England v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI Tips, Headingley
These England v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI tips, Headingley cover Thursday's match in Leeds, where England look to move 2-0 up in the series after a dominant 89-run win in Durham. Will Jacks stole the show in the opener with a career-best 5-22 and an unbeaten 46 to claim Player of the Match, while Sri Lanka's middle order will be looking for a response after being bowled out with 13 overs unused.
Match Details: England v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI
- Fixture: 2nd of 3 ODIs, Sri Lanka tour of England 2026
- Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
- Venue: Headingley, Leeds
- Start time: 12:30pm local (11:30am GMT)
- Series score: England lead 1-0
Below you'll find the match details, the key storylines from Durham, tips across match winner and player markets, and where to check live cricket odds before you commit to anything.
How the Series Got Here: Jacks Stars in Durham
England's 89-run win in the series opener was built on a middle-order rescue act. Harry Brook top-scored with 67 after choosing to bat, and Joe Root added 44 before a debutant legspinner, Sachindu Colombage, ended a run of seven straight ODI half-centuries with his first international wicket.
From 199-6, Will Jacks steadied the innings with an unbeaten 46 off 47 balls, including four consecutive fours off Dushmantha Chameera, to push England to 265. He then took the ball and ran through Sri Lanka's chase with a career-best 5-22, the second-best bowling figures by an England spinner in ODI history, as the tourists were bowled out for 176 with more than two overs' worth of overs to spare.
Squad and Form Notes
England go into Headingley with real momentum, having won five of their last seven ODIs under Harry Brook's captaincy after a difficult few years in the 50-over format. Kusal Mendis made 42 on his return as Sri Lanka captain in Durham and will want more from the middle order this time, with Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, and Kamindu Mendis all capable of a bigger score than they managed in the opener.
Sri Lanka's varied spin options, including Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, give them a route back into the series if they can apply more pressure than they did in the first match. You can track how the market reacts to team news on sportsbet.io's upcoming fixtures page as it's confirmed.
Tips for England v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI
None of the tips below are certainties over 50 overs, but here's where the form points most clearly after Durham.
Match Winner: England
Given the manner of the Durham win and England's broader form over the past year, the hosts are the clear favourites again at Headingley. The steadier approach is treating the outright as the foundation of a bet rather than staking heavily on the moneyline alone, and pairing it with a player market below. Check the in-play hub once the toss is confirmed to see how the pitch and conditions shape the market.
Player to Watch: Will Jacks
A maiden five-wicket haul and a match-winning cameo with the bat in the same game is about as strong a form line as any player in this series carries into Headingley. A top-batter or wicket-taker prop on Jacks is a reasonable way to back England's in-form all-rounder without relying purely on the team outright.
Sri Lanka Value: Kusal Mendis to Bounce Back
Mendis has a strong record in this format and made a start in Durham before falling for 42. A top-batter market on the Sri Lankan captain is a more considered way to find value on the tourists than backing them to win outright, particularly if he's had a full game to shake off the rust from his hamstring injury. Sportsbet.io's sports betting hub breaks down how outright, top-batter, and wicket-taker markets are typically structured for ODI cricket if this format is new to you.
Sri Lanka's Route Back: Colombage's Wickets
The Durham debutant's ability to remove Joe Root suggests genuine international-standard variation, and if he can build on that first outing, a wicket-taker prop on Colombage offers a way to back Sri Lanka's clearest positive from the opening match without needing the team to win the game.
How to Approach Betting on This Series
Compare markets across books rather than settling for an early price, and weigh current form heavily given how comprehensively England have won recent matches against this opponent. Headingley's conditions can differ meaningfully from Durham's, so keep an eye on the toss decision and any team changes right up until the first ball, particularly if either side rotates their bowling attack across a three-match series.
Betting Responsibly During the ODI Series
A series that already looks one-sided after game one can tempt bigger stakes than a closely-fought contest normally would. Treat every tip above as one opinion among many, not a guaranteed result, and decide your stake before the toss rather than increasing it mid-innings if the match swings further England's way.
Account tools such as deposit limits, loss limits, and time-outs help keep a session within the budget you set for it — sportsbet.io's responsible gambling page lists how to set these up. Betting should stay entertainment across a series, not a way to chase back a loss from an earlier match.
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FAQs: England v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI, Headingley
Is England leading the ODI series against Sri Lanka?
Yes. England won the first ODI in Durham by 89 runs to go 1-0 up in the three-match series, with the second match at Headingley and the third at The Oval to follow.
Did Will Jacks take a five-wicket haul in the first ODI?
Yes. Jacks claimed career-best figures of 5-22, the second-best bowling figures by an England spinner in ODI history, and was named Player of the Match after also scoring an unbeaten 46.
Is the 2nd ODI being played at Headingley in Leeds?
Yes. The match is played on Thursday, 24 September 2026, starting at 12:30pm local time.
Did Sri Lanka's captain Kusal Mendis play in the first ODI?
Yes. Mendis made 42 on his return from a hamstring injury, though Sri Lanka's chase ultimately fell well short of England's total.
