Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd T20I Match Prediction: Who will win today's match between SL vs ENG?

After an expected rain-affected result in the series opener, Sri Lanka (SL) will once again host England (ENG) in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy on Sunday, February 1.

Sri Lanka did not look at their best in the opening encounter, as they got bundled out for only 133 in 16.2 overs, despite Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka providing a solid start. Their bowling, too, looked lacklustre and could not stem the flow of runs on a dicey wicket. The Lankan Lions will hope for a better performance on Sunday to keep the series alive.

England, on the other hand, did everything they could to start the three-match assignment on a winning note. With the ball, it was all about tight spells from Sam Curran and Adil Rashid – three wickets each – as they restricted the hosts to a subpar total. With the bat, Phil Salt made good use of the powerplay and made sure that the game was in The Three Lions' grasp once rain kicked in.

SL vs ENG Match Details

Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report

Contrary to the historical record at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, the first match of the series went in favour of the chasing side, as England reigned supreme with the help of the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. With rain being predicted on the match day, it will be a wise decision of the team winning the toss to opt to field first, which will not only make them wary of the target but also help pace the run chase accordingly.

SL vs ENG Head-to-Head T20I Record

SL vs ENG Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper), Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga

England (ENG):

Phil Salt (wicketkeeper), Jos Buttler, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (captain), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer

SL vs ENG: Probable Best Performers

Probable Best Batter: Kusal Mendis

Star batter Kusal Mendis got off to an excellent start on Friday, scoring a crucial 37 off 21 in the first innings. He looked the most comfortable Sri Lankan batter at the crease in the first T20I and will aim to continue doing so in the upcoming contest. Known for his excellent prowess with the bat against pace as well as spin, Mendis is likely to pile up a huge score on Sunday.

Probable Best Bowler: Sam Curran

Sam Curran, the hat-trick hero from the series opener, did not just pick important wickets but also contained the flow of runs after the Englishmen received initial hiccups. The left-arm bowler has been mixing his pace really well, which has yielded him a lot of success in the shortest format of the game of late. Curran is expected to enjoy yet another memorable outing with the ball in the second T20I.

Today's Match Prediction: Chasing team to win the match