England wrapped up a comprehensive 3-0 series victory against Sri Lanka with a tense but incisive 38-run win in the third T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. England defended a modest total of 128/9 in 20 overs to claim the series clean sweep just days ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
England bowlers shine
Opting to bat after winning the toss, England struggled against a disciplined Sri Lankan attack led by Dushmantha Chameera's 5-fer and were restricted to 128/9 in 20 overs, their lowest total of the series. Early wickets left the visitors in trouble, but a gritty 58 from Sam Curran steadied the innings enough to give the bowlers a target to defend. England’s score never looked imposing, yet their bowlers had other plans.
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In the second innings, Jacob Bethell emerged as the standout bowler, claiming 4 key wickets to derail Sri Lanka. In the 18th over, he struck thrice by dismissing Dunith Wellalage, Dasun Shanaka & Dushmantha Chameera to get England right back in the contest. Tight lines and clever use of variations from Bethell made scoring difficult and ultimately led England to a stunning victory as he also took the final wicket, bowling out Sri Lanka on 116. Apart from Bethell (3.3-0-11-4), Will Jacks also impressed with the ball as he took 3 wickets.
Series context and consequences
The 3-0 series victory marked a strong finish for England on Sri Lankan soil ahead of the T20 World Cup, highlighting their depth and adaptability in varied conditions. Earlier wins in the opening two matches, including a win sparked by Sam Curran’s hat-trick in the first T20I and a solid performance in the second, laid the foundation for this dominant series performance.
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For Sri Lanka, the defeat completed a disappointing home series in which they consistently fell short against an England side that balanced bowling discipline with strategic batting. Sri Lanka now turn attention to fine-tuning combinations and rediscovering momentum before the World Cup, where they will aim to avoid similar early setbacks.
Looking ahead to T20 World Cup
The comprehensive whitewash now gives England valuable momentum and confidence for the upcoming global showpiece. With bowlers like Bethell peaking at the right moment and hitters such as Curran in strong touch, England have shown they can defend modest totals and strike at key moments. The tour ends with England unbeaten, while Sri Lanka will regroup with lessons learned from a series where key moments repeatedly slipped away.
