As it Happened - Sri Lanka vs England, 1st ODI at Colombo
Live cricket score and ball-by-ball commentary from the 1st One-Day International (ODI) match between Sri Lanka and England at the R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Wednesday.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: November 26, 2014 11:55 PM IST
Moeen Ali hit a dominant 119 off just 87 deliveries in a lost cause on Wednesday, as England went down to Sri Lanka by 25 runs in their first one-day international. Catch all the highlights of the match here: (SCORECARD | SCHEDULE)
Sent in to bat first, Sri Lanka posted a challenging target of 317-6, helped by an aggressive 88 from opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and half centuries from Kusal Perera (59) and Mahela Jayawardene (55).
England was bowled out for 292 in the 48th over with Ali at the heart of the reply with his maiden century in ODIs. However, he lacked support from the other batsmen, with the exception of Ravi Bopara who was out last for 65.
Thisara Perera took three wickets while Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis picked up two wickets each for the hosts.
Live Score - Sri Lanka vs England updates
Tillakaratne Dilshan is awarded the Man of the Match for his brilliant knock. Sri Lanka lead the series 1-0 now and the second ODI is also here in Colombo but it's a day game. Do join us on 29th November at 1000 IST to catch all the action. Until then, it's good bye and cheers!!!
Unfortunately for the Brits, their middle-order collapsed and the wicket of Ali seemed to be the final nail in the coffin. However, Ravi Bopara refused to go down without a fight. He kept on losing partners at one end courtesy some reckless shots but hung in there and scored a fifty. He could have won this game for England, had he got some support from the tail. Sri Lanka bowled and fielded exceedingly well tonight and Thisara Perera was the stand out performer with the ball, taking a 3-fer.
That turned out to be a closer chase than we actually expected. Moeen Ali gave England a rollicking start, however he lost Cook fairly cheaply early on. Ali was in some belligerent form and was hitting boundaries at will. His partnership with Ian Bell kept the chase on track as they were going at a good rate. Moeen Ali went on to score a cracking century, the third fastest by an English batsman.
OUT! In the air... and Kusal Perera has taken a brilliant catch! Fuller length ball around off, Bopara tries to hit it over the leg side but mistimes. It goes over the mid-wicket region and Perera runs in from the deep to take a lovely catch diving to his left. SRI LANKA WIN BY 25 RUNS!
In the corridor outside off, Gurney allows it through.
On the pads, Bopara sweeps it to deep mid-wicket for a single.
FOUR! Great shot! On middle, Bopara gets down on his knee and sweeps it through mid-wicket for a boundary. No fielder in the deep there.
Landed outside off, Bopara tries to go over the leg side but mistimes it to long on. No run taken.
Outside off, Gurney lofts it over covers and takes a single.
HARRY GURNEY is the last man in. England need 32 runs off 23 balls.
OUT! Tredwell is bowled! On middle and off, a quicker one, Tredwell gives himself some room to play that one but but misses. The ball hits the stumps and England lose the penultimate wicket. Second wicket for Mendis.
That ball has taken the inside edge of the batsman and thudded into his pads.
FOUR! NO BALL! Full toss, way too high. Bopara tries to pull and it was targeted towards his head. The ball goes towards square leg. Perera apologizes straightaway. The umpire signals a no ball and Bopara gets a boundary as well.
Fullish outside off, Bopara lofts it over the extra cover region. The ball lands safely once again. Two runs taken.
Shortish on off, Bopara pulls it to wide long on for a couple. This was hit hard.
Landed around off, Bopara tries to play it across but gets an inside edge onto his pads.
Back of a length ball on off, Bopara defends it off his back foot.
Fullish on middle, Tredwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Outside off, Tredwell lofts it over covers. The ball lands safely for a single.
Shortish on off, Tredwell punches it away off his back foot.
Full on off, Bopara drives it through mid on for a single.
13th ODI fifty for Bopara!
SIX! Huuggeee hit! On middle, Bopara smacks it over the long on region. The ball goes high up in the air and all the way for a biggie.
Full on off, Bopara squeezes it to covers.
On middle and leg, Tredwell flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
Bopara rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball.
On the pads, Tredwell works it through square leg for a run.
Shortish around off, Bopara flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.
On the pads, Tredwell works it through the leg side for a single.
