Sri Lanka and England are ready to face each other in the 3rd match of the England tour of Sri Lanka 2026 at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Tuesday, January 27. This match is scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM IST. Stay tuned with our SL vs ENG prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
This will be the decisive match of the three-match ODI series, and both teams will look to give their best to win the series. While Sri Lanka will aim to make full use of their home conditions and bounce back after losing the second ODI, England will take confidence from their strong comeback victory to put pressure on the hosts.
On the other hand, England’s players showed great character in the last match, proving they can perform even after a poor run of results. Apart from this, if we look at how closely fought the first two matches have been, another exciting contest can be expected as both teams push hard to seal the series.
Head-to-Head Record: Till now, a total of 79 ODI matches have been played between these two sides, in which England have won 38 matches, while Sri Lanka have won 37 games. The remaining four matches ended with no result.
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Sri Lanka Preview
Sri Lanka have started this series well, winning the first ODI by 19 runs with a strong batting and bowling effort. They scored 271 runs in the opening match and defended it successfully. However, they will be disappointed with the second ODI, where they were restricted to just 219 runs after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Even so, Sri Lanka have shown good fight and confidence while playing at home.
In batting, captain Charith Asalanka has been in excellent form throughout 2025, scoring 315 runs in 6 matches at an average of 63.0 including 2 centuries. He also scored a steady 45 runs in the second ODI. Kusal Mendis was the hero of the first match with a brilliant 93 not out, but in the second ODI he was run out for 26. Janith Liyanage showed promise with 46 runs in the first ODI, which is a good sign for Sri Lanka’s future batting strength.
Sri Lanka’s main strength is their spin bowling. Wanindu Hasaranga has been outstanding at the R. Premadasa Stadium, taking 31 wickets in 15 ODIs at this venue with an average of 18.12, making him very dangerous in home conditions. Jeffrey Vandersay bowled well in the second ODI and picked up important wickets at key moments. However, Sri Lanka struggled in the death overs in that match, allowing England to finish the chase with 22 balls remaining. Sri Lanka will look to fix these issues and return to winning ways in the next game.
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Charith Asalanka | Over 34.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Charith Asalanka has been in outstanding form in 2025, scoring 315 runs in six matches at an average of 63. He remains Sri Lanka’s most reliable batter in home conditions and is a strong pick to cross this mark again.
England Preview
England showed great fighting spirit by bouncing back strongly in the second ODI after losing the first match. They won the game by five wickets, ending their long 11-match away ODI losing streak. This win was very important for their confidence. Joe Root once again stood out, playing key innings in both matches and handling spin bowling with great control and calmness.
In the second ODI, Joe Root scored 75 runs off 90 balls on a difficult pitch where the ball was turning and staying low. He shared a vital 81-run partnership with captain Harry Brook, which helped England take control of the chase. Root also contributed with the ball, taking 2 wickets for 13 runs in 2.3 overs, and was rightly named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
Other England batters also played useful roles. Ben Duckett scored 39 runs, while Jos Buttler finished the match with a quick 33 not out from 21 balls. England tried a new move by opening with Rehan Ahmed, who added 13 runs. However, Jacob Bethell continued to struggle against spin and was dismissed for 6.
In bowling, Adil Rashid led the attack with figures of 2 for 34. England followed a spin-heavy plan, using six spinners and bowling a record 40.3 overs of spin, the most they have ever bowled in an ODI. This strategy worked well on the Colombo pitch. Jamie Overton and Sam Curran also supported well, helping England secure a much-needed and confidence-boosting win.
England need to bat patiently against spin and avoid losing quick wickets in the middle overs. They must also stick to their spin-heavy bowling plan and apply constant pressure to restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Root | Over 38.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Joe Root played a classy 75 on a turning pitch in the last match and handled spin brilliantly. His technique, patience, and consistency make him England’s safest batting option once again.
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SL vs ENG Probably Playing XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka(C), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.
England: Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook(C), Jos Buttler(WK), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.
SL vs ENG Pitch Report
The pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, is expected to be slow and helpful for spinners. Batting will be easier early on, but the surface will dry out and become harder to score on as the match goes on. Teams batting first usually have an advantage as the pitch gets tougher later. Fast bowlers may get some help with the new ball, but spinners will control the game in the middle and final stages. Hot and humid conditions could test players fitness, while light dew in the evening may slightly help the team batting second.
The weather on Tuesday at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo is expected to have thundershowers, around 31°C, with a 40% chance of rain, 64% humidity and moderate winds near 21 km/h.
Venue ODI Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 186 |
| Matches won batting first | 103 |
| Matches won bowling first | 71 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 230 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 189 |
| Highest total recorded | 375/5 (50 Ovs) – IND vs SL |
| Lowest total recorded | 50/10 (15.2 Ovs) – SL vs IND |
| Highest score chased | 292/4 (48.3 Ovs) – SL vs AUS |
| Lowest score defended | 170/10 (49.2 Ovs) – WIW vs SLW |
SL vs ENG Winner Prediction
Sri Lanka will go into this match with a small advantage because they are playing at home and know these conditions very well. They have a strong record at this ground and are good at using slow, turning pitches. Their spinners are likely to enjoy the surface, especially as it gets slower later in the game. With players like Charith Asalanka leading from the front and Wanindu Hasaranga controlling the middle overs, Sri Lanka will feel confident about their chances.
England, on the other hand, will take a lot of confidence from their win in the second match. They showed good patience and smart planning, especially against spin. Joe Root’s form and experience are key for England, and their spin-based bowling plan worked well in the last game. If England repeat that approach and handle the conditions calmly, they have a strong chance of challenging Sri Lanka in this closely balanced contest.
Our Prediction: Sri Lanka
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