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Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in the second ODI in Colombo, just as they had done in the first game which they won by 19 runs.
Charith Asalanka unsurprisingly opted to stick to the winning formula, naming an unchanged XI. He expected a target of 270 to once more do the job.
Harry Brook, who was visibly annoyed at losing another toss on a pretty sweltering day, focused on his side’s need to execute their skills better, particularly later in the chase when they’ll face Sri Lanka’s bevy of spinners. “Keeping the stumps in play,” might serve as an indicator to what England’s own plans might be with the ball.
In terms of team news, there is one enforced change for the visitors with the fit-again Will Jacks replacing Zak Crawley who is out with a knee injury. Jacks won’t be opening though, with Brook confirming at the toss that it would Rehan Ahmed getting a promotion to the top of the order, where England will hope he can build on from his quickfire 27 in the opening game.
In terms of the pitch and conditions, the Khettarama’s dimensions are pretty unforgiving with both square boundaries just 69 metres each. The conditions overhead were also hot and humid, though some rain could arrive later in the afternoon – nothing that is expected to disrupt the completion of the game, however. The pitch itself was drier than the one used on Thursday.
Sri Lanka: 1 Pathum Nissanka, 2 Kamil Mishara, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Dhananjaya de Silva, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Janith Liyanage, 7 Pavan Rathnayake, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Pramod Madushan, 10 Jeffrey Vandersay, 11 Asitha Fernando
England: 1 Rehan Ahmed, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Jacob Bethell, 5 Harry Brook (capt), 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Will Jacks, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Jamie Overton, 10 Liam Dawson, 11 Adil Rashid
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