England and Sri Lanka are locked at 1–1 in a gripping ODI series decider at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on January 27, 2026.
England skipper Harry Brook won the toss and chose to bat first, backing his side to post a
defensive total on a slow, spin-dominated surface.
🔄 Series Recap So Far
1st ODI: Sri Lanka struck first with a confident 19-run victory, riding on Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 93 and a solid 46 from Janith Liyanage.
England’s chase faltered at 252 despite fluent half-centuries from Ben Duckett (62) and Joe Root (61), as Sri Lankan spinners tightened the screws.
2nd ODI: England bounced back in style, bowling Sri Lanka out for 219 and
chasing it down with five wickets in hand. Joe Root’s classy 75, supported by Brook (42) and Jos Buttler’s explosive 33*, sealed England’s first away ODI win in 12 matches.
📊 Third ODI Live Updates
As of late afternoon IST, England reached 73/2 after 19 overs. Joe Root and Jacob Bethell are carefully rebuilding the innings,
showing patience against Sri Lanka’s quality spin attack.
The scoring rate remains controlled, hinting at a total-oriented approach rather than aggression —
a smart move given the surface.
🟤 Pitch & Conditions
The Colombo pitch has been labeled “poor for ODIs” by both Harry Brook
and Joe Root, offering little pace and significant assistance to spinners.
Batting first looks like the safer option, with run accumulation expected to get tougher under lights.
👥 Playing XIs & Key Returns
Big Boost for Sri Lanka:Wanindu Hasaranga returns to the XI, replacing Pramod Madushan, strengthening an already lethal spin unit.
England continue to rely on Root’s calm presence and Brook’s aggressive leadership in subcontinent conditions.
🔥 What’s at Stake
A victory would hand England their first away ODI series win since March 2023,
a massive confidence boost ahead of the upcoming three-match T20I series and the T20 World Cup, where they share a group with Scotland, West Indies, Nepal, and Italy.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, aim to reaffirm their home dominance through spin and deny England
a rare overseas series triumph.
With England inching past 150+ in later updates, the decider is finely poised —
one session could decide everything.
Expect a tense finish where spin, temperament, and smart captaincy decide the fate of this blockbuster ODI series.
Spin, pressure, and pride — Colombo decides the king.
