Sri Lanka will face England in the 3rd and final ODI of the England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 on January 27, 2026, at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This series decider will determine who wins the three-match ODI series.
The series is level at 1-1 after Sri Lanka won the 1st ODI by 19 runs, and England fought back to win the 2nd ODI by 5 wickets. Joe Root has been the star performer for England with excellent batting displays in both matches. For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant 93 not out in the first match.
This article gives you a detailed Dream11 prediction, match details, head-to-head records, and key players for this crucial ODI series decider.
Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI Match Preview
R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo will host the series decider. The match starts at 2:30 PM local time (5:00 PM IST).
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd ODI (Series Decider) |
| Date | 27 January 2026 |
| Time | 2:30 PM Local / 5:00 PM IST |
| Venue | R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo |
| Series | England tour of Sri Lanka 2025-26 |
| Format | 50 Overs (Day/Night) |
This is a crucial match as both teams look to win the series before the T20 World Cup 2026.
Pitch Report
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Slow, spin-friendly surface |
| Average Score | 231 runs in ODIs |
| Favors | Spinners dominate middle overs |
| Surface | Takes turn as match progresses |
| Highest Score | 375/5 (India vs Sri Lanka, 2017) |
| Toss Factor | Teams often prefer to bat first |
The R Premadasa Stadium pitch in Colombo is known to assist spinners, especially in the middle overs. The first two ODIs showed significant turn with Sri Lanka’s four spinners taking 6 wickets in the 1st ODI. England used 6 spinners bowling 40.3 overs in the 2nd ODI, a national record. Batters need to be watchful against spin after the powerplay.
Weather Report
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 28-30°C expected |
| Humidity | High humidity of 70-80% |
| Wind Speed | Light breeze expected |
| Rain Chance | Low chance of rain |
| Dew Factor | Dew is expected in the second innings |
| Overall | Good conditions for cricket |
Toss Prediction
The toss will be crucial at R Premadasa Stadium. In the first two ODIs, Sri Lanka won both tosses and elected to bat first. The pitch tends to slow down as the match progresses, making chasing difficult.
However, dew in the second innings can make batting easier. The captain winning the toss will likely choose to bat first to post a big total.
Team News and Updates
Sri Lanka: Led by Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka has shown fighting spirit in this series. Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant 93 not out in the 1st ODI. The spin quartet of Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Maheesh Theekshana has been effective. Pramod Madushan took 3/39 in the 1st ODI. The team bounced back from three consecutive losses against Pakistan in November.
England: Harry Brook leads England in the white-ball format. Joe Root has been the standout performer with scores of 61 and 75 in the first two matches. He also took 2 wickets with his off-spin in the 2nd ODI. Adil Rashid took 3/44 in the 1st ODI and 2/34 in the 2nd ODI. England won their first away ODI in 12 attempts when they beat the West Indies in the 2nd match. The team used 8 bowling options, including 6 spinners, in the 2nd ODI.
Dream11 Team For SL vs ENG 3rd ODI
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Records In ODIs
Sri Lanka and England have a closely fought ODI rivalry spanning over four decades.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 81 |
| Sri Lanka Wins | 38 |
| England Wins | 39 |
| Tied | 1 |
| No Result | 3 |
The head-to-head record is almost even, making this a highly competitive rivalry.
Last 5 ODIs
- England won by 5 wickets (with 22 balls remaining) 24-Jan-2026
- 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
This Series Results
| Match | Result |
|---|---|
| 1st ODI (Jan 22, 2026) | Sri Lanka 271/6 beat England 252 by 19 runs |
| 2nd ODI (Jan 24, 2026) | England 223/5 beat Sri Lanka 219 by 5 wickets |
| 3rd ODI (Jan 27, 2026) | Series Decider |
Suggested Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Role | Recent Form |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Root (ENG) | Batter | 550 runs in last 10 ODIs, avg 61.11 |
| Kusal Mendis (SL) | WK-Batter | 441 runs in last 10 ODIs, avg 49.00 |
| Adil Rashid (ENG) | Bowler | 23 wickets in last 10 ODIs |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (SL) | All-rounder | 12 wickets in last 5 ODIs, econ 4.19 |
| Harry Brook (ENG) | Batter | 344 runs in last 10 ODIs, avg 38.22 |
| Jeffrey Vandersay (SL) | Bowler | Key wicket-taker in both matches |
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