Fullish outside off, Tredwell drives it to cover-point where Dilshan does really well to stop the ball.
Landed outside off, angling away, Tredwell tries to push but gets beaten.
FOUR! Lovely hit! Around off, Bopara gives himself some room and lofts it over the extra cover region. No fielder in the deep. England get a much-needed boundary.
Shortish outside off, Tredwell punches it through cover-point for a single.
Outside off, Tredwell tries to play but gets beaten.
James Tredwell walks out to bat.
OUT! Another one stumped! On middle, turns away after landing. Woakes comes down the track and tries to play it across but misses it completely. Sangakkara does the rest, whips off the bails. Herath picks up another wicket and England slip further.
Around off, Woakes comes onto his front foot and defends.
Full on off, Bopara drives it through mid on for a single.
Full length ball outside off, Woakes tries to drive it through covers but gets beaten. Apply your brain son, you just need to hand the strike back to Bopara, that's it!
Wide! Width on offer outside off, Woakes flashes and misses. It's called a wide!
FOUR! Just over the keeper! Perera digs in a short ball around middle, Woakes tries to hook it but gets a top edge behind. Sangakkara jumps but it goes over his outstretched hands for a boundary.
Fullish around off, Woakes defends it off his front foot.
Good length ball around off, nipping in a shade, Woakes tries to push through the line but the ball comes in to beat the inside edge.
Back of a length ball around off, Bopara taps it down to point for one.
Short ball around off, nicely targeted at a decent pace, Woakes hooks it to the leg side for a single.
Thisara Perera is back into the attack. 67 needed off 54 balls.
Tossed up ball on middle, again short in length, Bopara goes back and smashes it to deep square leg. Ajantha Mendis does well in the deep to stop the ball as it was spinning.
Short ball on middle, Bopara goes back with a heavy pull shot, finds the fielder in the deep, has to satisfy with a single.
FOUR! Strong shot from Bopara. Loopy ball outside off, Bopara goes down on one knee and rifles it through mid-wicket for a boundary. The ball goes into the fence in a flash.
Hits a full ball down to long on for one.
Loopy full ball on off, Woakes gets on the front foot and defends.
Wrong 'un around middle, Bopara punches it down to long on for one.
Jeevan Mendis is back into the attack.
Full flighted ball around off, Woakes defends it back to the bowler. 24/1 in Batting Powerplay!
Chris Woakes is the new batsman.
OUT! Stumped! Poor, really poor from Stokes. He advances down to an arm ball and misses it completely. Sangakkara does the rest and a distraught Stokes walks back.
Floated ball on middle, Stokes goes down and slogs it over mid-wicket. Ajantha Mendis runs to his right from fine leg and stops the ball, he quickly parries it to Kusal Perera running towards him and he returns it to the keeper. A couple taken.
Mishits a full ball back to the bowler.
Arm ball down the leg side, Stokes tries to sweep but misses.
Turns it off his pads to mid-wicket where Dilshan stops the ball with a dive.
Loopy ball on middle, Stokes plays a lovely reverse sweep through point and it races away. Kusal Perera in the deep dives to stop the ball but not cleanly. The ball comes off his hands and once again rolls towards the ropes. Perera recovers quickly and dives to stop the ball again. Saves a run!
Short outside off, Stokes punches it straight to point.
Tight single! Punches a shortish ball to mid off and sets off for a quick single. The fielder misses his shy at the non-striker's end, otherwise Bopara would have been in trouble.
Sliding down the leg side, Bopara plays it off his hips but finds short fine leg. Shakes his head as he misses out on the boundary ball.
Flighted and on middle, helped through mid-wicket for a run.
Tossed up ball on middle, Stokes goes back and punches it to the bowler.
Full toss down the leg side, Stokes sweeps it to short fine leg where Mathews dives to stop the ball from racing away. Saves three runs there!
Quicker arm ball around off, Stokes tries for the slog sweep but misses.
Full flighted outside off, driven down to wide long off for a single.
Played to the mid-wicket region by the batsman. No run.
SIX! Flighted ball around leg, Bopara moves back and comes down the track to smash it over long on.
Full and around off, Bopara goes back and strokes it to covers.
Around off, helped through mid-wicket for two.
