Third ODI updates from the match in Hambantota
And email tom.davies@theguardian.com or tweet @TomDaviesE17
England require 236 from 35 overs to win
6.12pm GMT
33rd over: England 228-5 (Root 41, Buttler 54) England have it in their grasp now. Herath is back into the attack, and deceives Buttler, prompting a half-hearted appeal for something or other from Sanga behind the stumps. But Buttler is in the groove, and two consecutive bludgeoned offside fours take him to his 50. Only eight required.
6.09pm GMT
32nd over: England 217-5 (Root 41, Buttler 30) A pivotal over? A brilliant one for England, certainly. Root plunders six with a fine legside glance, just following the ball and timing it, but then escapes after being caught at mid-off next ball only for the replay to reveal it was a front-foot no-ball from Prasad. England have a free hit too, which Root thumps with all his might into the offside but only gets one. Buttler then gets in on the act, punishing a full toss with a lusty square drive for four. He too then rides his luck with a slightly mistimed chip that just eludes mid-off and GOES FOR FOUR. As does the next ball, dabbed wide of gully and running deceptively quickly to the ropes. Suddenly, only 19 are needed.
6.02pm GMT
31st over: England 196-5 (Root 34, Buttler 30) A properly productive over for England at last, with a square cut and a legside pull for four from Buttler off Mendis punishing some fractionally ashort bowling - 30 needed
5.57pm GMT
30th over: England 186-5 (Root 34, Buttler 20) 50 needed from 30 balls, as Prasad returns. There’s one nicely cracked four to long-off from Buttler but not enough else
5.50pm GMT
29th over: England 180-5 (Root 33, Buttler 15) Mendis returns to the attack. Root takes one to put Buttler on strike. The Lancashire man is timing his shots nicely at least, with an elegantly glided two through midwicket. Mendis is anticipating the batsman well though, and isn’t giving him room for more than ones or twos. Until the penultimate ball of the over, which slips out of Mendis’s hand and veers wildly down the legside and Buttler helps it to the fence with a pleasing thwack for four. 56 needed off six overs.
5.46pm GMT
28th over: England 171-5 (Root 31, Buttler 8) Here goes then – England call the batting powerplay. Root begins it well, turning a Mathews long-hop down to the square leg boundary for four, the first boundary for 29 deliveries. He adds a single, prompting Mathews to reinforce his legside field for Buttler, who’s outfoxed by the bowler who induces a missed scoop and can’t work him away. England need 65 off 42 now. It’s slipping away.
5.41pm GMT
27th over: England 166-5 (Root 26, Buttler 8) Root has to chop one away from right in front of his middle stump from Herath, Buttler at least manages a couple with a whipped drive through extra cover, but the boundaries are drying up.
5.39pm GMT
5.35pm GMT
25th over: England 158-5 (Root 23, Buttler 3 Afternoon/evening everyone - just my luck to pitch up just in time for the collapse. Herath continues, Buttler pushes him down the ground for one, Root does likewise, and his partner adds another flicked single. There’s another single for the Yorkshireman before Buttler is pinned back on a dot ball. Only four from the over - 78 needed.
5.31pm GMT
24th over: England 154-5 (Buttler 1, Root 21) Well, with Woakes in at No10 England certainly bat deep. They may need to.
Right, with England wobbling and 82 more required off 66 I’m off to talk about an entirely different sport at Football Weekly Live, so I’ll leave you in the more than capable hands of Tom Davies.
5.28pm GMT
Morgan hooks a slow bouncer! Straight to Perera! England are throwing this away in completely
un
believable fashion.
5.26pm GMT
23rd over: England 152-4 (Morgan 1, Root 20) For a second time this innings an England wicket has rendered me almost speechless (for very different reasons). The first was the Ali run out, which was ridiculous. The second was that bit of work from Sangakkara, which was all kinds of sublime. The out-of-sorts Morgan had dropped down the order but he finds himself at the crease just a few balls later than Bopara in any case.
5.23pm GMT
Bopara settles in with a skip down the pitch and a thunkingly good drive over long on for six. But then this is quite sensational wicketkeeping from Sangakkara. Bopara pre-meditates a sweep, Sanga shuffles legwards and the ball sticks in his gut. Genius.
5.20pm GMT
22nd over: England 144-3 (Bopara 0, Root 19) So just when England look like they’re cruising they throw a spanner into their own works. And that’s over. England require about seven an over from here.
5.18pm GMT
DROPPED! Mathews fools Hales with a slower one that sticks in the pitch … but at midwicket Thirimanne puts down the easiest of chances. I’d’ve caught that. You’d’ve caught that. Hales celebrates the reprieve by hoofing a pull over backward square leg for six. But then he miscues another pull straight to the man at wide mid on. That was an ugly end to an innings that was just getting very promising.
5.14pm GMT
21st over: England 136-2 (Hales 20, Root 18) The first four for a while comes via a Root tickle off Herath to the fine leg boundary. Add a couple of singles and you’ve got the over.
5.11pm GMT
20th over: England 130-2 (Hales 18, Root 12) Captain Mathews takes responsibility with the ball. It’s tighter but the pattern continues pretty much unchanged – three simple singles are added to the total.
