Summary

Your views on England's tour of Sri Lanka

Live Reporting

by Timothy Abraham, Mike Peter & Huzaifah Khan

  1. SL 61-2

    Adil Rashid drops it a little short and the ball sits up and says 'hit me' to Kusal Mendis, who does just that.

  2. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    Sri Lanka's batters have hit a six every 17 deliveries in this T20I series, a considerable increase on their six-hitting rate compared to the 2021 series against England, in which they averaged a six every 44 deliveries faced.

  3. SL 54-2

    England's golden boy, Jacob Bethell, is tossed the ball by Harry Brook.

    Kusal Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake farm the strike to add four singles to Sri Lanka's total.

  4. SL 50-2

    England's Adil Rashid reactsReuters

    "Well bowled, Dill" chirps up Jos Buttler behind the stumps as Adil Rashd finds a bit of drift and turn to tease and tempt Kusal Mendis.

    Just four runs off the England leg-spinner's opening over.

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    Difficult to exactly know how good Sri Lanka are on these wickets and how tricky they are for England to adapt to.

    Philip, Colombo

  6. SL 46-2

    Sam Curran into the attack.

    The England left-arm seamer holds a bit of pace off the ball and Pavan Rathnayake cuts it over the grasp of Luke Wood at backward point.

    Kusal Mendis picks up four off the final delivery of Wood's over with a dainty dabbed square cut despite the best efforts of Jacob Bethell.

  7. SL 37-2

    Pathum Nissanka was shaking his head looking at the pitch when he trudged off. This is the third match on the surface, and it did break up a little, but batter error was the biggest factor.

  8. Steve Harmison
    Ex-England pace bowler on TNT Sports

    Liam Dawson's held his nerve.

    The body was going one way, the bat was going the other way and Pathum Nissanka is going back to the dressing room.

  9. wicket

    WICKET

    Nissanka c Jacks b Dawson 23 (SL 34-2)

    Liam Dawson has the last laugh, though...

    Given a bit more air by the wily England left-arm spinner and Pathum Nissanka takes the bait hook, line and sinker.

    The Sri Lanka opener attempts to hit Dawson over the top but ends up skying it and Will Jacks calmly takes the catch in the circle.

  10. 6 runs

    SL 34-1

    Liam Dawson with a change of ends and he's promptly dispatched to the stands by a slog sweep from Pathum Nissanka.

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    Luke Wood (R) of England looks at Kusal Mendis (L) of Sri Lanka dGetty Images

    Luke Wood showing the skills required to open the bowling in T20 stuff. Sam Curran and Jamie Overton shouldn't be anyway near that spot.

    Ricardo, Edinburgh

  12. 6 runs

    SL 28-1

    Hmmm, a miserly over from Liam Dawson and Harry Brook decides to shuffle his bowling pack and brings on Jamie Overton.

    The England seamer's second delivery is monstered over mid-wicket by Pathum Nissanka before Kusal Mendis squirts it behind square for four.

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    As a Sri Lankan looking in, the English fanbase seem a tad harsh. You've won both series and it's fair to experiment and test the squad.

    Sanath, London

  14. 6 runs

    SL 14-1

    A really skillful over from Luke Wood. At least until the final ball.

    He beats the outside edge of Kusal Mendis' bat a couple of times before Pathum Nissanka decides to hook the left-arm quick over square leg.

    Jacob Bethell almost pulls of a stunning piece of fielding on the rope, catching the ball but realising he was going over the rope manages to parry it back but cannot gather the rebound.

  15. How's stat?!

    Kieran Parmley
    CricViz analyst

    England's Luke Wood in actionReuters

    Luke Wood in overs 1-6 in T20 Internationals:

    • vs Right Handers - 3 wickets, 69.3 average
    • vs Left Handers - 5 wickets, 8.2 average

  16. SL 6-1

    Left-arm from the other end. Although it's the spin of Liam Dawson rather than the pace of Luke Wood.

    The experienced twirler bowls well to his field as England squeeze the runs. Just one single conceded.

    Defending a low total might be a useful prep for a World Cup scenario so plenty to keep us interested over the next 18 overs or so.

  17. SL 5-1

    Luke Wood with a full delivery which is full and swinging and Kusal Mendis survives what would have been a good lbw shout by jabbing his bat down to keep our a yorker.

    The ball goes fine and races away for four.

    A good start for England.

  18. Nick Compton
    Former England Test player on TNT Sports

    Exactly the start England would've wanted. Not the start Sri Lanka would've liked.

    Ben Duckett makes no mistake. An easy catch to get the wicket of Kamil Mishara.

  19. wicket

    WICKET

    Mishara c Duckett b Wood 0 (SL 1-1)

    England's Luke Wood celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kamil Mishara caught out by England's Ben DuckettReuters

    An early breakthrough for England!

    Kamil Mishara attempts to pull Luke Wood across the line but it's not quite the right length for the shot as the ball hurries on from the left-arm quick.

    Mishara ends up spooning it up high off the bat and Ben Duckett dashes in from mid-on to claim the catch.

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    Pretty pathetic display from England against a second rate Sri Lanka side. Key, McCullum, Brook and Stokes need to go ASAP.

    Mark, London