Flatter and around off, Bopara hits it back to the bowler who fails to stop and they take a run. 92 needed off 79!
Again a bit short on middle, pulled through square leg for one.
Shortish around off, Stokes punches it to covers.
Full and slipping down, Stokes tries to flick but misses.
Gets back and punches it through the line for a single at long on.
Mendis back into the attack.
Bopara moves away, then comes back in line to a flighted ball on middle and leg. He pushes it away to long on for a single.
Flighted on middle, swept away straight to backward square leg.
Flighted on off, defended to cover. Stokes was keen on a single but was sent back by Bopara.
Tossed up on leg stump, Bopara sits down and sweeps past short fine leg for a couple.
Bopara works the ball away to mid-wicket where a diving stop prevents the single.
Stokes leans out and works the ball through square leg for a run.
Batting Powerplay enforced on England.
Flighted on middle, Stokes bends low down and turns the ball past mid-wicket for a run.
Shortish outside off, cut away hard to deep cover for a single.
Loopy on middle, Stokes drives to long on and takes a single.
Flat googly outside off, Stokes goes for the cut but misses.
Bopara gets down once again and sweeps straight to deep square leg for a single.
Bopara plays a sweep shot. They manage to come back for the second.
Herath spots Stokes advancing and shortens the length. Stokes is forced to defend.
Flighted on off, turned away softly to the left of Dilshan who dives and keeps the batsmen glued at their crease.
Thrown up around off, driven down to long off for a run.
Tossed up on middle, flicked away through mid-wicket for a single.
Stokes has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
Flighted on off, Bopara defends to cover-point for a single.
Herath back on.
Stokes defends it from within the crease.
Punched off the backfoot by the batsman. They pick up a single.
Stokes goes back to a shortish googly and punches through cover for a run.
Flighted on off, driven away to long on for a single.
Bopara gets down to sweep but the ball goes past his body to the keeper.
Bopara has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Bopara rocks back to a short ball and pulls hard. Jayawardene dives and makes a good stop but can't prevent the single.
Flighted on middle, Bopara plays the paddle but Sangakkara was ready and went across very soon. The ball hits his boot and doesn't settle into his gloves.
Stokes has played it to the point region. One run added to the total.
Stokes has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Flat on middle, Bopara sits low down and paddles the ball to fine leg for a single.
WIDE! Spins down the leg side and the umpire calls it a wide.
Flat outside off, Bopara goes back to dab the ball to third man but misses.
Ben Stokes is the new man in.
Drinks break!
OUT! Ali is gone, a very soft dismissal! Now, England are in trouble! Flighted slowly on off, Ali goes for the drive, is a bit too early and lobs the ball straight back to Mendis who has the simplest of catches in the world to complete. Ali can't believe it, he has lost his wicket just when Bopara was beginning to partner him ably.
SIX! Big and handsome! Dropped short, Ali rocks back and pulls over the backward square leg fence.
Shortish outside off, slammed down to long off for a run.
Ali backs away and Mendis follows him with a flighted ball. Ali manages to drive this to long off and gets a single.
Flighted on middle, driven back to Mendis.
Flighted on off, Ali drives wide of long off for a couple.
Tossed up on middle, driven hard down the ground for a single.
Bopara works it down the leg side. They pick up a single.
Bopara stays back to a flat ball and defends.
Flat on off, Bopara goes back to defend but gets an inside edge to mid-wicket.
Tossed up around off, driven away through cover for a single.
Flighted and drifting on to the leg stump. Ali gets down to sweep but misses. The ball hits his pads and the Lankans appeal hard. The umpire doesn't think it's close and the Lankans are helpless because they don't have a review left.
Flighted googly around off, Ali looks to drive but gets an outside edge to third man for a run.
Flat on off, Ali looks to turn the ball through the on side but this was the googly and the ball goes off the leading edge to the off side.
Driven away to long off for a single.
Aerial but safe! Shortish on middle and off, Ali goes back to pull but gets a thick top edge. The ball goes over the bowler. It lands safely down the ground and a single is taken.
Flighted around off stump, driven away through cover for a single.
Bopara nearly got bowled around his legs. Floated down the leg side. Bopara goes for the paddle sweep but the ball goes past his bat and nearly hits the stumps.