5.07pm GMT
19th over: England 127-2 (Hales 18, Root 10) Herath is at last brought into the attack by Mathews, but he can’t stem the flow of runs. Steady accumulation is all England need at this point and it’s exactly what they’re getting. Eight effortless runs from the over.
5.03pm GMT
18th over: England 119-2 (Hales 17, Root 5) The required rate is a touch under 7.00 now, which should still be doable from this point. Prasad continues to bend his back. England continue to work the ball around for singles.
4.59pm GMT
17th over: England 115-2 (Hales 15, Root 3) Perera once more and a gorgeous carve through point from Hales adds four to the total. He’s still on the naughty step but a bit more of that will help.
4.51pm GMT
16th over: England 107-2 (Hales 9, Root 2) Hales has a job on to get back in the good books now. Prasad beats Root outside off. Twice. Then tucks him up beautifully with one that jags back, allowing Prasad to get out his pleasingly wide-eyed appeal. Root finally gets off the mark from his fifth ball with a clip for a couple.
4.46pm GMT
15th over: England 103-2 (Hales 8, Root 0) Just … I mean … really.
4.45pm GMT
Oh no, no, no England. Ali drives wide of mid off, Herath, and there’s a definite single. Off he trots, arriving at the non-striker’s end to find Alex Hales standing there with a look of bemusement on his fizzog. Ali scrambles back but can’t get there and England’s chief dangerman is dismissed.
4.40pm GMT
14th over: England 102-1 (Hales 7, Ali 58) The wicket-taking Prasad continues. There’s a monumental appeal from Sangakkara as Ali looks to hook a short one. The fielding team reckon he’s gloved it. The umpire shakes his head and the replay suggests it flicked glove then shoulder, but it’s very hard to tell. Had Sri Lanka been able to appeal the decision may not have been overturned.
England's left-handed opener should captain the ODI side. But Ali not Alistair - @John_Ashdown
4.33pm GMT
13th over: England 97-1 (Hales 5, Ali 56) Ajantha Mendis returns and a push through the covers takes Moeen Ali to a brilliant half-century from just 29 balls. What a star this guy is – it’s the fourth time he’s past 50 in eight England ODI innings. He celebrates by skipping down the pitch and teeing off down the ground for six more! A huge strike, and his fifth six of the day. Mendis yelps an equally huge appeal from the last and Mathews opts to REVIEW it. There’s an inside edge (although the umpire had signalled leg byes), and it also looks like it pitched outside off.
Moeen Ali this Sri Lanka tour 50 in 21 balls v Sri Lanka A 50 in 25 balls v Sri Lanka (1st ODI) 50 in 29 balls v Sri Lanka (3rd ODI) #SLvEng
4.27pm GMT
12th over: England 88-1 (Hales 4, Ali 49) So, the England No3 Alex Hales. This should be interesting. Prior to that wicket Ali mis-timed a klonk down the ground but still picked up four and Hales gets off the mark with a push that trundles out to Herath on the point boundary … who dismally lets the ball through his legs and over the rope.
4.25pm GMT
The introduction of Dhammika Prasad does the trick for Sri Lanka! He tempts Cook into a little prod outside off and just wobbles the ball away enough to find a thin edge through to the keeper.
4.19pm GMT
11th over: England 79-0 (Cook 34, Ali 44) Jeevan Mendis continues with Sri Lanka under pressure in the field for pretty much the first time in the series. England content themselves with working a few singles on this occasion. Three from the over.
4.16pm GMT
10th over: England 76-0 (Cook 33, Ali 42) Dilshan’s approach to the wicket is that of someone tip-towing back from the bar with an armful of pint pots, topped off with a delivery stride reminiscent of someone hesitantly attempting to put all of the pint pots down on the table in one go. And no wonder he is hesitant here. Ali is all over him, thumping one six to wide long on then crunching one over the offside for six more!
4.13pm GMT
9th over: England 61-0 (Cook 32, Ali 28) Jeevan Mendis now. His radar is a little haywire and Cook is able to sweep forcefully for four. Mendis recovers by beating him outside off with the last. This, though, is definitely now a Platform.
4.08pm GMT
8th over: England 55-0 (Cook 26, Ali 26) This game is going to finish at close to midnight Sri Lanka time, which given the stadium is about 13km outside the nearest town might cause a few problems. Still, the attendance could probably fit into a mid-sized minibus. Ali has had only half the strike but he is hitting out at pretty much everything – and he connects with a slog-sweep sending a Ajantha Mendis delivery whistling away for six over cow corner.
4.05pm GMT
7th over: England 45-0 (Cook 26, Ali 18) Dilshan is back once again (much like the Renegade Master of yore). A squirty edge/deft dab from Cook beings him four more and they’re the only runs of the over.
4.01pm GMT
6th over: England 41-0 (Cook 22, Ali 18) Ajantha Mendis replaces Dilshan. A lovely late Cook brings four more as the bowler strays too wide. After a sketchy first over or two, he’s played very nicely. A few more singles mean he has 22 from 24, Ali 18 from 12.
