T20 World Cup: Will Jacks stars as England dismantle Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka’s promising T20 World Cup campaign hit a stumbling block in Pallekele as England produced a clinical all-round performance to secure a 51-run win in the Super 8 stage, exposing familiar batting frailties in the hosts on an overcast Sunday evening. The defeat, built around a dramatic collapse while chasing a modest target, has suddenly complicated Sri Lanka’s route to the semi-finals while reinforcing England’s reputation for finding ways to win under pressure.

The moment that summed up Sri Lanka’s evening came in the 11th over of their chase. Attempting to break the shackles, Dushan Hemantha swung hard at Will Jacks, only to lose balance and clip his own stumps — a hit-wicket dismissal that encapsulated the desperation and disorder of Sri Lanka’s chase. The match offered a compelling peg: Sri Lanka’s inability to capitalise on favourable conditions and a chaseable target. In a tournament where margins are slim, their batting implosion overshadowed an otherwise disciplined bowling display.

Asked to bat, England endured a stuttering start but were rescued by Phil Salt’s composed 62, which anchored the innings on a surface offering assistance to bowlers. England slipped to 68/4 at the halfway stage before Salt’s measured strokeplay helped them reach 146/9 — a total that appeared.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana, applied sustained pressure through the middle overs, preventing England from breaking free. Yet, crucial late contributions — including Will Jacks’ 21 — ensured England finally had a defendable score.

While England’s batting lacked fluency, their ability to push towards a competitive total proved decisive in retrospect.

The chase began disastrously for Sri Lanka. Early wickets triggered a collapse that effectively ended the contest inside the powerplay, with England’s seamers exploiting movement and bounce. Jofra Archer’s hostile opening spell combined with Will Jacks’ incisive three-wicket burst dismantled the top order, leaving Sri Lanka struggling to build partnerships.

The hosts were eventually bowled out for 95 in 16.4 overs, a result that reflected both England’s discipline and Sri Lanka’s questionable shot selection.

Captain Dasun Shanaka’s counter-attacking 30 was the lone bright spot, offering brief resistance amid the collapse. However, the lack of support from the rest of the batting unit highlighted Sri Lanka’s recurring vulnerability under scoreboard pressure.

Sri Lanka’s frustration was evident in the post-match assessment, with their captain criticising the batting approach. “We played poor shots,” he said, reflecting disappointment with the manner of the defeat rather than the margin.

The remark captured the essence of the match: a contest that slipped away more through self-inflicted errors.