ICC T20 WC 2026, Super 8 : All-round performance by Will Jacks guided England to 51-run win over the co-hosts

By Vatsal Verma : England maintained their winning streak in Sri Lanka, as they scored a 51-run win in a low scoring game. On their recent white-ball tour to the Asian country, England defeated Sri Lanka 3-0 in the T20I series. It was just the kind of win needed to bring their cagey World Cup campaign back on track. In the group stage, they had lost to West Indies and were taken to the brink by Nepal and Italy.

After electing to field first, Sri Lanka used the home conditions well to restrict England to 146/9. But their chase never took off, as the hosts found themselves in trouble at 34/5 in powerplay. On a slow pitch, the co-hosts offered little resistance and were skittled out for 95 in 16.4 overs. England’s gamble of bringing Will Jacks early in the innings paid off, with the off-spinner delivering an incredible spell of 3/22 in four overs. Jacks had also scored a vital 21 runs and was adjudged the Player of the Match for his all-round show.

Jofra Archer, meanwhile, drew the first blood by sending the in-form Pathum Nissanka back. Archer finished with 2/20 in three overs, while Adil Rashid and Liam Dawson also picked up two wickets. Captain Dasun Shanaka (30) was the only batter to make a substantial contribution.

Earlier in the day, England also struggled with the bat. Jos Buttler’s agonising stay at the wicket ended as he was trapped lbw to Dunith Wellalage after an attempted switch hit while Jacob Bethell was dismissed after taking a wild swing on the first ball off Maheesh Theekshana. England had only 37/2 to show in powerplay.

Tom Banton added to the early nerves as he was run out, courtesy a direct hit from skipper Dasun Shanaka.