3 months ago
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Having endured an underwhelming tally done the radical stage, England volition beryllium rubbing its hands astatine the imaginable of facing an injury-ridden Sri Lanka successful its T20 World Cup Super Eight opener astatine the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium connected Sunday (February 22, 2026).
Already bruised by the upset against Zimbabwe, the horrors of a 0-3 expanse astatine the hands of England astatine the aforesaid venue conscionable days earlier this World Cup volition beryllium a intelligence treble whammy for Sri Lanka.
England was bailed retired by Sam Curran’s decease bowling against Nepal and Italy, and mislaid to the West Indies.
But the adjacent circular could beryllium the cleanable juncture to align with its strengths erstwhile more.
Swashbuckling tee-offs from Phil Salt and Jos Buttler had been cardinal to England’s T20 renaissance nether Harry Brook successful the past year. In this tournament, neither averages much than 15. If the duo survives Sri Lanka’s aboriginal rotation barrage, England volition thrive.
England’s middle-order has chipped successful but its scoring complaint has taken a deed successful the lack of a motorboat pad.
Between the seventh and 15th overs, England has scored astatine conscionable 7.77 per over, often leaving Will Jacks connected his ain to muster up a concluding flourish.
Sri Lanka’s middle-order has been caught up successful a akin rut. It scored conscionable 66 runs betwixt seventh and 16th overs against Zimbabwe, which sapped the momentum retired of its innings.
Dasun Shanaka and Kamindu Mendis person compensated astatine the death, hitting astatine onslaught rates of 200 and 225, respectively.
But doing truthful would beryllium hard against Curran, whose melange of cutters and variations person shrunk the hitting arcs of batters this World Cup.
He has conceded astatine conscionable 8.25 per implicit astatine the decease and picked 3 wickets.
