Sri Lanka and England meet at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Thursday, 22 October, in the third match of the Pakistan ODI tri-series - and both sides are already running out of room. Pakistan have won both of their games, so the loser of this one will be under serious pressure before the series moves to Lahore. The match starts at 1:30 PM IST.
Here is what has happened so far, what Thursday means for each team, and what to watch.
How the series stands
Pakistan have made a near-perfect start as hosts. In the opener on 18 October they posted 305 and beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs. Two days later they went further, making 302 for 9 against England and then bowling the visitors out for 215 to win by 87 runs.
The second game had a clear pattern. Pakistan's top order wobbled early, but Hasan Nawaz held the innings together with 79, the highest score of the match, while wicketkeeper Saad Baig added 35 and Babar Azam 34. England's chase then collapsed in the middle overs. After a 91-run opening stand, the innings fell away sharply once the first wicket went down, and the last five wickets added very little. From a strong platform to 215 all out, it was a defeat that will sting.
What Sri Lanka need
Sri Lanka's problem in the first match was not effort but the final few overs of both innings. Chasing 306, they stayed in touch for long periods before finishing on 268. Against an England attack that Pakistan have already scored 302 against, their batters have a real chance to post or chase a big score.
The key for Sri Lanka is converting starts. Their top order got them close in a 300-plus chase once already in this series. If one of them bats deep into the innings on Thursday, the game opens up.
What England need
England's batting card against Pakistan told its own story: a bright start, then a slide. The middle order never settled against disciplined bowling, and the tail was exposed far too early. Harry Brook and Joe Root are exactly the players England will want more from in Rawalpindi.
There is also a leadership question. Losing by 87 runs after being well placed in a chase forces a rethink, whether that is about intent against spin in the middle overs or simply better shot selection under pressure.
The bigger picture
This tri-series is short - six league games and a final on 31 October - so every match carries weight. A Pakistan win for Sri Lanka or England here would all but end realistic hopes of making the final without help from other results. After Thursday, the tournament shifts to the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, where Pakistan face England again on 25 October.
For the full fixture list with IST start times, including the Lahore leg and the final, see our schedule of major international fixtures.
Match details
- Match: Sri Lanka v England, 3rd ODI, Pakistan tri-series
- Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026
- Start: 1:30 PM IST (1:00 PM local)
- Venue: Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Sources: Pakistan Cricket Board tri-series page and ECB schedule announcement for the fixtures; ESPNcricinfo scorecards for the results of matches one and two.
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