Will Jacks Stars as England Beat Sri Lanka at T20 World Cup

Jacks masterclass leads England to win over Sri Lanka

England defeats Sri Lanka by 51 runs at T20 World Cup, thanks to Will Jacks' all-round performance. Jacks scored 21 and took 3-22 as England bowled Sri Lanka out for 95.

"It encourages me to get into the game and perform better...”

Will Jacks' all-round performance was instrumental in England's 51-run win over Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup. He scored 21 useful runs and took 3 wickets for 22 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award.

England had a shaky start, with Sri Lanka restricting them to 146-9. However, Jacks' impressive bowling, along with Jofra Archer's 2-20, dismantled Sri Lanka's batting lineup, with the hosts being bowled out for 95 in 16.4 overs.

Jacks made 21 useful runs down the order and then took 3-22 as England bowled out Sri Lanka for 95 inside 17 overs to win by 51 runs.

"It encourages me to get into the game and perform better,” Jacks said, after being named player of the match. “Bowling in the powerplay is something I've done a lot of. So it's not foreign to me.”

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka elected to field after winning the toss and had reasons to feel vindicated as England slumped to 68-4 at the halfway mark of their innings.

Jos Buttler's 14-ball struggle ended when he was trapped lbw for seven, attempting a reverse shot against spinner Dunith Wellalage but missing a ball that hit him on the pad.

Spinner Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Jacob Bethell for three, while Tom Banton was run out trying for a risky single, beaten by Shanaka's direct throw from mid-off.

Harry Brook scored 14 before being dismissed lbw by Wellalage - England's review of the decision was unsuccessful.

Phil Salt (62) blazed to a 36-ball fifty but was caught out in the 15th over, giving Wellalage his third wicket.

Jacks added some late runs, but England fell short of 150. They needed a strong bowling response, and they got it - Sri Lanka were 22-4 inside five overs.

Jacks dismissed Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake off successive deliveries, after Jofra Archer had sent back Sri Lanka's opener Pathum Nissanka.

Archer removed Kamil Mishara, and Sri Lanka were struggling at 34-5 after Wellalage became Jacks' third victim.

Will Jacks turned the game in England's favour with a superb all-round performance against Sri Lanka 👊

He wins the @aramco POTM 🎖️ pic.twitter.com/Obb0vWPe4Z

— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) February 22, 2026

Sri Lanka's hosts struggled to recover, with several top batters getting soft dismissals. Dushan Hemantha's odd hit-wicket dismissal for five encapsulated Sri Lanka's batting woes.

Shanaka put up a fight with 30, but Jacks took a catch in the deep to dismiss the Sri Lanka captain, effectively sealing England's win.