Flighted delivery around off, driven straight to extra cover.
Flighted outside off, Bopara looks to drive through cover but gets an inside edge into the leg side. The ball went through Bopara's legs.
Tossed up outside off, Ali forces the ball down to long on for a single.
FOUR! Smack! Dropped short by Dilshan and Ali rocks back and pulls the ball hard, just over short mid-wicket for a boundary.
Flat on middle, punched past the short mid-wicket fielder's weird effort, down to long on for a single.
Tossed right up on middle, eased down to long on for a single.
Dilshan comes back on to bowl.
Maiden ODI ton for Moeen Ali.
THERE IT IS! Maiden ODI hundred for Ali, off just 72 balls! Flighted around off, driven away to long off to get there with a single. This is the third fastest century by an English batsman.
Ali might be having some nerves here! He gets forward to a tossed up ball around off and looks to defend. He misses and Sangakkara takes the bails off in a flash but Ali was in.
Slowly flighted outside off, Ali rocks back to cut but finds cover-point.
Floated up around off stump, driven down to long off for a single.
Flighted on middle, Ali goes back and works the ball through mid-wicket for a single.
Mendis starts with a googly, a short one outside off. Ali goes back and cuts to cover.
Jeevan Mendis into the attack.
Shortish around the tummy, Ali stands tall and pulls without much timing to square leg for a single. Ali moves to 98!
SIX! This is emphatic! Fullish and slow on middle, Ali plays an effortless flick over the mid-wicket fence. That is a very stylish shot.
Back of a length on the pads, Ali looks to tickle the ball down to fine leg but misses. The ball brushes his thigh pad and goes through to Sangakkara who dives to his right to gobble the ball. He gets up and appeals along with the bowler. Appealing in the Lankan camp is like a virus that has spread from one individual to the entire team.
Tough chance for Prasad but he couldn't get his hands behind the ball. Fullish on off, Ali drives straight back, in the air. Prasad sticks his hand upwards and the ball hits his fingertips and goes down the ground. Prasad goes down on the turf soon after the attempt. Two runs taken and Ali moves into the 90s.
Good length delivery around off, Bopara gets slightly forward and pushes the ball firmly to point. Dilshan leaps but can't collect the ball cleanly and allows a single.
Touch short around off, Moeen drags it past a lazy mid on fielder, Thisara. He then chases it down and they take three runs.
Flat and straight on middle, Bopara stays back and defends back to Mendis.
Tossed up around off, defended softly to the covers for a run.
Flighted on middle, spins in towards leg and hits Ali on the pads.
Flat delivery on middle, nudged away to mid-wicket.
Tossed up outside off, driven through cover for a single.
Flighted delivery outside off, Ali pushes the ball softly to the covers for a single.
Short of a good length on off, Bopara hops up and defends the ball back on to the pitch.
Fullish delivery outside off, Bopara leans nicely forward and defends to the off side.
Ravi Bopara comes to the crease.
OUT! Chopped on, England keep losing wickets! Back of a length around off stump, Buttler stays back and tries to dab the ball down to third man. He gets a thick inside edge and the ball goes on to hit the leg stump. The bail over the stumps gets dislodged. England have lost half their side now. The platform built early on has been put to waste as of now.
FOUR! Chase gone wrong and the ball wins! Banged in short on off, Buttler rocks back and pulls through mid-wicket. Mathews chases towards the fence, dives but the ball goes on to the fence.
Length delivery on off stump, Buttler stays in the crease and dabs the ball to cover-point.
Prasad goes full around off, gets it up near the blockhole. Buttler squeezes it away to mid on.
Prasad brought back into the attack. He has been expensive today but the skipper has given him a slip.
Flat slider across the off stump, Ali's choice of shot was right, the late cut. However, he couldn't get any wood on the ball.
SIX! Moeen Ali is not stopping at anything! Flighted on the pads, Ali gets under the ball, picks it up nicely and dispatches it over the mid-wicket fence.
Shortish delivery around off, punched down to long on for a single.
Flat on off, Buttler camps back and forces the ball down to long on for a run.
Flighted with some pace on off, Buttler gets an inside edge back to Mendis.
WIDES! This is way down the leg side, Sangakkara has trouble getting himself around it. The ball touches his glove and goes to the fine leg region for a couple of extra more runs.
