In a thrilling encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, England capped off their T20 World Cup preparations with a hard-fought victory over Sri Lanka. While the series scoreline suggests dominance, the final match was a masterclass in spin bowling and low-score defending, headlined by a moment of pure magic from Sri Lankan mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Maheesh Theekshana strikes with an unplayable ball to dismiss Jos Buttler in 3rd T20I
The highlight of the first innings came in the 8th over when Theekshana produced what many are calling the delivery of the series. England’s star batter, Jos Buttler, was looking to stabilize a wobbling innings, having reached 25 off 21 balls. However, he was left utterly shell-shocked by a ball that defied the laws of physics usually associated with Theekshana’s bowling.
Known more for his tight lines and subtle skidders, Theekshana found unexpected purchase on the Pallekele surface. The ball pitched on a perfect length, gripped the dusty turf, and “spun a mile,” zipping through the massive gap between Buttler’s inside edge and back pad. The ball crashed into the top of the off-stump, leaving the world-class batter trudging back to the pavilion in disbelief.
Upon the dismissal, Theekshana broke out his trademark ‘Archer’ celebration, mimicking the release of an arrow into the sky as his teammates swarmed him. At that moment, England was reeling at 47/5, and the Kandy crowd was at its loudest, witnessing a master at work. Theekshana finished his tidy spell with figures of 1/16, proving once again why he remains one of the most difficult mystery bowlers to read in the shortest format.
Here’s the video:
Wicket? ✅ Celebration? 🏹
Maheesh Teekshana spins Jos Buttler out, then brings the heat with that celebration 🥵 #SonySportsNetwork #SLvENG pic.twitter.com/6syY4ApsdG
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) February 3, 2026
Also READ: Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks star with the ball as England seal the 3rd T20I to whitewash Sri Lanka
England secures 3-0 whitewash despite Dushmantha Chameera’s five-wicket haul
Despite the individual brilliance of the Sri Lankan bowlers, England’s depth and grit eventually told the tale. Dushmantha Chameera was the pick of the hosts’ attack, breathing fire to claim a career-best 5/24. His clinical pace bowling restricted England to a modest total of 128/9, a score that seemed well below par at the halfway mark. Sam Curran was the lone hero for the visitors with the bat, dragging his side to respectability with a gritty 58 off 48 balls.
The chase, however, proved to be a nightmare for the Sri Lankan batters. On a surface where the ball continued to grip and turn, England’s spin duo of Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks turned the game on its head. Bethell, the young left-arm spinner, produced a sensational spell of 4/11, including three wickets in a single over to dismantle the tail.
Sri Lanka fell just 12 runs short, being bowled out for 116 in the final over. This victory marked a significant milestone for Harry Brook’s side, securing a 3-0 series clean sweep on foreign soil. For England, it is a perfect boost of confidence ahead of the upcoming T20 World Cup, while Sri Lanka will head back to the drawing board to address their batting collapses against spin.
Also WATCH: Sam Curran takes hat-trick against Sri Lanka in T20I series opener
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