperate to bounce back after their fourth consecutive ODI defeat. This is England’s sixth loss from their last seven ODIs, continuing their struggles in the format. Both teams are preparing for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in February.
Series Standings:
| Team | Matches | Won | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sri Lanka | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| England | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Spin-friendly, slow turner |
| Average Score (ODI) | 231 runs |
| Favors | Spinners, especially in the middle overs |
| Surface | Dry track offers grip and turn as the match progresses |
| Boundaries | Square: 63-67m, Straight: 71-80m |
| Toss Factor | Teams batting first have 55% win rate at this venue |
The R. Premadasa Stadium is historically known as a spinner’s paradise. The pitch offers significant grip and turn as the match progresses. In the 1st ODI, Sri Lanka’s four spinners shared 6 wickets between them, choking England’s run chase completely. With specialist spinners like Adil Rashid and Wanindu Hasaranga/Dunith Wellalage in the mix, the middle overs will be a battle of attrition.
Chasing becomes difficult under lights as the surface slows down and the ball begins to “stick” in the pitch. Teams batting first have historically done better at this venue.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 28-30°C |
| Humidity | 75-85% |
| Wind Speed | Light |
| Rain Chance | Possible afternoon showers (typical for Colombo in January) |
| Dew | Expected later in the evening |
Toss Prediction
Winning the toss will be crucial. Based on the conditions at Khettarama and the 1st ODI result, batting first appears to be the better option. The pitch slows down under lights, making chasing difficult.
The captain who wins the toss will likely elect to bat first.
Team News & Injury Updates
Sri Lanka: Charith Asalanka (C): Led the team well in the 1st ODI, also picked up a key wicket (Jacob Bethell). Kusal Mendis: Man of the moment after his unbeaten 93 in the 1st ODI. Key player with both bat and gloves. Dunith Wellalage: Player of the Match in 1st ODI – scored 25 off 12 balls, took 2/41, and took two crucial catches. Wanindu Hasaranga: May return to the XI after being rested/unavailable in the opener. Dushmantha Chameera: Rested for the heavy T20I schedule coming up. Sri Lanka is likely to go with the winning combination from 1st ODI.
England: Will Jacks: Missed the 1st ODI due to illness. Rehan Ahmed replaced him. Could return if fit. Zak Crawley: Made just 6 in his first ODI since December 2023. Under pressure. Harry Brook (Captain): Poor form continues – scored just 6, got stumped. Under immense pressure. Jos Buttler: Struggled with 11 off 20 balls, was bowled. Needs to step up. Jamie Overton: Star performer with 34 off 17 balls at the death. England’s best performer. England may look to make changes to counter spin better.
Dream11 Team For Sri Lanka vs England
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records
Sri Lanka and England share one of the most evenly contested rivalries in ODI cricket.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total ODI Matches | 80 |
| England Wins | 38 |
| Sri Lanka Wins | 38 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 3 |
The head-to-head is perfectly level at 38-38. However, Sri Lanka has the home advantage and now leads 1-0 in this series. England have lost 6 of their last 7 ODIs and are struggling badly in this format. Sri Lanka bounced back from three defeats to Pakistan in November with this victory.
Last Five ODI Meetings:
- Sri Lanka won by 19 runs, 22-Jan-2026
- Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets (with 146 balls remaining) 26-Oct-2023
- No result 04-Jul-2021
- England won by 8 wickets (with 42 balls remaining) 01-Jul-2021
- England won by 5 wickets (with 91 balls remaining) 29-Jun-2021
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Reason |
|---|---|
| Kusal Mendis (SL) | Unbeaten 93 in 1st ODI, anchored the innings, key wicketkeeper-batter |
| Dunith Wellalage (SL) | Player of the Match in 1st ODI – 25 runs, 2 wickets, 2 catches. Game-changer |
| Adil Rashid (ENG) | Best England bowler with 3/44 in 1st ODI, 238 ODI wickets, experienced leggie |
| Joe Root (ENG) | Scored 61 in 1st ODI, averages 48 in ODIs, one of the best in the format |
| Ben Duckett (ENG) | Top-scored with 62 in the 1st ODI, key to England’s top-order stability |
| Jeffrey Vandersay (SL) | Took 2/39 in 1st ODI, key wickets of Root and Duckett on a turning track |
| Jamie Overton (ENG) | Explosive 34 off 17 at the death, can change games with bat and ball |
| Charith Asalanka (SL) | Captain took key wicket of Bethell, can bat and bowl off-spin |
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