Two-time champions England will open their Super 8 campaign at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup against co-hosts Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Stadium on Sunday.Both sides are placed in Group B alongside 2009 champions Pakistan and Fresh Zealand, with only the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals, raising the stakes right from the opening match.This will be the 18th T20I clash between England and Sri Lanka, and the numbers heavily favour England. They have won 13 of the previous 17 encounters, while Sri Lanka have managed just four victories.England’s dominance has been even more pronounced at T20 Global Cups, where they have won five of the six meetings between the two sides. Sri Lanka’s last triumph over England in a World Cup came back in 2012, and they will be eager to finally end that long drought.Adding to England’s confidence is their recent successful tour of Sri Lanka. The visitors claimed the ODI series 2–1 and completed a commanding 3–0 sweep in the T20I series, underlining their comfort in local conditions and giving them momentum heading into this crucial Super 8 fixture.
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