Buttler gets low down and across to paddle the ball around the corner for a couple.
Banged in short on off, Buttler stands tall and pulls to deep square leg for a single.
Rush of too much blood perhaps! Back of a length around off, Buttler sits back and looks to force the ball through mid on but misses. The ball goes under the bat, to the keeper.
SIX! That is an outstanding hit! It was more of a slice over long off! Fullish around off, Buttler swings through the line and bangs the ball over the long off fence. This shot came out of nowhere.
That is brilliantly timed! Pitched up outside off, Buttler leans forward and drives beautfiully through cover. Perera makes a run to his right and has to put in a dive to stop the ball, he does everything perfectly.
Back of a length and just outside off, knocked down to point from the crease.
Perera is bowling exceptionally well here! Length on off, moves away a bit and Buttler looks to defend. He misses due to the movement.
Shortish on off, punched off the back foot to long on for a single.
Flat on middle and leg, nudged away to square leg, just beyond the 30-yard circle and Buttler hurries back for the second.
Flighted and drifted on to the pads, flicked away to mid-wicket where Dilshan dives to his right to stop the ball.
Flat on off, Buttler sits back and punches the ball back to Mendis.
Flighted on off, Ali gets down and across to sweep but gets an inside edge down to fine leg for a run.
Flat and quick on middle, Ali stays back and looks to whip the ball. He gets a thick inside edge on to his pads.
Length delivery outside off, Buttler stays in the crease and escorts the ball through to Sangakkara with his eyes.
WIDE! Perera bowls a slower bouncer on middle. Buttler stands tall and the ball goes over the head. Wide signalled by the umpire.
Loose from Buttler now! Perera digs the ball short outside off. Buttler looks to cut uppishly but is beaten. The ball moved away slightly.
Back of a length and outside off, steered down to third man for a single.
Good length delivery on off, Ali stays back and looks to punch but mistimes the ball to cover.
Slightly uppish but away from the fielder! Pitched up outside off, Ali drives on the up, aerially past short extra cover for a couple.
Perera zooms in a beautiful yorker on middle, Buttler keeps it out nicely too, picking up a single.
Buttler is off the mark right away, pushes the ball through cover and picks up a single.
Jos Buttler comes in to bat. He can get the scoreboard moving really quickly.
OUT! Another massive wicket for the Lankans! England are getting into a slump here. Flighted delivery just outside off, Morgan gets forward to push the ball through cover but plays down the wrong line. The ball hits the inside edge and then finds the furniture behind him. This is not looking good for England anymore.
Ali gets low down and paddles the ball down to fine leg and takes the single.
NOT OUT! Pitching well outside leg stump, that is a ridiculous review taken by the Lankans. Flat delivery on leg stump, Morgan goes for the reverse sweep but is struck on his pad. The Lankans appeal but the umpire doesn't raise his finger. Sangakkara seems very confident and convinces the rest to go for the review which is taken. Ultimately, replays show that the ball had pitched well outside leg.
A huge appeal for lbw against Morgan. Not given and Sangakkara seems confident and the review is taken.
DROPPED! Straight in and straight out! Ali sits down to a flat delivery and plays a powerful sweep shot. He doesn't keep it down which was intentional but the ball goes flat out to Jeevan Mendis at deep mid-wicket. He comes forward, takes the catch for a few moments but the ball slips out as he falls. This could prove expensive.
Ali chips down the track to a flat delivery. He doesn't get anywhere to the pitch of the ball and ends up blocking back to Mendis.
Mendis comes back to bowl.
Good length delivery in the corridor around off, Morgan looks to defend off the back foot but gets beaten.
Here comes England's most powerful striker, Eoin Morgan.
OUT! Faint tickle and Root has been caught behind! Pitched up around off stump, Root looks to get partially forward and then drive the ball to mid off. The ball nips away just slightly, takes the outside edge and goes through to Sangakkara. Root was struggling to turn the strike over and was under pressure as well. Perera has hit the right line and length today, for a change. He is such a dangerous bowler when he gets his rhythm right.
Banged in short on off, Root climbs on his back foot to pull but misses.
Lovely stop by Dilshan! Shortish outside off, Root cuts on the front foot to the right of Dilshan at point. He dives away to his right and makes an excellent stop. His teammates go up to him to pat him on his head.