3.57pm GMT
5th over: England 33-0 (Cook 16, Ali 17) Cook knocks back a couple of pills between overs – perhaps some painkillers for what seems to be a sore back. Frozen peas would be my advice. Frozen peas externally, coupled with a few beers internally. But be careful not to mix the two up.
Thisara Perera comes into the attack and keeps it pretty tight … until the fifth ball which Ali flails in unorthodox fashion over the top of point for six. It was almost a thick outside edge but he got more than enough on it to clear the rope. Nine from the over.
3.52pm GMT
4th over: England 24-0 (Cook 12, Ali 11) Shot! Ali lofts a drive over the top of cover for four. And it takes an awkward Prasad bum-slide on the rope to deny him four more from Dilshan’s next delivery. This has been a useful start from England, though they are behind the required rate.
3.49pm GMT
3rd over: England 16-0 (Cook 12, Ali 4) Ali again works a single. Sri Lanka are happily giving him one, in order to bowl at Cook, but this time he clips through midwicket for two. He’s moving pretty gingerly at the moment – a slip at the end of the last over might be the problem there – but there’s nothing wrong with the cover drive he unfurls off the next to pick up the first boundary of the innings. And he follows it up with the second, a lovely straight drive that’s all timing.
3.45pm GMT
2nd over: England 5-0 (Cook 2, Ali 3) Dilshan gets the new ball at the other end. He finds a bit of turn away from the left-handed Cook, who can’t get him away through the offside cordon. When he drops short, though, the England captain is able to pull him away for a single. Ali rolls his wrists through his first ball, allowing him to pick up a couple past square leg. A dance down the pitch and a big heave brings another single down to cow corner.
3.41pm GMT
1st over: England 1-0 (Cook 1, Ali 0) So no batting order jiggery-pokery from England despite Hales being back in the side. As our very own Vic Marks mentioned on the radio this morning, you have to assume Cook will captain the side in the World Cup, despite his problems in this format, so why not experiment with his place in the order? Anyway, here he is opening, playing out three dots then being beaten by a beauty from Angelo Mathews. It skims past the outside edge. Then we have another dot and a tickle to deep backward point to get the innings off the mark.
3.37pm GMT
Afternoon all. I think this is a tough ask for England – you wouldn’t always back them to chase down 236 in 50 overs, never mind 35. Still, the reduced number of overs could perhaps alter the mindset – they have to be a touch more aggressive. The required rate is very nearly seven an over after all.
3.29pm GMT
So, England need 236 (D/L) to win - more than it looked like they’d need, fewer than it looked like they’d need, more than it’s likely they’ll get. And the question now is will Alex Hales open, or will Alastair Cook insist? On the one hand, runs; on the other, not that many runs. If Cook made 80, batting through or near enough through, that’d be very helpful, more so than a quickfire 40.
Anyway, here’s John Ashdown to narrate your disappointment.
3.25pm GMT
35th over: Sri Lanka 242-8 (Thirimanne 62, Herath 2) So it’s Ceej with the final over, and he’s greeted by the full chevvy chase of Thirimanne’s bat, stroking him over his head for four. Beautifully done. And who says Cook doesn’t have a captain’s nous? Look at him presiding over a slow over-rare, so he gets banned, not dropped. Then, a single to third man, a wide miles down leg, and a pull for one to midwicket. The fourth ball is sliced over cover for another single, the fifth comes through quicker and bounces higher, is missed, and Herath flays the last over the off-side infield, safe.
3.19pm GMT
Prasad misses a slower one, and Buttler has plenty of time to shove off the bails. But that could well be the matchwinning innings.
3.18pm GMT
34th over: Sri Lanka 233-7 (Thirimanne 56, Prasad 21) Bopara with the penultimate yin, first ball clipped to long-on for a single. But then, an under-edge goes fine for four, and England have lost control here - they’ve overrun, too. Oh, and there’s another lovely dig, Prasad pigeon stepping down the pitch and clattering a one-bounce four straight down the ground - that’s 21 off 7 balls.
3.13pm GMT
33rd over: Sri Lanka 222-7 (Thirimanne 54, Prasad 12) Prasad tries to get himself offay strike after Thirimmane takes a single to Root’s first delivery. He fails first time, then the second, they mooch through for a single, and when Buttler throws well and root helps the ball onto the stumps, with no grounded bat, we go upstairs. He’s in, but that was some poor running. Then, though, back on strike after another single, Prasad clears his front foot and clobbers a six over midwicket, soaking the ball for extra pain, then goes again, over long-on this time!
3.09pm GMT
32nd over: Sri Lanka 207-7 (Thirimanne 52, Prasad 0) Woakes goes around the wicket, strays to leg, and Thirimanne swings with it, punishing four to long leg .
3.05pm GMT
Another hump towards the leg side, but this time Woakes has bowled shorter and with a bit more bounce. It’s off the splice, near enough, and Moeen takes the catch - but only just - stepping back at mid-on.
