England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Prediction 2026: Match Prediction, Playing XI & Pitch Report

Our prediction: England are expected to have the edge in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka at Headingley, Leeds. England showed good adaptability in the opening match, recovering from 265 all out before dismissing Sri Lanka for 176.

Harry Brook’s 67 and Will Jacks’ unbeaten 46 gave England a competitive total in the first ODI, while Jacks then added 5/22 with the ball. Sri Lanka will need a stronger contribution from their top and middle order if they are to level the series.

Headingley can offer early assistance to seamers, making the opening overs important. If England’s top order gets through that phase and their middle-order options again contribute, they have the batting depth to build a competitive total. Sri Lanka’s response will depend heavily on players such as Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Expected first-innings score: Around 245–285 runs if the team batting first manages to negotiate the new ball and builds partnerships through the middle overs.

Key factor: The battle between England’s middle-order batting and Sri Lanka’s spin options could have a major influence on the match, particularly if the Headingley surface offers grip as the innings progresses.

The second ODI is scheduled to begin at 12:30 PM local time at Headingley, which is 5:00 PM in India. The fixture is the middle match of the three-game ODI series, with the opening match having taken place at Chester-le-Street on 22 September.

England won the first ODI by 89 runs, giving Harry Brook’s side a 1-0 advantage before the teams move to Leeds. The third and final ODI is scheduled for 27 September at The Oval in London.

England Team News

England won the opening ODI by 89 runs at Riverside, with Will Jacks producing a major all-round performance. He scored an unbeaten 46 and then claimed 5/22 as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176.

England’s bowling options have changed following the absence of Adil Rashid, who is ruled out of the ODI series with a hand injury. Rehan Ahmed replaced Rashid in the first ODI and is expected to remain an important spin option for the second match.

England also continue to manage their wider squad, with Phil Salt unavailable because of a quad injury and Jacob Bethell continuing his recovery from knee surgery. Jamie Overton returned to the ODI setup and featured in the opening match.

Sri Lanka Team News

Sri Lanka will be looking for a stronger batting performance after being dismissed for 176 in the first ODI. Kusal Mendis top-scored with 42, while Dunith Wellalage added 45 from 36 balls during the chase.

On the bowling side, Sachindu Colombage made an encouraging ODI debut by taking 3/44. Sri Lanka are likely to rely on their spin options, including Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Wellalage, as they attempt to level the series in Leeds.

England Expected Playing XI

Sri Lanka Expected Playing XI

England used this XI in the first ODI and won by 89 runs. Rehan Ahmed remains the expected spin option after Adil Rashid was ruled out of the ODI series with a hand injury. Sri Lanka’s first-ODI XI included Sachindu Colombage, who took 3/44 on debut, and Dunith Wellalage, who scored 45 during the chase.

The Headingley surface is expected to offer some pace and bounce, making the first few overs important for both batting sides. Fast bowlers who maintain a good line and length could find movement before the ball becomes easier to play.

Once batters are established, stroke-making should become more manageable. England’s top order will therefore need to negotiate the early movement before looking to build a substantial middle-overs partnership.

Current venue data places the average first-innings ODI score at Headingley at around 226 runs. Historical venue figures can vary depending on the matches and dataset included, so this should be treated as a broad reference rather than a fixed par score.

According to the latest Met Office forecast, Headingley is expected to have a sunny start with partly cloudy conditions later in the day on Thursday, 24 September. The maximum temperature is forecast at around 20°C.

The current hourly forecast shows a very low chance of precipitation throughout the scheduled playing hours. This suggests that rain is not currently expected to be a major interruption for the England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI.

Recent Form

England won the opening ODI by 89 runs at Riverside on 22 September. England made 265 in 48.1 overs, while Sri Lanka were bowled out for 176 in 37 overs. Will Jacks was the standout performer with 46 not out and 5/22.

Before the ODI series, England completed a 3-0 T20I sweep against Sri Lanka. The T20I results included wins by 119 runs in the first match, six wickets in the second and eight wickets in the third.

Sri Lanka’s recent results therefore include four consecutive defeats against England across the current T20I and ODI contests. The first ODI also exposed a key problem for Sri Lanka: after reaching 48/2, the batting side lost wickets regularly and was eventually dismissed for 176.

England vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Context

The current ODI series is already 1-0 in England’s favour. The broader recent white-ball record also contains a strong run for England, including the 3-0 T20I series immediately before the ODIs. Reuters reported that England’s third T20I victory was their 15th consecutive T20I win over Sri Lanka.

Jofra Archer vs Pathum Nissanka

England’s new-ball attack will look to put pressure on Sri Lanka’s top order, with Jofra Archer one of the key threats. Pathum Nissanka will be important for Sri Lanka because an established opening partnership can reduce the pressure created by England’s fast bowlers.

Will Jacks vs Sri Lanka’s Middle Order

Will Jacks enters the second ODI after an outstanding first match. He scored an unbeaten 46 before taking 5/22, his best ODI bowling figures. Sri Lanka’s middle order will need to manage his off-spin carefully if he is introduced during the middle overs.

