Sri Lanka vs England 1st T20 Pitch Report: The first T20I of the three-match series between Sri Lanka and England will be played on Friday, January 30, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. Let's take a look at the pitch report for today's SL vs ENG match.
Sri Lanka vs England (SL vs ENG) Match Details:
- League: England tour of Sri Lanka 2026
- Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
- Date: January 30, 2026
- Start Time: 07:00 PM
- Teams: Sri Lanka vs England
ENG vs SL Match Previews
Sri Lanka's recent performance in T20I cricket has been quite poor. The Sri Lankan team has won only two of its last five matches in the shortest format of the game, which is a cause for concern. They will be looking to rectify their shortcomings in the upcoming series and head into the World Cup with renewed confidence.
England, on the other hand, has not lost a single match in their last five T20I encounters. The team, led by Harry Brook, will use this three-match series as a dress rehearsal to adapt to the conditions of the Indian subcontinent and aim to give themselves the best possible chance of winning the trophy for the third time in T20 World Cup history.
SL vs ENG, Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Pitch Report
ENG vs SL 1st T20 Match Pitch Report: The Pallekele Stadium is offering a balanced pitch for today's SL vs ENG first T20I. It supports batting initially with good bounce, but slows down later, benefiting the spinners.
The pitch provides consistent carry during the powerplay, making strokeplay easier, and the average first innings score is around 162-168 runs. As the match progresses under the lights, cracks develop on the pitch, giving the spinners more grip and making batting more challenging.
Of the 27 T20I matches played here, teams batting first have won 14. Dew might give the chasing team a slight advantage in the second innings, but experts recommend batting first to set a competitive total.
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium Records and Stats In T20
| Total matches: | 27 |
| Batting first won: | 14 |
| Bowling first won: | 10 |
| 1st inn avg score: | 167 |
| 2nd inn avg score: | 147 |
| Highest Total: | 263/3 |
| Lowest Total: | 88/10 |
| Highest Chased: | 178/2 |
| Lowest Defended: | 137/9 |
SL vs ENG 1st T20 Playing 11
Sri Lanka Playing 11: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (wk), Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dushmantha Chameera
England Playing 11: Phil Salt (wk), Jos Buttler, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (c), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood
