T20 World Cup 2026: How Phil Salt’s measured knock helped England thwart Sri Lanka in Super 8s

By the time Will Jacks’ off-spin ravaged the Sri Lanka top order in its chase of 147 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, the worth of Phil Salt’s measured 40-ball 62 in the first innings had been revealed.

Already carrying the baggage of a disappointing group stage, which included narrow wins over Nepal and Italy, things could have spun out of England’s control if not for Salt’s restraint.

Leading up to this T20 World Cup, Abhishek Sharma had been an outlier among openers. But among the pack that was chasing him, Salt had been the likeliest to emulate the Indian’s effect on bowling attacks.

Among openers to have played at least 20 innings since the 2024 T20 World Cup, Salt has scored at 166 in his first 10 deliveries. This is second only to Abhishek Sharma, who sits in his own stratosphere at 192 runs per 100 balls.

Since Harry Brook took charge of England in early 2025, Salt has been given a free hand to accelerate even more. His strike rate in the first 10 balls has rocketed to 185 since then. But on Sunday, handed a length ball around middle-and-leg from Dilshan Madushanka on the very first ball of the match, Salt’s punch to long on for a single was an early sign that he is more than a mere marauder.

Spells of rain before the match had meant the pitch was under covers for an extended period. Respecting the sticky conditions, Salt moulded his essay around this constraint and that made all the difference. He still picked up two boundaries off his first 10 balls, but his 14 runs in that period, off his usual standard, were deliberate and calculated.

Sri Lanka batting coach Vikram Rathour rued the reckless shot selection of his wards. England’s batters were no less impulsive. Jos Buttler fashioned a reverse hit after a slew of swing-and-misses; Jacob Bethell’s eyes lit up at a full-length delivery, and he swung hard across the line—both shots leading to their dismissals.

Even Salt’s attempted heave across the line off Madushanka in the fifth over took a leading edge and nearly carried to short third man. But unlike his compatriots and counterparts, Salt’s willingness to respect the conditions made him the point of difference in the contest.

Going through the on side is Salt’s trusted retreat. He averages 66 through the on side and strikes at more than 200. He loves width outside off too, but he’s more prone to errors on that line. In his 53 innings in T20Is, he’s been dismissed on that line 25 times. Hence, trying to open up his off side was also opening a window for Sri Lanka to pounce.

But Salt chose precision over power and prevented England from falling into the same kind of disarray as its opponent later in the day. Offered a length ball outside off, just one delivery after his edge through short third, Salt caressed it between point and short third man, signalling his intent to persist.

He suffered from cramps after the PowerPlay but was relentless with his running between the wickets, often nudging the ball with soft hands and letting the slow outfield allow him the time to come back for two.

The breaks in play, to call for physio’s intervention, did not result in a break in momentum.

His next boundary through the off side was only meant to be a push through extra covers for two, but a misfield in the deep granted him two extra runs. His only on-sided heave on the day came off Dushmantha Chameera, a half-tracker angling down, which was there to be picked off behind square.

“That 60-odd was the game, really. The way that he’s played. It wasn’t his destructive and fluent self, that he usually is and can be. But he played the situation and the surface perfectly and got us to a score that we could defend. I think he was just a bit tired with the heat and the humidity by the end, but he’ll be fine,” captain Brook said after the 51-run win.

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Running on fumes by the 15th over, Salt finally gave in and opted to accumulate whatever he could through freewheeling hits. His first endeavour in doing so was snaffled at long off. But Salt had England beyond 100 by this point. In hindsight, even this was more than what Sri Lanka could muster.

Jacks’ cameo at the death put the game beyond reach for the home side. He combined it with his bowling exploits to edge out Salt for the Player of the Match.

But it was Salt’s wits that allowed England to stomach the early jitters and build momentum for the win and the coming games in the Super Eight. At a time when audacious shot-making contributes greatly to the theatrics of T20 cricket, his innings was a reminder that resourcefulness can still run the show.

Published on Feb 23, 2026