3.05pm GMT
32nd over: Sri Lanka 202-6 (Thirimanne 47, Perera 8) What’s the problem with slow over rates in one-dayers? In the main, games finish whatever, and all those present get to spend longer being present there, rather than being present somewhere less amenable. Anyway, Perera launches Woakes for the first six of the innings, a giant one from slower one, picked and treated over long-on.
3.01pm GMT
31st over: Sri Lanka 195-6 (Thirimanne 47, Perera 2) Stokes is back, and his first ball’s a wide, if Thirimanne only lets it go buy, which he doesn’t. But then a shorter one sits up, it’s waited for, and cut hard still on the up to backward point. And then again. “I suggest try a new tactic, called full and straight,” says Beefy - a big champion of his. he does, and Thirimanne times it beautifully, right off the middle and through extra-cover for four.
2.57pm GMT
30th over: Sri Lanka 180-6 (Thirimanne 32, Perera 1) Thrimanne nurdles to midwicket, and then Perera flicks two more into the leg-side. Five from the over - 1/42 for him - and though this looks like being a competitive score, it won’t be massive.
2.52pm GMT
29th over: Sri Lanka 176-5 (Thirimanne 28, Perera 0) So the bowling change worked well for England - well done Alastair Cook. Mendis knew that f he could hit Root out of the attack, England would have a problem, but instead hit himself back to the hutch.
2.50pm GMT
Another slog-sweep, this time a conventional one - but he doesn’t get hold of it, and Finn makes a tricky one look easy, following it with eyes, hands and legs to snatch it from just behind him at square-leg.
2.49pm GMT
29th over: Sri Lanka 176-5 (Thirimanne 28, Mendis 12) On comes Joe Root - wonder how Benjamin Stokes feels about that one. After a quiet start to the over, Mendis comes down and reverse-slog-sweeps - or is thatslog-reverse-sweeps - to square-leg for four.
2.46pm GMT
28th over: Sri Lanka 168-5 (Thirimanne 27, Mendis 7) Woakes back at the other end, and sends down some slower, shorter ones, followed by a quicker yorker. And then a wide. Surely Sri Lanka are going to attack now? Thirimanne does come down the track to the last ball, but he doesn’t find the power he’s after, allowing Moeen to snatch it on the bounce, on the boundary.
2.41pm GMT
27th over: Sri Lanka 160-5 (Thirimanne 23, Mendis 4) Finn returns, and Thirimanne guides him down towards third man - Root dives over it, but gets enough torso involved so that it slows, and they run three. Bit of extra pace from Finn, surprising Thirimanne, who in turn surprises Bopara at mid-off, allowing an inadvertent single. This tracksuit bottom-type garm does very little for Finn’s figure.
2.37pm GMT
26th over: Sri Lanka 152-5 (Thirimanne 18, Mendis 1) Jordan has bowled well today - he needed to, because once Broad and Anderson come back, he’s fighting for one spot with Woakes and Stokes, probably. I’d pay to watch that.
2.33pm GMT
Change of angle, allied to a change of pace - this is a slower ball - works. Sangakkara looks down the ground, there’s less width than he needed, and all cramped up, he finds Moeen at mid-on.
2.33pm GMT
26th over: Sri Lanka 150-4 (Sangakkara 63, Thirimanne 17) Jordan back on at the other end, and around the wicket to Sangakkara, he’s clumped over midwicket for, four, then uppercut over slip for four more - this is a lovely shot, seeing Jordan coming so backing off to deal. Next ball, it’s back to midwicket, just wide of the fielder, and Stokes does well to slide it away from the rope. Jordan switches to over the wicket...
2.28pm GMT
25th over: Sri Lanka 140-4 (Sangakkara 53, Thirimanne 17) Sri Lanka take the powerplay, and Woakes returns. The scoring has slowed in the last few overs, and the advantage now appears to be with England. Woakes goes around the wicket to Thrimanne, hitting him on the back leg - but the ball was missing leg-stump. Oh, and this is a lovely shot, picked up from that same angle and timed over midwicket for four.
2.24pm GMT
24th over: Sri Lanka 133-4 (Sangakkara 51, Thirimanne 13) Given the pace and bounce on this pitch, you wonder why Moeen hasn’t been more of a threat - perhaps he’s been told to keep it tight. Thirimanne gets two to cover, and they’re the only runs off the over - Moeen finishes with 0-36.
2.21pm GMT
23rd over: Sri Lanka 131-4 (Sangakkara 51, Thirimanne 11) Slower over - two singles and one two. We can’t be far away from the assault now.
2.17pm GMT
22nd over: Sri Lanka 127-4 (Sangakkara 50, Thirimanne 8) Ali leaves a space over the top and Thirimmane takes it one, prancing down the track without getting too close to the ball, then cracking it over mid-on to the fence. Ali puts a man in, Thirimanne takes a single, and then Sangakkara confirms his 89th one-day fifty; there can be few as easy, though, I suppose, 88 as easy.
2.13pm GMT
21st over: Sri Lanka 121-4 (Sangakkara 49, Thirimanne 3) Thirimanne off the mark with two feathered to backward square-leg. Bumble compares Thirimmane, who’s batted here, there and everywhere, to James Milner - Thrimmilne - and that’s a better over for England. Jordan’s found some pace through the innings, and not been as loose as sometimes he is.
