Both sides are desperate to bounce back from defeats to Pakistan, with Sri Lanka likely to turn to Dunith Wellalage to exploit England’s struggles against left-arm spin.

Sri Lanka and England will look to get their campaigns back on track when they meet in the second match of the ongoing ODI tri-series in Rawalpindi today, with both teams seeking their first points after opening defeats to hosts Pakistan.

Although neither side can afford another setback, the contest offers Sri Lanka an opportunity to address the shortcomings exposed in their opening match and exploit England’s vulnerability against spin, particularly left-arm orthodox bowling.

The two teams are familiar opponents, having completed a three-match bilateral ODI series in England last month. England won that series 2-1, with victories at Durham and The Oval sandwiching Sri Lanka’s impressive 16-run win at Headingley, where captain Kusal Mendis struck a superb 121.

Sri Lanka’s opening defeat in Rawalpindi, however, highlighted a familiar problem: the inability to convert a promising position into a successful chase. Pursuing Pakistan’s 305, Sri Lanka were well placed at 210 for four before losing their way and being dismissed for 268 in 48.1 overs, falling 37 runs short.

The fifth-wicket partnership between Janith Liyanage and Pavan Rathnayake had revived Sri Lanka’s hopes, but Pakistan’s bowlers found a way to break through when it mattered most. Sri Lanka will need greater composure and a more decisive approach if they are to avoid a repeat against England.

England, meanwhile, suffered a more emphatic 87-run defeat after failing to chase Pakistan’s total. Despite a promising start, reaching 120 for one, they lost momentum against left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas, who claimed six wickets for 40 runs to turn the match decisively in Pakistan’s favour.

That performance will not have escaped Sri Lanka’s attention.

Wellalage could hold the key

The question facing Sri Lanka’s selectors is whether to bring Dunith Wellalage back into the playing XI after leaving him out of the opening match.

Wellalage was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s victory at Headingley last month, taking three wickets for 49 runs and demonstrating the value of his left-arm spin against England’s batting line-up. His ability to control the middle overs while offering a genuine wicket-taking option could make him a valuable addition to a side that needs greater balance.

Sahan Arachchige, who has yet to make a convincing impact in the ongoing series, could be the player to make way if Sri Lanka decide to reinforce their spin attack.

Leg-spinner Sachindu Colombage is another important component of the bowling combination. Together, Colombage and Wellalage could give Sri Lanka the variety required to challenge England’s middle order, particularly if the visitors again struggle to rotate the strike against spin.

However, Sri Lanka’s batting must also take responsibility. Their collapse against Pakistan was not simply a case of the opposition bowling well; it exposed the need for better decision-making when a chase enters its decisive phase.

Avishka Fernando, recalled for the Pakistan match in the absence of the injured Pathum Nissanka, will be keen to make a greater contribution after falling cheaply to Naseem Shah. Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis will be central to Sri Lanka’s hopes of building a solid platform, while Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage have shown they can contribute valuable runs in the middle order.

England have questions of their own

England’s defeat to Pakistan raised questions about their ability to maintain an aggressive approach throughout an innings. After establishing a strong opening partnership, they struggled to counter Minhas, with Harry Brook acknowledging that his batters had been too cautious against the left-arm spinner.

Brook’s captaincy also came under scrutiny, particularly over the use of his bowling resources as Pakistan accelerated towards the end of their innings.

England are expected to retain much of the combination that began the tri-series, although Sonny Baker could come into consideration as a replacement for Josh Tongue.

Another player under the spotlight is veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid. Returning after missing the recent Sri Lanka series because of a hand injury, Rashid endured a difficult outing against Pakistan, conceding 55 runs in eight overs without making a breakthrough.

At 38, his ability to remain a decisive force in England’s attack is increasingly worth watching, particularly with next year’s ODI World Cup approaching.

Joe Root, meanwhile, is closing in on another significant milestone. He needs 64 more runs to become the first English batter to reach 8,000 ODI runs.

A testing surface under lights

Rawalpindi has produced high-scoring cricket during the opening matches, with totals around 300 appearing to be the benchmark for a competitive performance.

Both sides are likely to prefer chasing because of the anticipated dew during the afternoon starts. However, variable bounce under lights could complicate matters as the innings progresses, meaning the team batting second will need to manage the chase carefully rather than rely solely on the conditions.

For Sri Lanka, the immediate priority is to rediscover the discipline and confidence that brought them victory at Headingley. They have already shown they can compete with England, but another promising start followed by a middle-order collapse would leave them facing difficult questions about their consistency.

With both teams searching for their first points, the match offers Sri Lanka a chance to revive their campaign and England an opportunity to respond to their opening setback.

A return for Wellalage could be a significant selection decision. Against an England side that has just been exposed by left-arm spin, Sri Lanka may have a timely opportunity to turn a known weakness into a winning advantage.