When and Where to Watch England vs Sri Lanka Live Streaming, Match Preview, Timings, and Pitch Report for 2nd T20I

The Lankans have their task cut-out to make a comeback against ICC's no.1 ranked T20I team.

Published - 24 Jun 2021, 11:18 IST | Updated - 24 Jun 2021, 11:18 IST

4 Min Read

England made a dominating start to their three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka. On Wednesday, June 23, the team, led by Eoin Morgan, defeated the visitors by eight wickets with 17 balls left at the Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. It was pretty much a one-sided affair for the home team, who took a 1-0 lead.

The bowlers conceded only 129 in their 20 overs after which Jos Buttler scored a half-century. Adil Rashid bowled decently as well, having picked two wickets at an impressive economy rate of 4.25. For the Lankans, Dasun Shanaka played a lone hand with the bat.

He scored a 44-ball 50 before being dismissed by Sam Curran off the last ball of the innings. Wanindu Hasaranga didn’t get a wicket but made sure of keeping the Three Lions’ batters in check with an economy rate of three.

The second game of the series is set to be played in Cardiff itself on Thursday, June 24 and the visitors, somehow, need a win to stay alive in the ongoing series.

Beating the ICC’s no.1 ranked T20I team won’t be easy for them by any stretch of the imagination. England, on the other hand, would be brimming with confidence after putting forth an all-round show last time at the Sophia Gardens.

Playing combination for ENG vs SL

England

Jason Roy played an excellent hand in the last match as he scored a 22-ball 36 with four fours and a six. But he would be dejected after giving his wicket away to Dushmantha Chameera against the run of play. His partner, Buttler, played through and stayed unbeaten on 68 runs from 55 balls.

He wasn’t at his fluent best but made sure of taking the hosts over the finishing line without a hiccup. Dawid Malan would want to make amends though after a laborious seven-ball 14. The rest of the batters need to play important roles if wickets go down upfront.

In the bowling department, Chris Woakes was the only one, who didn’t get a wicket, though he had an economy of 4.67. Rashid was a tough nut to crack. Sam Curran and Mark Wood, pretty much, were on their mark as well.

Predicted XI

Jason Roy, Jos Buttler (wk), Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Eoin Morgan (C), Liam Livingstone, Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Chris Jordan, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Bench: Tom Curran, Liam Dawson, Chris Woakes, Sam Billings, David Willey

Sri Lanka

The Lankans might bring in Niroshan Dickwella in place of Dhananjaya de Silva. The latter didn’t perform with the bat in the last game and he didn’t get a chance with the ball. Dickwella, on the contrary, is an attacking batter and has the experience of playing cameos in the Lankan middle-order.

The visitors are likely to persist with Avishka Fernando, who bagged a golden duck. Kusal Mendis also hasn’t had the best of times in limited-overs cricket. In the bowling department, Hasaranga was their standout bowler with an excellent economy, but he didn’t get support from the others.

Nuwan Pradeep and Akila Dananjaya need to find their rhythm after leaking runs at over 10 rpo. Dasun Shanaka might get a promotion, especially after how he played in the previous match.

Predicted XI

Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera (C and WK), Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva/Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep

Bench: Ramesh Mendis, Ishan Jayaratne, Charith Asalanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Praveen Jayawickrama, Oshada Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Shiran Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella/Dhananjaya de Silva