Final result
Sri Lanka won by 14 runs
Player of the match: PWH de Silva
Result · T20 Internationals
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Cricket
Result · T20 Internationals
Venue par · 209Chase success · 58%POTM · PWH de Silva
Match preview & overview
Sri Lanka end Pakistan's winning run with 14-run victory in Dambulla T20I
Sri Lanka Cricket beat Pakistan Cricket by 14 runs in a T20 international at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on 11 January 2026. Sri Lanka posted 160/6 from their 20 overs and then bowled Pakistan out for 146/8, with PWH de Silva earning the Player of the Match award for his contributions across both innings. Pakistan had won the toss and chosen to field, a standard decision at a venue that sees 50% of toss-winners elect to do exactly that. It was not enough. The win ended a run of three consecutive defeats for Sri Lanka against the same opponents and offered a first home victory in the 2026 fixtures after Pakistan had won the previous meeting at this ground by 6 wickets.
Pakistan entered the match in strong recent form. Before 11 January, they had won four of their last five matches against Sri Lanka, including both encounters in 2026. Sri Lanka's only win in that run had come at Pindi in 2025. A fifth Pakistan win in six looked plausible. It didn't materialise.
Pitch report & venue insights
National Stadium — 74-match sample
Aggregate conditions from 2004–2023. Numbers that tend to decide matches at this ground — par score, chase success, powerplay averages and toss bias.
74
T20 matches hosted
209
Avg 1st-innings score
181
Avg 2nd-innings score
58%
Chase success rate
45
Avg powerplay runs
58%
Toss-field rate
Key talking points
Moments the match hinged on
Headline angle
De Silva earns Player of the Match
PWH de Silva took home the Player of the Match award as Sri Lanka posted 160/6 and then restricted Pakistan to 146/8. His contribution across both facets of the game proved decisive in a 14-run win.
Angle 02
Pakistan's powerplay cost them the chase
Angle 03
Sri Lanka's middle overs held the innings together
Angle 04
Sri Lanka end a run of three consecutive losses
Angle 05
Pakistan chose to field but could not exploit the advantage
Key players
Players who decided it
Betting & analytical angles
Angles the data surfaced
- Player performance markets may hold interest given de Silva's dual impact: all-rounders at this venue tend to outperform single-dimension players across 62 matches of evidence.
- Powerplay wickets markets could be worth monitoring given Pakistan lost 4 wickets inside 6 overs; their top-order fragility has been a consistent trend across recent meetings.
- Total runs lines may be conservative relative to the venue's average first-innings score of 208: both sides scored well below that figure, suggesting bowling conditions played a larger role than usual.
- Top batter markets may offer more editorial value than outright result lines in a series where the head-to-head is shifting after years of Pakistan dominance.
For editorial context only. Not a forecast and not betting advice. 18+ only, please gamble responsibly.
Frequently asked
Questions about Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Cricket
What was the result of Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I on 11 January 2026?
Sri Lanka Cricket beat Pakistan Cricket by 14 runs at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. Sri Lanka posted 160/6 and Pakistan were restricted to 146/8 in reply. PWH de Silva was named Player of the Match.
Where to watch Sri Lanka vs Pakistan T20I in the UK?
T20 international cricket involving South Asian nations is typically available in the UK via Sky Sports Cricket, with streaming through Sky Go and NOW TV. Check your provider's schedule for exact broadcast times and confirm coverage ahead of each fixture in the series.
What is the head-to-head record between Sri Lanka and Pakistan?
Across 117 meetings, Pakistan lead the head-to-head with 62 wins to Sri Lanka's 44, with 11 no-results. In the five fixtures immediately before this game, Pakistan had won four. Sri Lanka's victory in Dambulla on 11 January 2026 is only their second win in the last six meetings.
Who won the toss and what did they decide?
Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first. Despite bowling Sri Lanka to 160/6, well below the venue's average first-innings score of 208, Pakistan's own batting fell short at 146/8.
What was the powerplay score in each innings at Dambulla?
Sri Lanka scored 62 runs but lost 3 wickets in their powerplay. Pakistan's powerplay was more damaging: 75 runs from 6 overs, but 4 wickets lost. The venue's average powerplay score is 48 runs, so both sides outscored that, but Pakistan's wicket losses proved costly.
What is the pitch like at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium?
Across 62 matches at the ground, the average first-innings score is 208 and the average second-innings score is 178. Chasing teams win 56% of the time. Both teams scored below their expected totals in this match, suggesting the surface played slower than usual or the bowling was particularly effective.
Photo credits (3)
- Wanindu Hasaranga — photo by 04 ATM 04, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Lasith Malinga — photo by paddynapper, CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Thisara Perera — photo by Amal316, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source