ENG vs SL Match Prediction : 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka tour of England, 2026
ENG vs SL Win Probability
85%
England
15%
Sri Lanka
England To Win, 1.13
England has won 4 of its last 5 ODIs at home
Sri Lanka put up a strong fight in the first match but lacked that finishing touch with the ball
England is going through a white ball resurgence and looks very strong in all departments
ENG vs SL Betting Tips
Joe Root to score over 39.5 runs
Joe Root has been one of England's most consistent batters in recent months. He has scored at least 40 runs in each of his last seven innings, including five half-centuries and a century. With Root continuing to find runs consistently and conditions at Headingley likely to reward patience, we are backing him to make another substantial contribution.
Highest individual score under 104.5
Headingley can be a challenging venue for batters, particularly when there is assistance for the seamers. Only one of the last eight matches played here has produced an individual score above 104 runs. With the conditions expected to make stroke-making difficult, we expect the highest individual score to remain below the 104.5 line.
Team form (Last 5 matches)
England
Sri Lanka
England will look to extend their advantage in the ongoing three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka when the two sides meet in the second match on Thursday. The game will be played at Headingley in Leeds, with the hosts looking to build on their convincing victory in the series opener.
England vs Sri Lanka Head-to-Head Record
England has won six of the last 10 ODI meetings between the two sides, while Sri Lanka has won four.
ENG vs SL Team Previews
England
After completing a clean sweep against Sri Lanka in the T20I series, England continued their dominance in the 50-over format by securing a convincing victory in the first ODI on Tuesday. The hosts will now look to maintain that momentum and take an unassailable lead in the series.
England are likely to retain the opening combination of Ben Duckett and Tom Banton. Both batters made useful starts in the first ODI, although England will want at least one of them to convert that start into a substantial score.
The middle order remains England's biggest strength, with Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Jos Buttler providing plenty of experience and quality. All-rounders Will Jacks and Rehan Ahmed add further depth to the batting while also offering useful bowling options. Jacks was particularly impressive in the previous match, claiming a five-wicket haul to play a major role in England's victory.
Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue were excellent with the new ball and will once again look to put Sri Lanka under pressure during the opening overs. Jofra Archer and Jamie Overton provide further pace options and give England plenty of variety in their attack.
England Expected Playing 11
Ben Duckett, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Joe Root, Will Jacks, Rehan Ahmed, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue
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Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka will be disappointed with their performances on this tour so far. With the ODI World Cup now only a year away, the visitors need to find greater consistency and will be determined to make a stronger showing in the second ODI.
A lot will depend on the opening combination of Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis. Both are talented batters, but they struggled against the new ball in the opening match and will need to provide a more solid platform this time around.
The middle order has plenty of experience, with Kusal Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Charith Asalanka, and Dunith Wellalage expected to shoulder much of the responsibility. Mendis and Wellalage made useful contributions in the first ODI, but Sri Lanka will need greater support from the rest of the batting order.
The bowling attack also needs to improve after an inconsistent performance in the series opener. Dushmantha Chameera and Asitha Fernando were expensive and will need to produce better lines and lengths in the second match. Sachindu Colombage was Sri Lanka's standout bowler and will once again lead the spin attack alongside Wellalage.
Sri Lanka Expected Playing 11
Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (C & WK), Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pavan Rathnayake, Janith Liyanage, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Sachindu Colombage
ENG vs SL Toss Prediction
In six of the last 10 matches played at Headingley, the team winning the toss has opted to bat first. Given the potential assistance for the bowlers early in the innings and the importance of putting runs on the board, we expect the captain winning the toss to choose to bat first.
Pitch Report and Weather Conditions
The Headingley pitch is not always the easiest surface on which to bat. The average first-innings score across the last 10 matches at the venue is around 255, highlighting the challenges faced by batters.
The surface is expected to offer assistance to the bowlers, particularly early in the innings. The quicker bowlers could find movement off the seam with the new ball, while slower bowlers may get some grip and turn once the ball becomes softer.
Batters will therefore need to spend time at the crease before looking to accelerate. Overcast conditions and temperatures below 20°C are expected, which could provide additional assistance to the seamers.
ENG vs SL : Who Will Win?
We are backing England to win this match. The hosts have been clinical across both the T20I and ODI formats and produced a convincing performance in the series opener. Their batting depth and stronger bowling options give them plenty of ways to control the game.
Sri Lanka have several quality players capable of making an impact, but they will need a significant improvement from the first ODI to challenge England at Headingley.
Bet on England to win.