2.08pm GMT
Well naeone saw that coming. Suddenly, and for no reason, Mathews gives himself room by sidling to leg and skipping down the track, losing control, walloping air and edging cork.
2.07pm GMT
20th over: Sri Lanka 118-3 (Sangakkara 49, Mathews 37) England try Stokes, who begins with a wide - he’s another who needs the confidence and rhythm of a run. Sure, i’s a tricky balance - players should demand places, and be able to perform whenever, and all that. But, humans do better when they’re comfortable - consider home and away records in sports where pitches are roughly the same, for example. And then some leg-side filth, turned more sharply in that direction for four by Mathews, a single, and one lofted over the top for four more down to long-on. Sangakkara should be batting in a smoking jacket.
1.59pm GMT
19th over: Sri Lanka 106-3 (Sangakkara 44, Mathews 31) Finn’s back, later than might’ve been wise, but he’s not immediately into the stride that was his a little earlier. Three singles, then Sangakkara picks a slower ball that’s a bit short, and oh look! There it is right in the sky! One bounce, four, beautifully done. Finn retorts with a bouncer, Sanga sways. Drinks.
1.54pm GMT
18th over: Sri Lanka 99-3 (Sangakkara 39, Mathews 29) Botham fancies a tuk-tuk for North Yorkshire, while Kumar and Angelo mosey on more sedately. Until Bopara sends down a wide one, that is, Mathews crouching and stretching to cane it away past point. From a position of strength, England have done absolutely nothing to advance it.
Meanwhile, Derek Randall with James Calder.
1.50pm GMT
17th over: Sri Lanka 92-3 (Sangakkara 38, Mathews 23) Moeen round the wicket to Sangakkara, who runs two down past point and then sweeps four more - he’s beginning to ease away. Alastair Cook should have sweaty palms, but for the fact that his palms don’t sweat. Eleven off the over.
1.47pm GMT
16th over: Sri Lanka 81-3 (Sangakkara 30, Mathews 21) The curiously hitherto underused Bopara is into the attack - an upside, I suppose, of leaving out Tredwell. After a two to begin with, a wide, then four singles and the fifty partnership. This is not great captaincy, in mine - leaving them to accumulate and set up the slog.
“Don Topley’s 1984 ‘catch that never was’ off a Malcolm Marshall hook (who bounced him FFS?) is great,” tweets Gary Naylor.
1.41pm GMT
15th over: Sri Lanka 75-3 (Sangakkara 25, Mathews 20) Moeen nips one off the pitch which squares Mathews, who edges away on the off-side when looking to glance to leg. Then, Mathews misses with a reverse sweep, and there’s an appeal - the ball was probably hitting the stumps and hit low on the shun, but was outside the line.
1.38pm GMT
14th over: Sri Lanka 71-3 (Sangakkara 23, Mathews 19) Jordan begins with two wides, and then, after a single, Mathews opens the face and strokes one to where slip isn’t. Lovely shot, I think, and the first boundary in a while.
1.34pm GMT
13th over: Sri Lanka 63-3 (Sangakkara 22, Mathews 14) This is all fairly slow, now - and it’s interesting that England wouldn’t have to bat like this, given how far down the order they have runs (in theory).
“Just a couple of reasons why I don’t like Matthew Hayden’s catch as much as the others,” emails Sam Cottis. “Firstly, it’s a complete misjudgement - if he was in the right place he wouldn’t have had to make it look so difficult - and secondly, it’s Matthew Hayden.”
1.30pm GMT
12th over: Sri Lanka 58-3 (Sangakkara 21, Mathews 12) This is semi-reminding me of the 1992 World Cup final; unfussy, unhurried batting after the loss of early wickets, mindful of England’s likely collapse. Five more gently accumulated.
1.25pm GMT
11th over: Sri Lanka 53-3 (Sangakkara 18, Mathews 10) Another happily quiet over that won’t disappoint either side - the batsmen are playing themselves in, the bowlers are enduring no punishment.
A catch:
1.22pm GMT
10th over: Sri Lanka 48-3 (Sangakkara 16, Mathews 7) CJ “Ceej” Jordan is on, and his first four deliveries yield a single each - he’s not a full pace, finding his line to begin with. Then, a dot, then another single, and England will be satisfied with how things are - if they could just winkle out one more,one of these two shtarkers, they’d be in a very strong position.
1.18pm GMT
9th over: Sri Lanka 43-3 (Sangakkara 14, Mathews 4) It’s Moeen on for Finn, over the wicket with a leg slip to Mathews, around the wicket to Sangakkara with a slip. Five from the over; three singles and two leg-byes.
1.14pm GMT
8th over: Sri Lanka 38-3 (Sangakkara 13, Mathews 2) After a single to Mathews, Sangakkara gets his 13,000th run in one-day cricket; not bad. The only others so to do are Tendulkar, Ponting and Jayasuria; not bad. At least he’s not witty, urbane, clever and pleasant.
