The Super 8 clash between England and Pakistan from the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy seemed to be a contest of who could come up with a worse fielding performance in the outfield. England tried their best in the competition, but Pakistan were equally fighting for the worse fielding performances. 

The most funny fielding lapse of the contest came from Shaheen Shah Afridi, who standing at the short fine region. On the last delivery of the ninth over against Shadab Khan, Sam Curran perhaps thought of not getting a single when he went back and pulled the short ball down the ground off the thick inside half of the bat.

See Also: India vs Zimbabwe T20 WC: How Result Could Impact Playoff

There was shout of ‘catch it’ from the boundary, to which Afridi decided to save the boundary and ended up making an absolute meal of it at the last moment. He tried to grab the ball on the bounce and it slipped through the fingertips. The ball went over the tall pacer, who couldn’t do anything about it.

Shaheen Afridi’ funny fielding goes viral in ENG vs PAK T20 WC 2026

England were equally bad in their ground fielding, as one of the culprits was Jacob Bethell, who twice misfielded, one of which went for a boundary because he overran the ball and couldn’t slow down and cut his momentum at the end.

Watch the video here: 

@StarSportsIndia pic.twitter.com/JvlFAnKw0C

— Cricket Everywhere✍🏻 (@Subhamk79241601) February 24, 2026

Pakistan, opting to bat first in Kandy, posted a strong score of 164 runs for the lose of nine wickets as their opener, Sahibzada Farhan, claimed 63 runs in 45 balls with the help of seven boundaries and a couple of sixes at a strike rate of 140. Most of their batters got the starts, but couldn’t convert.

England had a nightmarish start losing Phil Salt on the very first ball of chase before getting restricted to 35/3 in the fifth over. Their captain, Harry Brook, stood like wall for his 82 runs in 44 balls with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of above 185.

Brief Scores: Pakistan 164/9 (Sahibzada Farhan 63, Liam Dawson 3/24, Jamie Overton 2/31) vs England 138/5 (Harry Brook 90, Shaheen Afridi 3/13).  

England delivered a dominant batting effort to pile up 202 for seven in their allotted overs, laying the foundation for a high-scoring clash in T20 World Cup 2026. An early setback saw Jos Buttler dismissed cheaply, but Philip Salt and Jacob Bethell rebuilt quickly with a lively stand that steadied the innings. Tom Banton maintained momentum with a fluent 30, while Harry Brook’s brisk cameo kept the scoring rate strong. The middle order then shifted gears brilliantly in the closing overs, punishing wayward bowling and driving the total past the 200-run barrier with authority today.

Italy’s reply began in disastrous fashion as two wickets fell in the opening over, immediately putting them behind the chase. Justin Mosca responded with an assertive 43, rebuilding alongside skipper Harry Manenti to restore belief. The momentum swung dramatically when Ben Manenti unleashed a breathtaking counterattack, hammering 60 from only 25 balls and clearing the ropes repeatedly. His assault reduced the required rate and briefly rattled England, shifting pressure during the middle overs and raising hopes of an unlikely turnaround. Crowd energy soared as boundaries kept flowing under bright lights.

Control returned to England once Mosca departed, a dismissal that triggered a steady slide and halted Italy’s progress. Grant Stewart tried to revive the pursuit with a spirited 45, yet wickets continued to tumble as the asking rate climbed sharply. Jamie Overton’s superb spell of three for 18 and Sam Curran’s matching return dismantled the lower order efficiently. Earlier, Will Jacks’ explosive unbeaten 53 off 22 deliveries in the final overs had lifted England to a daunting total, a late surge that ultimately proved decisive in sealing a convincing victory.

See Also: Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi likely to be dropped for Namibia clash in T20 World Cup 2026

T20 World Cup 2026: Updated Points Table after ENG vs ITA Match 29

Group A 

Group B 

Group C 

Group D 

T20 World Cup 2026: Top Performances

Most Runs

Most Wickets

England produced a commanding batting display to post an imposing 202 for seven in their 20 overs, setting the tone for a high-scoring contest. Even though Jos Buttler's dismissal occurred earlier than expected, a 76-run stand before he got out helped put England back on track with Philip Salt and Jacob Bethell establishing partnerships for 76 runs with both players scoring quickly to help put the innings back onto an even keel. Tom Banton also made a valuable contribution with his quick-fire 30 which helped maintain the pace of the innings, while Harry Brook's rapid contribution ensured that there was no loss of momentum for England. England then continued to pile on the runs during the death overs with their middle order taking full advantage of loose balls during this period to push their total score beyond 200.

