England and Sri Lanka meet in the sixth match of the Pakistan Triangular Series at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Thursday, 29 October 2026. CricStats data shows a near-even all-time record, a tightly contested recent run and a modest numerical edge to England. This preview breaks down the numbers.
Head-to-Head Record in ODIs
The two sides have met 86 times in ODIs since 1982. England hold a narrow lead of two wins, which translates to roughly 48.8% against 46.5% for Sri Lanka.
| Metric | Value |
|---|
| Matches played | 86 |
| England wins | 42 |
| Sri Lanka wins | 40 |
| Tied / drawn / no result | 4 |
Last Five Meetings
England have won three of the last five encounters, while Sri Lanka have won two. The most recent meeting went to the final over.
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|
| 22 Oct 2026 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium | Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets (1 ball remaining) |
| 27 Sep 2026 | Kennington Oval | England won by 223 runs |
| 24 Sep 2026 | Headingley | Sri Lanka won by 16 runs |
| 22 Sep 2026 | Riverside Ground | England won by 89 runs |
| 27 Jan 2026 | R.Premadasa Stadium | England won by 53 runs |
The margins vary widely, from a one-ball finish to a 223-run result. That spread suggests outcomes in this fixture are driven by batting-innings volatility rather than steady dominance.
Recent Form: Last 10 ODIs
England have won 5 and lost 5 of their last 10 completed ODIs. Sri Lanka have won 3 and lost 7 across the same window. England have lost their last three, including defeats to Pakistan on 20 October and 25 October and to Sri Lanka on 22 October.
| Team | Last 10 (newest first) | Won | Lost | Win rate |
|---|
| England | L L L W L W W W L W | 5 | 5 | 50% |
| Sri Lanka | W L L W L L L W L L | 3 | 7 | 30% |
Form Context
Sri Lanka's most recent result is their two-wicket win over England, but they lost to Pakistan by 37 runs on 18 October. England's recent losses came by 87 runs, by 1 wicket with 17 balls remaining, and by 2 wickets with 1 ball remaining. Two of those three were close chases, so the form line looks worse than the underlying margins in some cases.
Venue Data: Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore
Gaddafi Stadium has hosted 74 completed ODIs. Teams batting first have won 39, while teams chasing have won 31. That is about 52.7% for batting first and 41.9% for chasing, a modest lean towards setting a target.
| Venue metric | Value |
|---|
| Completed ODIs | 74 |
| Won batting first | 39 |
| Won chasing | 31 |
| Average first-innings total | 259 |
An average first-innings score of 259 gives a reference point for what a competitive total has looked like historically at this ground.
Players in Form Over the Last 12 Months
Squads for this match are not confirmed, so the names below are players who have been in form in ODIs over the last 12 months, not certain starters.
England
Sri Lanka
| Batter | Runs | Innings | Best |
|---|
| Pavan Rathnayake | 482 | 9 | 130 |
| Kusal Mendis | 409 | 11 | 121 |
| Janith Liyanage | 342 | 11 | 61 |
| Bowler | Wickets | Matches |
|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 14 | 10 |
| Jeffrey Vandersay | 8 | 4 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 8 | 7 |
Rathnayake's 482 runs in 9 innings is the most efficient return among the batters listed, at about 53.6 runs per innings. Root (about 50.5) and Brook (about 43.4) lead the England group on the same measure.
Top Performers in This Fixture Since 2021
England batters dominate the run charts in this matchup since 2021. Harry Brook has 531 runs in 7 innings, which is about 75.9 per innings.
| Category | Player | Team | Return |
|---|
| Runs | Harry Brook | England | 531 in 7 inns |
| Runs | Joe Root | England | 396 in 8 inns |
| Runs | Pavan Rathnayake | Sri Lanka | 371 in 7 inns |
| Wickets | Asitha Fernando | Sri Lanka | 10 wkts |
| Wickets | Will Jacks | England | 9 wkts |
| Wickets | Liam Dawson | England | 8 wkts |
CricStats Data Lean and Prediction
Across the last 10 decisive meetings between the sides, England hold a 60% to 40% advantage. England's recent win rate is 50%, compared with 30% for Sri Lanka.
| Indicator | England | Sri Lanka |
|---|
| Head-to-head, last 10 decisive meetings | 60% | 40% |
| Recent win rate (last 10 ODIs) | 50% | 30% |
On these numbers, England are slight favourites, with a 60% to 40% lean. This is a statistical indication, not a certainty. Sri Lanka's win on 22 October shows how narrow the margins can be, and the venue's batting-first record adds another variable to watch.