1.09pm GMT
7th over: Sri Lanka 35-3 (Sangakkara 12, Mathews 0) Finn serves Sangakkara some width, and frees his hands to drive hard through the ball, getting four to point. But then, three dots, the third of those a slower full toss that is somehow only bumped to mid-on. Not a good over, but a good over - and that’s also the end of the powerplay.
1.06pm GMT
6th over: Sri Lanka 31-3 (Sangakkara 8, Mathews 0) Suddenly, England are in command.
1.04pm GMT
Er, how many daughters does Mahela have? Second ball, Woakes sedns down a goodun, just outside offstump, in that mid-ranging length - he leans forwards, back, tries a cut, edges to slip.
1.03pm GMT
6th over: Sri Lanka 31-1 (Sangakkara 8, Kandamby 0) Of whom Chris Woakes reminds me has been bothersome for a while. But!
12.59pm GMT
5th over: Sri Lanka 30-1 (Sangakkara 7, Kandamby 0) Now, can England exert some pressure?
12.58pm GMT
Back of a length cutter from Finn, and straighter, cramping Dilshan a little as he tries to cut anyway, and the edge is taken easily. Big wicket, because Dilshan was affecting a murderous air.
12.56pm GMT
5th over: Sri Lanka 30-1 (Dilshan 23, Sangakkara 7) Would Kumar Sangakkara be a different man if he only had one ‘k’ in his surname? A single each, then a short, wide one, so short its feet are on its head, so wide it’s wearing a shellsuit, and Dilshan powerglides it to the point fence.
Otherwise, here’s a catch from Richy.
12.53pm GMT
4th over: Sri Lanka 23-1 (Dilshan 22, Sangakkara 1) Already this is ominous. Sangakkara gets off the mark, and then Dilshan administers to a wide one, cracked just wide of Morgan at backward point and to the fence. Oh dear; and then another four-ball, short and masochistic; Dilshan administers the necessary abuse, this time through midwicket.
12.49pm GMT
3rd over: Sri Lanka 14-1 (Dilshan 14, Sangakkara 0) Finn begins well, straight and full of length, defended by Dilshan, but he uppercuts the second for a one-bounce four. Finn really ought to be handful on this track, given its pace and bounce, but, on the other hand, if his radar’s off, he could go to all sides. Next, though, he finds some shape away from the batsman - a rarity with that ball in these parts - which should appeal to Chris Woakes, too. But, then a loose one, not quick enough for how full it is, and it’s speeding to the cover boundary quicksmart.
12.43pm GMT
Here’s a catch, sent in by Nick Butler.
12.42pm GMT
Out come umpires and fielders, closely followed by batsmen.
12.39pm GMT
“A sad day in Australia today, but also joyous to remember Phillip Hughes who will always remain ‘forever young’”, emails Rocket. And I’m not sure your readers would know that the official scorecard of that game has been changed from ‘retired hurt’ to ‘not out’ - the reason given is that the game was abandoned, and he was not replaced at the crease.
Anyway, I also wanted to comment on that great Roger Harper catch while you are waiting for a restart. Bill Lawry says ‘like John Coleman’ - John Coleman was an Australian Rules Footballer who played for Essendon, and took many high marks (catches). He made his debut at 21 and kicked 12 goals (pretty rare event) in his first game - he went on to dominate at full forward until a bad knee injury prematurely ended his career aged 25, and then sadly died of a heart attack aged 44. The Australian Football League Medal for most goals per season for a player is named The John Coleman Medal in his honour.”
12.28pm GMT
Another favourite catch.
12.25pm GMT
“The toss, which I conducted” - thanks, Nick Knight. But he has a point that this might’ve been a good one to lose.
12.23pm GMT
Play will restart at 12.45, and the game will be 35 overs.
12.22pm GMT
A favourite catch.
12.17pm GMT
The floodlights are on, and we await the umpires’ opinion.
11.49am GMT
Still no official word, but there’ll be another inspection at 12.15 to see how the drainage is getting along.
11.44am GMT
“35 overs a side and I bet they still open with Cook,” snarks Andy Bradshaw.
11.40am GMT
Unofficial news: 12.30 UK time, around 35 overs apiece.
11.38am GMT
“Little things coming up every now and again” - Sachin Tendulkar’s retirement sounds pretty spot-on.
11.38am GMT
“Beta Band - Alastair Cook,” begins Ewan Mcinness Campbell. “Look no further than their 2004 album title – ‘Heroes to Zeros’ for a take on the current England team and the Chef in particular.”
Heroes to Zeros, how did they come up with such an innovative title? Hundreds to Zeroes would be perfect.
11.31am GMT
We might be looking at 35 overs, speculates the Guardian’s Vic Marks. We’d need to start in the next hour-and-a-half for that.
11.28am GMT
“I think it’s a disgrace Tredwell has been dropped,” chunters Dean Kinsella. “He has been England’s most consistent performer this past year and on that basis alone l also propose his immediate elevation to the captaincy.”
Path of least resistance, innit - though the boundaries here are very short. I wonder, given what happened to Graeme Swann in Australia, if he might endure some tap, assuming he’s selected in February.
