Night-time excitement will grip Pallekele when Sri Lanka will square off against England in the 3rd T20I on 3rd February 2026 at 7:00 PM IST.
Get the best SL vs ENG Dream11 prediction, fantasy cricket tips, probable playing XI, and match insights for the 3rd T20I match of the England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026. Expert analysis and more.
SL vs ENG Match Preview:
After England clinched the series by winning the second T20I, the third and final T20I will now decide pride in this short series. In the second game at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Sri Lanka posted 189/5 in 20 overs, with Pathum Nissanka (34), Kamil Mishara (36), Kusal Mendis (32) and Pavan Rathnayake (40) making key contributions. England bowled well under testing conditions, and later chased down the revised target of 168 in 16.4 overs under the DLS method, led by Tom Banton’s unbeaten 54 and support from Harry Brook to win by six wickets. England’s spin attack also helped restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring at crucial moments.
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Therefore, England hold a 2–0 lead heading into the final match, and they will aim to complete a 3–0 clean sweep in the series. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka will look to bounce back strongly in the third T20I to register their first win of this tour and gain confidence ahead of upcoming global tournaments.
Overall, fans can expect a competitive finish as both teams fight for momentum and key performances going into future assignments.
SL vs ENG Head-to-Head Record:
|
Teams |
Matches Won |
|
Sri Lanka |
4 |
|
England |
11 |
SL vs ENG Weather & Pitch Report:
|
Temperature |
20°C |
|
Weather Forecast |
Light Rain |
|
Pitch Behaviour |
Batting-friendly |
|
Best Suited To |
Spin |
|
Average 1st innings score |
163 |
Record of chasing teams:
|
Records |
Good |
|
Winning % |
59% |
SL vs ENG Playing 11s (Predicted):
Sri Lanka Playing 11:
1) Pathum Nissanka
2) Kamil Mishara
3) Kusal Mendis (wk)
4) Charith Asalanka
5) Janith Liyanage
6) Pavan Rathnayake
7) Dasun Shanaka ©
8) Dunith Wellalage
9) Wanindu Hasaranga
10) Matheesha Pathirana
11) Eshan Malinga
England Playing 11:
1) Jos Buttler (wk)
2) Philip Salt
3) Tom Banton
4) Harry Brook ©
5) Jacob Bethell
6) Sam Curran
7) Will Jacks
8) Jamie Overton
9) Liam Dawson
10) Jofra Archer
11) Adil Rashid
Hot Picks for SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction and Fantasy Cricket Tips:
Captaincy Picks:
|
Sam Curran – Making a decisive impact for England as a left-handed batter and right-arm medium-fast bowler, he has delivered 20 runs and claimed 3 wickets in two matches. His standout moment came at Pallekele, where a historic hat-trick dismantled Sri Lanka’s middle order in the series opener. |
|
Jos Buttler – Featuring for England as a right-handed wicketkeeper-batter, he has contributed 56 runs across his first two appearances, providing experience, intent, and leadership to the batting unit. |
Top Picks:
|
Kusal Mendis – Leading Sri Lanka’s run-scoring in the series, the right-handed wicketkeeper-batter has accumulated 69 runs from two outings. His aggressive approach, reflected in a strike rate of 186.49, has set the tempo for the hosts. |
|
Pathum Nissanka – Offering reliability at the top for Sri Lanka, the right-handed opener has registered 57 runs in two matches. A highest score of 34 in the second game underlined his role in delivering steady starts for the Lions. |
Budget Picks:
|
Jamie Overton – Representing England as a right-handed batter and right-arm fast bowler, he adds pace-driven impact with the ball and useful lower-order hitting capability. |
|
Kamil Mishara – Opening the innings for Sri Lanka as a right-handed batter, he provides stability at the top through sound technique, patient shot selection, and controlled run accumulation. |
SL vs ENG England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Captain and Vice-captain Choices:
|
Captain |
Sam Curran & Jos Buttler |
|
Vice-Captain |
Kusal Mendis & Pathum Nissanka |
SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Team 1:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler, Kusal Mendis (vc)
- Batters – Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Pathum Nissanka
- All-rounders – Dasun Shanaka, Liam Dawson, Sam Curran ©
- Bowlers – Adil Rashid, Jofra Archer, Matheesha Pathirana
SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Team 2:
- Keepers – Jos Buttler ©, Kusal Mendis
- Batters – Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Pathum Nissanka (vc), Kamil Mishara
- All-rounders – Liam Dawson, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran
- Bowlers – Jofra Archer, Matheesha Pathirana
SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Today Match 3rd T20I England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Players to Avoid:
|
Players |
Dream11 Credits |
Dream11 Points (Last match) |
|
Rehan Ahmed |
7.5 credits |
NA |
|
Kamindu Mendis |
8.0 credits |
NA |
SL vs ENG Dream11 Prediction Today Match 3rd T20I England Tour of Sri Lanka 2026 Expert Advice:
|
SL Captaincy Choice |
Sam Curran |
|
GL Captaincy Choice |
Jos Buttler |
|
Punt Picks |
Jamie Overton and Kamil Mishara |
|
Dream11 Combination |
2-3-3-3 |
SL vs ENG Match Winner Prediction:
Recent displays in the series will position England as the likely winners of this contest.