Italy started their innings shakily with two wickets falling during the first over of their innings, leaving them behind the required run-rate right from the start. However, Justin Mosca provided some impetus for Italy by scoring an aggressive 43 runs, then rebuilding the innings alongside skipper Harry Manenti. The innings underwent a massive transformation when Ben Manenti exploded for 60 runs from just 25 balls including 4 fours and 6 monstrous sixes. This knock by Ben revived Italy's hopes of winning by reducing the required run-rate to less than 8 per over and temporarily putting pressure on England during the middle period of Italy's innings.

When Justin Mosca left the playing field, England regained their dominance, causing the Italian team to collapse as they lost their momentum. Grant Stewart came into the game with a very strong performance, getting a fast 45 runs, however wickets fell at regular intervals as the required run rate climbed. Jamie Overton bowled a key spell taking three wickets with only 18 runs against him, and Sam Curran matched him in dismantling the lower order as well with three wickets for 29 runs. Their consistent and disciplined bowling never allowed Italy to seriously threaten the target, even though there were brief bursts of aggressive hitting totals at the end of the innings.

See Also: Watch: Pakistani fan sings Indian national anthem during IND vs PAK T20 WC 2026 match in Colombo

England’s late surge proves decisive

Will Jacks unleashed a blistering unbeaten knock of 53 off only 22 balls to be the major turning point of England’s innings during the final four overs, changing a competitive total into a daunting total and placing considerable pressure on Italy to perform from the outset to chase down this total. Jacks’ late explosion equally exposed the limitations of Italy’s bowling to bowl at the death, resulting in many boundaries and difficulty with field placements. Jacks created the scoring buffer needed to allow England’s bowling unit to bowl with confidence when Italy completed their innings at 178 runs, meaning that England received a comprehensive 24-run victory, strengthening their superb position within the overall group standings.

Despite displaying commendable fighting spirit, particularly through their middle-order hitters, Italy’s early collapse and their inability to consistently build partnerships severely hampered their chances of success. Conversely, England provided an impressive balance of power in both batting and bowling, with an explosive batting performance and disciplined bowling. This result also provided confirmation of the depth and adaptability of England’s performance to pressure, potentially highlighting that they can be a strong contender as they progress toward the knockout stages of the tournament.

Top Performances

Will Jacks starred with a blazing unbeaten 53 off just 22 balls, powering England past the 200 mark with a brutal late assault. Ben Manenti kept Italy alive in the chase with a sensational 60 off 25 deliveries, smashing six sixes in a counterattacking knock. With the ball, Jamie Overton delivered a match-turning spell of 3/18, while Sam Curran also claimed three wickets to dismantle Italy’s lower order and seal control.

Key Moments

England’s innings pivoted dramatically in the death overs when Jacks launched a boundary spree that added crucial runs and shifted pressure entirely onto Italy. The chase briefly tilted when Manenti and Grant Stewart accelerated, but Overton’s double strike broke the momentum at a critical stage. Curran then removed the remaining resistance in quick succession, ensuring Italy never closed the gap. The early wickets in Italy’s innings and England’s late batting surge ultimately proved decisive factors that defined the outcome of this high-scoring contest.

Brief Score

England: 202/7 (20 overs)
Will Jacks 53* (22); Grant Stewart 2/51

Italy: 178 all out (20 overs)
Ben Manenti 60 (25); Jamie Overton 3/18

England won by 24 runs

Sam Curran who plays cricket for England was seen spending time in Mumbai with his girlfriend Isabella Grace. He drove his Lamborghini through the city streets after England achieved their dramatic victory against Nepal in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match.

