England is gearing up to play two of their three Super 8 matches at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, with the third match set to take place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. During the group stage, the Three Lions played two games at Eden Gardens in Kolkata and another two at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Their Super 8 campaign kicks off on Sunday, February 22, when they face off against Sri Lanka in Kandy. 

 

The Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has been a lucky spot for England. They’ve played six T20Is there, winning four and losing just two. Before the T20 World Cup 2026, England toured Sri Lanka for three ODIs and three T20Is, sweeping the T20I series 3-0 at this very venue. 

 

England's first T20I match in Kandy was during the 2012 T20 World Cup, where they took on the West Indies on September 27. The Windies, led by Johnson Charles' impressive 84 off 56 balls, set a target of 179/5, with Chris Gayle contributing 58 runs from 35 balls.

 

In response, Alex Hales managed a steady half-century on a challenging pitch, but two of the top three batters fell for ducks. Jonny Bairstow had a rather unusual innings, scoring 18 runs off 29 balls, while Eoin Morgan's spirited half-century wasn’t enough to clinch victory. England ended up with 164/4, losing by 15 runs. 

 

Also Read | 3 Reasons Why South Africa Can Beat India in T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8

 

In their most recent T20I at this venue, England struggled, posting just 128/9 in their first innings, with Sam Curran being the standout performer, scoring 58 runs off 48 balls. Sri Lanka, however, faltered in their chase, getting bowled out for 116, thanks to Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, who spun a web around the batters in favorable conditions. 

 

Jacob Bethell is currently England's top run-scorer in the T20 World Cup, amassing 143 runs in four matches at an average of 35.75 and a strike rate of 134.90. Additionally, four England bowlers Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, and Jofra Archer have each taken four wickets so far in the tournament. 

 

England’s record in Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in T20Is

 

Matches	6
Matches Won	04
Matches Lost	02
First-Ever Match	September 27, 2012
Most-Recent Match	February 3, 2026