Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI 2026: Complete Match Preview & Analysis

The Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI creates a decisive moment in the England tour of Sri Lanka 2026, where the ODI series is tied 1-1. SL needs a comeback after they lost a key opportunity in the second ODI, and England needs to gain some momentum after a composed chase in the last game.

The SL vs ENG 3rd ODI is shaped by contrasting recent form for both sides. Sri Lanka has had a lack of consistency in the last few months, whilst England comes after a series of losses, although they believed again in the second ODI. 

The conditions at the R Premadasa Stadium usually tend to play favorably to disciplined bowling, and therefore, the match is expected to be a tactical contest rather than a power-heavy battle.

Match Details

• Match: Sri Lanka vs England, 3rd ODI
• Date: January 27, 2026
• Time: 2:30 PM local time
• Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

Sri Lanka vs England 2nd ODI Summary

The second ODI at Colombo saw England charge at Sri Lanka with a steady 220-run chase to win by five wickets. Sri Lanka scored 219, having had a hard time establishing any lasting partnerships, with Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva giving some resistance in the middle order.

England kept the score in check and did not allow Sri Lanka to gain momentum towards the end of the innings. In response, Joe Root scored 75, which took England through the rough times, and Jos Buttler completed the task effectively. 

Recent Performance Analysis

Sri Lanka Recent Form

Sri Lanka has a history of inconsistency in recent ODIs. They have lost four and won one of their last five matches. Nonetheless, there have been glimpses of performances, particularly at home.

On January 24, 2026, in the 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka was unable to protect their total because England had pursued them incredibly well. Sri Lanka began on the right track, only to lose control in the middle overs. Bowlers also found it difficult to exert cumulative pressure, and England was able to form alliances.

The 1st ODI on January 22, 2026, was an upset for England. Sri Lanka beat their opponents by 19 runs. The game presented Sri Lanka with the capability of managing the games when strategies are implemented correctly.

Prior to this series, Sri Lanka was defeated by Pakistan in November 2025. Those defeats revealed problems in top-order stability and death bowling. Home conditions also allow some weaknesses to be covered, but SriLanka still requires better collective performances.

England Recent Form

England had gone into this tour following a series loss at home to New Zealand. They lost all three ODIs; they failed to make close games even though they were competitive.

The 2nd ODI success over Sri Lanka was a turning point. England followed up closely, rotated the strike effectively, and did not panic. Their middle order was playing in a responsible way, and this was lacking during the recent games.

The defeat in the 1st ODI revealed the weak moment of England in the face of spin and defections. They found it difficult to get momentum and lost wickets in clusters. The recent form of England is that of a team that is in search of rhythm but can improve swiftly should the execution become better.

Key Batters to Watch

Sri Lanka and England both rely heavily on a few consistent performers. These batters will shape the match outcome if they find rhythm.

Batters to Watch (Recent Stats)

Batter	Team	Matches	Runs	Average	Strike Rate
Kusal Mendis	Sri Lanka	10	441	49.00	87.15
Pathum Nissanka	Sri Lanka	10	362	36.20	79.56
Joe Root	England	10	550	61.11	92.28
Harry Brook	England	10	344	38.22	94.24

Batting Analysis

Kusal Mendis is the most stable batsman in Sri Lanka. He sits back and then takes off. He is a strong player of spin and a good man in a crisis.

Pathum Nissanka has a long innings that enables others to play freely around him. Nissanka must transform the small ones into larger ones in Sri Lanka.

Joe Root remains the pillar of England. Because of his consistency against spin and the composure, he is a threat to Sri Lankan bowlers. The competitiveness in England is often dependent on the performance of Root.

Harry Brook is another good player in the over middle. The role of Brook is important when England requires a boost following a tentative beginning.

Key Bowlers to Watch

Bowling will be decisive at Colombo, where discipline often matters more than raw pace.

Bowlers to Watch (Recent Stats)

Bowler	Team	Matches	Wickets	Economy	Strike Rate
Asitha Fernando	Sri Lanka	9	16	5.81	27.50
Wanindu Hasaranga	Sri Lanka	5	12	4.19	23.16
Adil Rashid	England	10	23	5.13	20.43
Brydon Carse	England	8	9	5.97	43.44

Bowling Analysis

Sri Lanka gets the first crack through Asitha Fernando. His movement and control of the seam can easily disturb the very high-order batters. He requires assistance with death, where the Sri Lankans have failed in the recent past.

Wanindu Hasaranga takes wickets while maintaining low rates of economy, enhancing the game in a short time. He is a pressure player who enjoys bowling under Colombo weather.

The important weapon of England is Adil Rashid. His fluctuation and mastery render him hard to score off in the middle overs. The match may be characterized by the struggle of Rashid against the middle order of Sri Lanka.

Brydon Carse gives pace and bounce. It is not always cost-effective, but his wicket-taking ability breaks partnerships. England depends on him to give breakthroughs in situations where spinners are involved.

Squad Depth and Balance

Sri Lanka Squad Overview

The Sri Lankan team is a mixture of experience and youth. Charith Asalanka manages the team in a composed manner. Players such as Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis provide the all-round balance.

The bowling unit is diverse, and it has pace and various spinners. Maheesh Theekshana and Hasaranga have flexibility as per the pitch conditions. There is, however, the issue of consistency in all the departments.

England Squad Overview

The depth of the squad in England is high. Joe Root and Jos Buttler provide experience, whereas younger players like Harry Brook and Rehan Ahmed provide energy to the squad.

England’s bowling has pace, swing, and spin. It is anchored by Adil Rashid in the spin department, and versatility is provided by all-rounders like Sam Curran. 

Tactical Battle Points

Sri Lanka should not repeat those slow overs that they often resort to in middle overs, as bowlers like Hasaranga would gather momentum if they get to bat longer.

England, on the other hand, should try to pick up early wickets to ensure two batsmen do not settle together. Spin wizardry might be a game-defining factor here. Both teams will look towards their spinners to put the brakes on run scoring and extract false shots.

With the match likely to come down to nerves and small errors here and there, whichever team goes on to win will probably lose the odd review, over where the runs leaked heavily or fail to rotate strike for a couple of overs.

Match Prediction and Outlook

The Sri Lanka vs England 3rd ODI 2026 stands evenly poised. Sri Lanka possesses home advantage and familiarity with conditions, while England brings experience and recent momentum.

Sri Lanka has home advantage and knowledge of conditions on their side, while England has momentum and experience.

If Sri Lanka bats as a unit and doesn’t go for the big hits too often, they should win. England will have a good chance of winning if their middle order comes to terms with spin.

Either way, we can expect this match to last till the final over. Who wins the tactical battle will lift the trophy in Colombo.