The sighting quickly caught fans’ attention on social media, coming right after Curran delivered one of the most pressure-filled overs of the tournament so far. Curran successfully defended 10 runs during the final over which took place at Wankhede Stadium by delivering accurate yorkers that helped England cricket team achieve a four-run victory against Nepal cricket team.

England scored 184 runs for 7 wickets after winning the toss to create a difficult target for their opponents. The innings became stable because Captain Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell both achieved two half-centuries, while Will Jacks delivered an explosive performance with his 39 runs off 18 balls, which helped England reach their competitive score.

Curran delivers under pressure before enjoying Mumbai moments

The Nepalese team maintained their composure during the important match. Dipendra Singh Airee and Rohit Paudel formed a successful batting partnership which kept their team in the match until Lokesh Bam scored runs in the last over to cut the target down to 10 runs. The Wankhede crowd sensed impending historical moments until Curran executed his plan which destroyed their hopes of a magical conclusion.

Watch the video:

Sam Curran enjoying time with his girlfriend, driving a Lamborghini in Mumbai after winning against Nepal in the T20 World Cup 2026. pic.twitter.com/vpcKPzGzuc

— Sonu (@Cricket_live247) February 9, 2026

ALSO SEE: Are Ben and Harry Manenti who are playing for Italy in T20 World Cup 2026 brothers?

England captain Brook praised Curran after the thrilling match because he showed composure which he described as "ice-cold under pressure" while his experience helped the team achieve victory.

Curran drove through Mumbai after he finished his intense match which showed him to be both relaxed and happy. The final over brought intense pressure while the players maintained their coolness during the post-game activities which demonstrated how Curran had become known as a top performer in crucial matches.

Sam Curran's evening began with important bowling victories and ended with him driving through Mumbai which displayed all the excitement and attractiveness that the T20 World Cup brings to audiences.

Sri Lanka will face England in the second T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Sunday, February 1. After the first game was affected by rain, both teams will be keen to put in a stronger performance and gain control of the series.

Sri Lanka struggled in the opening match as they scored 133 in 16.2 overs. Even though Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave them a decent start, the rest of the batting failed, and the team was bowled out for a low score. Their bowling also lacked control, allowing England to stay comfortable during the chase. The hosts will be under pressure to improve in all departments if they want to keep the series alive.

England, on the other hand, had a solid outing. Their bowlers, in particular Sam Curran and Adil Rashid, kept things tight and then grabbed crucial wickets. With the bat, Phil Salt played positively during the powerplay and ensured England stayed ahead before rain ended the match. They will look to continue the same momentum in the second game.

SL vs ENG: Head-to-Head (T20Is)

• Matches Played: 15
• Sri Lanka Won: 4
• England Won: 11
• No Result: 0

SL vs ENG: Pitch Report

The pitch at Pallekele usually offers a fair contest between bat and ball. However, rain is expected again, which could influence team decisions. Bowling first after winning the toss might be the safer option, as chasing teams can plan better under DLS conditions.

See Also: U19 World Cup 2026, Super 6, Match 12: IND U19 vs PAK U19 head-to-head, pitch report and predicted playing XIs

SL vs ENG: Predicted Playing XIs

Sri Lanka (SL):

Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Mendis (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Dhananjaya de Silva, Janith Liyanage, Eshan Malinga, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana

England (ENG):

Harry Brook (c), Jos Buttler, Phil Salt (wk), Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer

All-rounder Sam Curran took a memorable hat-trick as England beat Sri Lanka by 11 runs (DLS method) in Pallekele on Friday, January 30, in the first T20I of the three-match series.

England bowled first and dismissed Sri Lanka for 133 runs in 16.2 overs. The match was reduced to 17 overs due to rain. During the chase, England were 125 for 4 after 15 overs, but no further play was possible because of bad weather.

Left-arm seamer Sam Curran finished with figures of 3 for 38 in three overs. He dismissed Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka (20) on the fourth ball of the 16th over, with the batter caught at mid-off. On the next ball, Maheesh Theekshana (0) was caught at long-on. Curran completed his hat-trick by bowling Matheesha Pathirana (0) with a full delivery from around the wicket.

After Curran’s strong performance in the first T20I against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, his stats are now being compared with Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Curran has played 65 T20I matches so far, and his numbers are compared with Pandya’s stats after he had also played the same number of matches.