11.25am GMT
“It’s not a particularly pleasant afternoon,” says Simon Mann, and takes us to a weather forecaster. The radar shows the threat of a few more showers, but those in prospect are quite localised, so might pass north or south of the ground.
11.19am GMT
Apparently, Michael Vaughan played golf with various members of England’s ODI team, and there were various disappointments at the make-up of the side. Thusly spaketh TMS.
11.16am GMT
We’re going to have an in-spec-tion, you know say Daddy Snow me, I’m gonna blame, a licky boom-boom down. At 11.30.
11.12am GMT
“Who exactly would replace Cook as ODI captain?” asks Adrian Foster. “There’s several candidates to replace him in the batting line up but as captain, who? My guess it would be Morgan or *shudders* Stuart Broad. Is that really the way to go a few months before a World Cup?”
It’d be Morgan for sure, but for the fact of his own terrible form. I suppose the sweetener is that he’s probably be better suited to leadership than Cook, but you’re right, this isn’t ideal; ideal ran a warm bath sometime last winter. So, we’ve to make do with the best available.
11.07am GMT
“The Beta Band’s best song is about the covers coming off (probably),” says James Walsh.
10.58am GMT
They’re dabbing at footmarks - if only Stuart Broad were there, they could borrow his hairdryer.
10.57am GMT
We’re back onto red hot Alastair Cook chat, with a vengeance. Bob Willis thinks if they’ve decided to go with him, they should stick with it, seemingly on some kind of principle. Not sure I agree with that - it’d be better if they sorted stuff now, but at any time would be suitable.
10.53am GMT
“Alastair Cook is like water, I always say, he always finds a way.” Clear as, er, cloudy water, from Ian Ward.
10.48am GMT
The game, if there is one, will be 28 overs, and needs to begin by 2.00, apparently. If we don’t get it did today, we’ll be back tomorrow - we’ll need 28 overs of first innings, and 20 overs of chase.
10.47am GMT
Ian Ward is with us, and their taking the covers off the areas that might’ve got wet in the initial delay. The square is fine, but around the edges might be a cause for concern - they’re still under cover.
10.39am GMT
More good news! There’s no rain, the covers are coming off, and the umpires are out for a shmy. Play needs to restart by 2.45 GMT, so, provided the rain is done, we’ll be fine with that, and the game will presumably be somewhere in the 30-over region - well, so say the informed types at Cricinfo.
10.36am GMT
Our intrepid roving, rovingly intrepid reporter is back: “Can I suggest Rain by The Cult? The opening line about “Hot sticky scene” could have been written with this bloody tuk tuk in mind.”
10.29am GMT
“You’re looking for rain songs? There’s ‘Raintown’ by Deacon Blue, of course. Although that was written with Scotland in mind, it seems quite appropriate... asks Eva in Manila. “There’s ‘Raintown’ by Deacon Blue, of course. Although that was written with Scotland in mind, it seems quite appropriate...”
10.20am GMT
Ok, some news! It’s no longer caning down, rather drizzling. Just the couple of hours to get the ground ready, and then a game! In theory.
10.15am GMT
“Couple more rain songs,” emails Luke Williams. “Buddy Guy – It Feels Like Rain. A melter with some cool guitar. “
10.13am GMT
OBO roving reporter, Den Amber Smith, with the latest from Hambantota: “Caught a tuk tuk from Tangalle to come to the game. Will just be pleased to make it home alive now.”
10.09am GMT
We’re going to be here a while, so here’s some Empire of Cricket - worth every second, unless you’re desperate to check highlights of what we’ve seen so far, as shown on telly.
10.01am GMT
Good news!
Rain is easing.Might even stop soon. I think we could have a shortened match. #SLvEng
9.57am GMT
Ok, some ire. This game is in Hambantota because that’s where the President happens to be from. It rains at this time every day, because that’s what it does. This is a day/night game, because telly say that’s what it has to be.
9.53am GMT
Let’s enjoy some photography.
9.42am GMT
6-1 sounds about right.
Apocalypse Now in Hambantota: black skies, torrential rain, sheet lightning, deafening thunder, and Sri Lanka 6-1
9.39am GMT
“Alex Hales plays for Nottinghamshire,” reminds John Starbuck. “Of course he likes deer. Tasty, tasty.”
Yes, but eating for purposes of relaxation? Weird.
9.37am GMT
At leasts: at least Athers isn’t in Hambantota, so we’re unlikely to hear the dreaded “set-in”. Small mercies.
9.33am GMT
Rain-related tip: if ever you’re at Lord’s and it’s raining, be sure to have got seats under the media centre, that it’s Cup Final day, that they’re showing it on the big screen, and you’ve busted your life savings on astoundingly good picnic, including the finest samosas in London.
9.30am GMT
It's 3 in the afternoon here. Looks more like 7pm. pic.twitter.com/igHxyNBXEb
9.27am GMT
“If the match is abandoned,” begins Gareth Fitzgerald, “I’m pretty sure that Mooresy, Cooky, Giles Clarkey, Downton-y and anyone else will have to take it as conclusive proof that Cook a) should open and b) is a tactical genius, and also reach the sensible conclusion that Hales doesn’t have the technique or right family or whatever to succeed at this level. Maybe he’s too tall?”