Joe Root and Harry Brook vs Sri Lanka’s Spin

England’s middle order could face a sustained challenge from Sri Lanka’s spin options. Joe Root scored 44 in the opening ODI, while Harry Brook made 67. Their ability to rotate the strike and find boundaries against spin could be important if the surface offers grip.

Wanindu Hasaranga vs England’s Middle Order

Wanindu Hasaranga remains one of Sri Lanka’s key middle-overs bowling options. England have several attacking batters, so Hasaranga’s variations and ability to restrict scoring could be significant if England build another substantial platform.

Will Jacks — England

Will Jacks was the standout performer in the first ODI. He finished unbeaten on 46 and then took 5/22 in seven overs, completing his maiden ODI five-wicket haul. His ability to contribute in both departments gives England an important all-round option in the second match.

Harry Brook — England

England captain Harry Brook scored 67 in the opening ODI and helped his side build a competitive total after early wickets. His ability to anchor the innings while maintaining the scoring rate will again be important at Headingley.

Jofra Archer — England

Jofra Archer is one of England’s main new-ball threats. With Headingley capable of offering early assistance to seamers, his opening spell could put pressure on Sri Lanka’s top order.

Kusal Mendis — Sri Lanka

Kusal Mendis scored 42 in the first ODI and will be an important part of Sri Lanka’s response. As captain and wicketkeeper-batter, his contribution at the top of the order could help Sri Lanka establish a stronger platform in Leeds.

Dunith Wellalage — Sri Lanka

Dunith Wellalage provided one of Sri Lanka’s better individual batting contributions in the opening match, scoring 45 from 36 balls with five fours and two sixes. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball makes him another important player for Sri Lanka.

Wanindu Hasaranga — Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga gives Sri Lanka an experienced spin-bowling option through the middle overs. His variations could be particularly relevant against England’s aggressive middle order if the Headingley surface offers assistance.

Match prediction: England have the edge to win the 2nd ODI. England lead the series 1-0 after their 89-run victory in the opening match, and their recent white-ball results against Sri Lanka have also been strong. England completed a 3-0 T20I series sweep before winning the first ODI.

The first ODI also showed England’s ability to contribute across departments. Harry Brook scored 67, Will Jacks made an unbeaten 46 and then took 5/22 as Sri Lanka were dismissed for 176. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, lost wickets regularly after reaching 48/2, eventually falling to 105/6 before Dunith Wellalage’s 45 provided some resistance.

Headingley’s conditions could make the opening overs important. England’s pace attack has the ability to exploit movement and bounce, while Sri Lanka will need their top order to spend more time at the crease. The visitors also have spin options through players such as Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana, which could test England’s middle order.

England’s batting depth is another factor. Root and Brook both made useful contributions in the first ODI, while Jacks added valuable runs late in the innings. Harry Brook has also said England have been working specifically on improving their approach against spin, with Kevin Pietersen involved as a specialist mentor.

A separate Cricket World pre-match model currently gives England an 88.5% win probability and Sri Lanka 11.5%. That figure is an external prediction, not the basis for the prediction above.

Expected First-Innings Score

The expected first-innings range for the England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI is around 245–285 runs. The exact par score will depend on how much movement the batters face early and whether the team batting first can build partnerships through the middle overs.

England scored 265 in the opening ODI, while current Headingley venue data places the average first-innings ODI score at around 226 runs. A score in the mid-250s or higher could therefore provide a competitive platform if the pitch plays as expected.

Top Run-Scorer Candidates

Harry Brook is one of the leading candidates after scoring 67 in the first ODI. His ability to build an innings while maintaining the scoring rate makes him a key batting option for England.

For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis is an important candidate after making 42 in the opening game. If Sri Lanka’s top order survives the initial movement, Mendis could play a major role in setting up the innings.

Top Wicket-Taker Candidates

Will Jacks enters the match after taking 5/22 in the first ODI, but repeating such figures cannot be assumed. His all-round contribution makes him an obvious player to watch if the pitch offers assistance to spin.

Jofra Archer is another major wicket-taking option for England, particularly during the new-ball period. Headingley’s potential pace and bounce could give him opportunities against Sri Lanka’s top order.

Toss Impact

The toss could influence the tactical approach, particularly if there is visible early movement. The team batting first will want to negotiate the opening spell before accelerating, while the side bowling first could look to attack with its seamers before conditions become easier for batting.

Sources Used for This Prediction

• England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) — England squad and series information.
• International Cricket Council (ICC) — Sri Lanka squad and player availability information.
• Reuters — England’s recent T20I series results and team updates.
• Durham Cricket — first ODI match report and Will Jacks’ 5/22 performance.
• Cricket World — Headingley venue information and pre-match prediction data.
• Met Office — latest Headingley weather forecast.

Editorial Note

This article is a pre-match prediction based on available team information, recent performances, venue conditions and forecast information before the England vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI.

Expected playing XIs, weather conditions and match circumstances can change before the toss. The confirmed playing XIs should therefore be checked when the teams are announced.