Also read -Watch: Star Indian batter hits a straight boundary in nets before joining India squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Sam Curran vs Hardik Pandya After 65 T20Is

After 65 T20I matches, Sam Curran and Hardik Pandya have shown their skills as all-rounders for their teams. Here is a simple comparison of their batting and bowling numbers.

Batting Stats Comparison

In 65 T20Is, Sam Curran has scored 451 runs at an average of 17.34 and a strike rate of 131.48. The left-handed batter scored 140 runs in five innings against West Indies at an average of 28 and a strike rate of 140. He also scored 103 runs in seven innings against New Zealand at a strike rate of 151.47.

After 65 T20Is, Hardik Pandya had scored 802 runs at an average of 23.58 and a strike rate of 143.98. He scored 216 runs in 11 innings against England at an average of 27 and a strike rate of 142.10. Pandya also scored 165 runs in seven innings against South Africa at a strike rate of 139.83 and 103 runs in four innings against Australia at a strike rate of 141.09.

50-Plus Scores Comparison

In 65 T20Is, Sam Curran has scored one half-century. He made 50 off 32 balls against West Indies in Grenada in December 2023, hitting four fours and three sixes. He also played a quick knock of 24 off 11 balls against New Zealand in Auckland in November 2019.

Hardik Pandya also had one half-century after 65 T20Is. His best score was 51 off 33 balls against England in Southampton in July 2022. He also scored 46 off 31 balls against South Africa in Rajkot in June 2022 and remained not out on 42 off 22 balls against Australia in Sydney in December 2020.

Bowling Stats Comparison

In 65 T20Is, Sam Curran has taken 60 wickets at an average of 26.70 and an economy rate of 8.57. He took 10 wickets in seven matches against Pakistan at an average of 18.40 and an economy rate of 6.81. Curran also picked up nine wickets in five matches against Sri Lanka at an average of 12.44 and an economy rate of seven.

After 65 T20Is, Hardik Pandya had taken 49 wickets at an average of 27.59 and an economy rate of 8.35. He picked up 14 wickets in 13 matches against England at an average of 22 and an economy rate of 7.70. He also took nine wickets in eight matches against Sri Lanka at an average of 17.33 and an economy rate of 6.68.

Four-Wicket and Five-Wicket Hauls

In 65 T20Is, Sam Curran has one five-wicket haul. His best bowling figures of 5 for 10 came against Afghanistan in Perth during the 2022 T20 World Cup. He also took 3 for 12 against Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final. Curran also had spells of 3 for 25 against Australia in Canberra in October 2022 and 3 for 28 against South Africa in Cape Town in November 2020.

After 65 T20Is, Hardik Pandya had two four-wicket hauls. His best figures were 4 for 33 against England in Southampton in July 2022. He also took 4 for 38 against England in Bristol in July 2018 and claimed 3 for 29 against Sri Lanka in Cuttack in December 2017.

The left-arm pace all-rounder of the England side, Sam Curran, has been in superb touch during the T20 format, having won the International League T20 (ILT20) for the Desert Vipers and made a vital contribution for the Sydney Sixers. He picked up seven wickets for the Vipers in 11 innings at an economy rate of 8.51, and had five wickets at 19.20 in the BBL. 

Turning up for the England side during the opening T20I against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka, smashed the left-arm pacer for 33 runs in two overs with a flurry of boundaries before Curran marked a special return with a hat-trick, which went viral around the social media platforms.

See Also: Watch: Pakistan reaches out to USA to complain on BCCI power in cricket ahead of T20 World Cup 2026 

On the fourth ball of the 16th over, he sent back the opposition captain, Dasun Shanaka, for 20 runs in 16 balls. He went for the yorker but hasn’t been able to nail it. But it was full enough to stop the batters from getting under it, as Shanaka didn’t get the full elevation and was taken by Harry Brook.

Sam Curran celebrates T20I hat-trick vs Sri Lanka in Pallekele 

The very next delivery was another slower one to which Maheesh Theekshana, on a first-ball duck, chipped the bowler down the ground as Jamie Overton took the simplest of catches at long-on region. That brought the bowler a chance of celebrating a hat-trick.

