Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana, left, and captain Dasun Shanaka (AP Photo)

Dark clouds have loomed over Kandy this week, with rain sweeping across the Hanthana mountain range and keeping the covers on at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!More showers are expected on Sunday, threatening to intrude on this T20 World Cup Super 8 contest between Sri Lanka and England. If the weather relents, a duel of spin could define the clash.England return to familiar territory after brushing aside Sri Lanka 3-0 in a T20I series here earlier this month. That success provides reassurance, especially after a stuttering group-stage campaign in which they edged Nepal by four runs, lost to West Indies by 30, then beat Scotland by five wickets and Italy by 24 runs.

England captain Harry Brook conceded that his team were “too careful with the bat” in the group stage. “We’ve been too careful with the bat. We can probably be a bit more brave in certain situations and have more faith in the guys behind us to be able to put up a decent score,” he said, adding, “We probably underestimated a few of the teams and they put up a really good fight. Thankfully, we are in the Super 8s.”Sri Lanka’s journey has followed a similar arc of promise and pause. Comfortable wins over Ireland and Oman set the tone and a chase of 182 against Australia at this venue showcased their credentials. Yet, a stumble against Zimbabwe in Colombo has stalled their momentum.

For the co-hosts, much rests on opener Pathum Nissanka, who struck an unbeaten 52-ball century against Australia. With 199 runs in the group stage, he sits among the leading scorers. Brook reckoned Nissanka’s form will be a threat and said England have plans to remove him early. Kusal Mendis, with three half-centuries in four innings, adds gravitas at the top of the order.However, the absence of pacer Matheesha Pathirana, ruled out for the remainder of the competition, has dented their bowling resources. Maheesh Theekshana’s six wickets, meanwhile, underline his importance.With the ball, legspinner Adil Rashid remains vital to England’s plans, supported by Jofra Archer’s pace. Rashid has six wickets in the tournament, including 2/16 against West Indies, highlighting his threat on surfaces that grip. Asked if Jacob Bethell is fit to bowl, Brook said: “Not sure yet, he’s got a decent cut in his finger. If there’s some way we can get around that, then we’d bowl him.”

England’s Will Jacks (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Will Jacks produced a blistering all-round display as England cricket team defeated Italy national cricket team by 24 runs to book their place in the Super Eights of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, in their Group C fixture at Eden Gardens on Monday.Asked to bat first, England surged past the 200-mark for the first time in this edition, finishing on 202 for 7. The charge was led by Jacks, whose explosive unbeaten 53 came off just 22 balls and included four sixes and three fours. His late assault rescued England after they had slipped to 105/5. Sam Curran added a valuable 25 from 19 balls as the pair combined for a rapid 54-run partnership off only 25 deliveries for the sixth wicket.

Earlier, Phil Salt had set the tempo with 28 off 15 balls, helping England cross 50 inside five overs. However, Jos Buttler’s lean run continued as he departed for three, dismissed by Grant Stewart. Salt later fell to Ali Hasan, while Jacob Bethell (23 off 20) and Harry Brook (14 off 9) also failed to convert starts. Tom Banton contributed a fluent 30 off 21 before holing out to Manenti.Italy’s chase began in dramatic fashion. Jofra Archer’s searing opening over at 146kph reduced them to 1/2, soon becoming 22/3. Anthony Mosca fell first ball, while JJ Smuts edged to first slip. Harry Manenti followed, leaving Italy reeling.Yet the debutants responded bravely. Ben Manenti launched a stunning counterattack, smashing 60 off 25 balls, including a 22-ball fifty — the joint-fifth fastest of the tournament and joint-second fastest by an Associate batter in its history. He hammered five sixes and four fours, taking 21 runs off one Jacks over. Justin Mosca supported well with 43 off 34 as the pair added 92 in 48 balls to revive hopes.Jacks broke the stand by dismissing Ben, caught by Banton, before Adil Rashid removed Justin. Grant Stewart then reignited the contest with 45 off 23, striking two sixes off Archer and three against Rashid.However, Curran halted the surge with two wickets in two balls on his way to 3/22, while Jamie Overton claimed 3/18. Italy were bowled out for 178 in 20 overs, and England advanced with their Super Eights spot secured.