Cooky is also tall - deceptively so, you might say - and also boasts handsome biceps. Perhaps Hales likes deer.
9.25am GMT
Is there a better rain song?
9.22am GMT
They’re still dragging the covers over the outfield, but really, this ought to have been sorted - hard to see when we’ll next get some action, I’d say, given my detailed knowledge of the microclimate.
9.21am GMT
Slanted pinstripes now.
9.19am GMT
The players were taken off for the light, but apparently it’s now started to thunk down.
9.15am GMT
Good news: there’s a bit of pace in this track, rather like those we can expect in the World Cup, and Finn and Woakes have started well.
9.14am GMT
“Whilst I 100% agree with the general consensus that Cook’s batting doesn’t currently warrant a place in the team (let alone squad),” emails Phil Powell, “after the ‘fallout’ following the claims made in KP’s book, the ECB were surely never going to be able to take the captaincy off him. It would have sent the wrong message. Entirely the wrong way of going about things, but that seems to be standard operating procedure for them.”
I don’t know - if they’d made it look like Cook’s call, they could also make it look like strong leadership. Everybody knows, after all.
9.11am GMT
And off they go.
9.11am GMT
2nd over: Sri Lanka 6-1 (Dilshan 6, Sangakkara 0) This is some exceptional darkness now, the biblical kind that afflicted Egypt, so thick that no one could move for three days. Beefy thinks they should get off before the rain comes, but England are charging round trying to get as many overs in as possible.
9.08am GMT
Another short one from Woakes, but it’s straighter, so that when Perera tries to cut, he finds himself cramped into his body, able only to bunt a dolly into Morgan’s soft, grateful kindly hands at backward point.
9.08am GMT
2nd over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (Dilshan 6, Perera 0) Dilshan is delighted when Woakes’ first delivery strays to leg and remains back of a length - he duly swipes, but can only impart a chunky top-edge that sneaks over the head of short midwicket.
9.04am GMT
1st over: Sri Lanka 3-0 (Dilshan 3, Perera 0) Finn opens the bowling, and his first ball is back of a length and pullable. So Dilshan pulls to fine-leg, to where Woakes hares around and saves the boundary very well indeed. The weather does not look inviting at all - in the last bit, the sky has adopted a purple hue and the air a sepia tinge, nice for photos, not so nice for cricket.
9.00am GMT
And play.
9.00am GMT
In the spirit of the day, anecdotes, sentiments, photos: the beauty of cricket. Send them in, please.
8.58am GMT
It’s very rare that everyone seems to think the same thing - which doesn’t mean that they’re right, of course, but is often a helpful steer.
8.55am GMT
Oh.
We haven't even started yet and just heard the first crack of thunder!
8.51am GMT
“Not sure what the fuss is about with Hales in at 3, it’s not as if Cook will last long enough to take the shine off the ball. But hey, it shows the utterly clueless moronic selection contortions, the ECB are desperate to make to ensure Cook stays in the team.
But I’m sure all the sycophants will claim it’s just because I’m pro KP & therefore outside cricket.”
So says Andy Bradshaw. It’s a tricky one, this - Hales needs a run, and the security of knowing that he can fail, because he’s there to go hard. Whether it’s at the top of the order or first drop oughtn’t to make too much difference, as is said, because those above him should be looking to score, so if they come off, excellent, if they don’t, Hales is in early enough.
8.42am GMT
And James Tredwell, what? Sent out to defend Cook the other day, to be rewarded with the drinks tray.
8.38am GMT
Of course, the inherent problem with all this is the tracks here - or everywhere but specifically here - are so different from those we’ll see in Australia and New Zealand, where scores will be higher and bounces truer. Quite how you get the right squad based on what goes on on this tour is hard to discern.
8.36am GMT
Alastair Cook would’ve batted too - says it looks a good track - and announces three changes for England. In come Hales, at three - so that’s Bell out, while Cook endures - and out go Tredwell and Gurney too, for Stokes and Jordan. “A brave decision,” says Cook of himself, and I suppose it is - protecting his own position and binning a senior player with a better claim on a place requires a neck of solid brass. Apparently, though he’s “hitting the ball well”; we’l have to trust him on that, I guess.
Sri Lanka make one enforced change - Jayawardene misses out for
his daughter’s birthday
personal reasons, so Kandamby comes in. They also field four spinners, while England drop one of theirs.
8.32am GMT
Angelo Mathews tosses, Cook calls heads, it’s tails, Sri Lanka will bat - the surface is dry and hard, so should spin later on.
8.31am GMT
“If Taylor and Hales don’t get a game today I quit as an England fan. What’s the point if those in charge are sabotaging our chances?” asks Alex Bell.
That’s the point! “Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn’t, but if he were sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn’t have to; but if he didn’t want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.”
8.30am GMT
Here we are then. The weather in Hambantota is decent, the toss is in ten minutes, and we’ll see what’s what.
8.29am GMT
Cricket.
8.28am GMT
Cricket.
8.21am GMT
Cricket.
8.00am GMT
Preamble.
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