Watch the video here: 

SAM CURRAN TOOK A HATTRICK IN THE T20I AGAINST SRI LANKA. 🔥pic.twitter.com/kS2rcVATnr

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 30, 2026

The sixth and final delivery of the 16th over was a great delivery that broke the stumps of Matheesha Pathirana for another first-ball duck. This time, the bowler was able to nail the yorker on the off-stump from round the wicket, as Pathirana swung hard and got the off-stump for a beating. Sri Lanka were bundled out for 133 runs in 16.2 overs as Curran finished with figures of 3/19 in his four overs.

In reply, England went off to a flying start in the chase with 36 runs coming in less than three overs. Phil Salt smashed 42 runs in 30 balls while Tom Banton contributed 29 runs in just 15 balls. Pathirana was excellent and seemed to be back in his prime.

Brief Scores: England 125/4 (Phil Salt 46, Tom Banton 29, Eshan Malinga 2/24) beat Sri Lanka 133 (Kushal Mendis 37, Adil Rashid 3/19) by 11 runs (DLS). 

The countdown has begun for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which starts in just a few days. This will be the 10th edition of the tournament and will be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka. The competition will run from February 7 to March 8, with 55 matches scheduled across eight grounds. Five venues will be in India, while three will be in Sri Lanka.

India enter the tournament as the defending champions. They lifted the trophy in the last edition, played in the USA and the West Indies, by winning every match they played. The Indian team will now try to win the T20 World Cup for the third time, having earlier won the title in 2010.

Only two other teams have managed to win the tournament more than once. West Indies claimed the title in 2012 and 2016, while England emerged champions in 2010 and 2022.

Across the nine previous editions of the Men’s T20 World Cup, bowlers have produced several match-winning performances. With the new tournament approaching, we revisit the top five bowling figures ever recorded in the history of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Also read -Star RCB batter named Karnataka captain despite KL Rahul’s return for the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season

1. Ajantha Mendis (6/8) vs Zimbabwe – 2012

Former Sri Lanka spinner Ajantha Mendis has the best bowling figures in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup history. He took 6 wickets for 8 runs against Zimbabwe in Hambantota during the 2012 tournament.

Sri Lanka scored 182 runs after batting first. Zimbabwe were then bowled out for 100 in 17.3 overs. Mendis completely troubled the batters with his spin and variations.

He dismissed Vusi Sibanda, Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Elton Chigumbura, Prosper Utseya, and Kyle Jarvis to complete his six-wicket haul.

2. Rangana Herath (5/3) vs New Zealand – 2014

Rangana Herath produced a brilliant spell against New Zealand in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Chattogram. He picked up 5 wickets for just 3 runs in 3.3 overs.

Sri Lanka scored only 119 runs, but Herath’s bowling helped dismiss New Zealand for just 60 runs. His wickets included Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, and Trent Boult.

3. Umar Gul (5/6) vs New Zealand – 2009

Pakistan fast bowler Umar Gul took 5 wickets for 6 runs against New Zealand at The Oval in the 2009 T20 World Cup.

New Zealand were bowled out for 99 runs. Gul used yorkers and slower balls to remove Scott Styris, Peter McGlashan, Nathan McCullum, James Franklin, and Kyle Mills. Pakistan chased the target easily.

4. Fazalhaq Farooqi (5/9) vs Uganda – 2024

Afghanistan pacer Fazalhaq Farooqi delivered a strong performance against Uganda in the 2024 T20 World Cup in Guyana. He took 5 wickets for 9 runs in four overs.

Afghanistan scored 183 runs and then bowled Uganda out for just 58 runs. Farooqi dismissed Ronak Patel, Roger Mukasa, Riazat Ali Shah, Brian Masaba, and Robinson Obuya.

5. Sam Curran (5/10) vs Afghanistan – 2022

England all-rounder Sam Curran took 5 wickets for 10 runs against Afghanistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Perth.

England bowled first and dismissed Afghanistan for 112 runs. Curran’s victims included Ibrahim Zadran, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rashid Khan, Usman Ghani, and Fazalhaq Farooqi. England won the match by five wickets.