Jos Buttler, the former T20 World Cup winning captain of the England side from the 2022 season, didn’t find himself in a great form during the T20 World Cup 2026 with scores of 26, 21, and two threes as he found himself under the eyes and a little bit of pressure heading into their opening clash of the Super 8 stage of the tournament against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy. 

Jos Buttler couldn’t put bat on ball against the left-arm pacer of the home side, Dilshan Madushanka, before the home captain, Dasun Shanaka, introduced the spinner from the other end. Madushanka produced another quiet over with the ball, which increased the pressure on the veteran batter.

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Buttler, on the very first ball of the fourth over, looked to reverse sweep the spinner, Dunith Wellalage. It was a flighted delivery on a length that came angling in and hit the pads of the right-handed batter, who went for the premeditated sweep. It didn’t connect the trap the opener right before the stumps and dismissed him for seven runs in 14 balls.

Jos Buttler trapped LBW for 7 in ENG vs SL T20 WC 2026 clash

Since the start of the last year, in the shortest format, Buttler has now managed only 227 runs against the spinners in 17 innings at an average of 17.46 and has been dismissed 13 times in 165 balls at a strike rate of 137.46. He has a dot ball rate of 30.5 against this type of bowler.

Watch the video here: 

Buttler tries something different…and pays the price. 👀

Wellalage keeps it simple and sends the English opener back. Massive moment in the match! 🔥

ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup | Super 8 #SLvENG | LIVE NOW 👉 https://t.co/dZWPZfqfbO pic.twitter.com/i3F0Gfum7I

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 22, 2026

England also lost Jacob Bethell for three runs in four balls inside the powerplay to limp further. They ended up with 37 runs for the loss of two wickets in the power play, which is their lowest score in the PP during the ongoing World Cup.

The hope will now be with Phil Salt, who made his way to 31 runs in 21 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six at a strike rate of 147.60. The visitors, meanwhile, haven’t crossed the run rate of seven in the eighth over of the innings, which remained a slight concern for the management.

Brief Scores: England 77/4 (Phil Salt 45*, Dunith Wellalage 2/25) vs Sri Lanka.