Back of a length and well outside off, Root looks to slap the ball through cover but mistimes the ball to cover-point.
Back of a length and just outside off, Root stands tall and punches to extra cover.
Tossed up on off, driven back to Herath.
Floated delivery on middle, flicked away to mid-wicket.
SIX! Ali has gone berserk here! Flighted on middle, Ali walks down the track, sits down again and plays another slog sweep over the deep square leg fence.
SIX! This is a monster hit! Ali dances down the track, sits down to a flighted ball and gives it the full monty. The slog sweep makes a beautiful sound off the bat and goes deep into the stands over deep mid-wicket.
Flat delivery on off, Ali goes back to defend but gets an inside edge on to his boot.
Flighted slowly around off, spins away and Root adjusts and then drives through cover for a single.
Banged in short on middle and leg, Ali ducks quickly under the ball.
Good length delivery around off, punched away to mid off.
Wonderful stop by Thirimanne! Length ball around off stump, Ali times his punch sweetly to extra cover but Thirimanne dives to his left and makes a fine stop.
Back of a length on middle, nudged away to fine leg for a single.
Length ball on off stump, Root stays in the crease and blocks the ball away to cover.
Joe Root walks in to bat.
Drinks break!
OUT! Perera has got rid of Bell here! A good length delivery, in the channel around off. Bell is forced to push at the ball which bounces a bit more and even straightens slightly. It kisses the edge and goes at a good height to Jayawardene at first slip. Bell was rotating the strike nicely and allowing Ali to play freely. Sri Lanka might have just broken through at the right time as this partnership was beginning to threaten.
Floated up on off, Bell defends into vacant spaces at the covers and gets a single.
Flighted on middle, driven away to long on for a single. Herath dives away to his left to stop the ball but can't.
Loopy delivery around off, Ali gets forward and defends calmly.
Tossed up on middle, driven down to long on for a run.
Slow and flat outside off, Bell goes right back and plays a late cut past backward point for a couple.
Tossed up on middle, Ali drives down to long on for a single.
Herath comes back into the attack.
Fullish on off, Ali shuffles well across the stumps and flicks through mid-wicket for a single.
Length ball around off, run down to third man for a single.
A lovely length delivery around off, nips away as Bell looks to drive. He gets beaten!
Shortish delivery outside off, Ali cuts off the bottom end of the bat. The ball goes aerially towards deep point but bounces well before the fielder.
Length delivery just outside off, Ali looks to drive on the up, from the crease but misses. The Lankans appeal once again but the umpire isn't getting fooled.
Length delivery around off, Bell gets well forward to defend but gets an inside edge on to his pads. The ball dies down to the off side and a quick single is taken. Dilshan gets to the ball and fires it to the stumps at the non-striker's end but misses. Perera falls away, trying to get away from the fired throw.
WIDE! Length delivery just down the leg side. Bell looks to clip the ball but misses, fell over a bit. Sangakkara went up for a bit but the umpire calls it a wide.
Shortish delivery around off, Ali makes room and cuts but finds backward point.
Slightly short on off, Bell takes his front foot away and punches down to long on for a single.
Flat on middle, worked away to mid-wicket.
Flighted on off, Bell stays back and defends back to Dilshan.
FOUR! Another shabby piece of fielding! Shortish on middle, Bell goes back and pulls to the deep mid-wicket region. The fielder gets around on time, slides awkardly but can't keep the ball from touching the ropes.
Tossed up around off, Ali drives softly through cover for a single.
Good length delivery around off, dabbed away late to third man for a run.
Slow length delivery around off, Ali looks to guide the ball down to third man but is beaten.
Fullish outside off stump, Ali plays a lovely drive on the up, through cover. The man in the deep comes around and keeps the batsmen down to two runs.
Back of a length outside off, Ali hangs his bat horizontally and tentatively, missing it by a few inches.
Back of a length on off, Bell drops the ball with soft hands, next to the pitch and steals a quick run.
Fullish on middle, Bell looks to drive straight but gets an inside edge on to his pads. Perera has been expensive of late, on the tour to India.
Thisara Perera has been introduced into the attack.
Flat delivery outside off, Bell stays back and punches through cover for a run.
Tossed up on off, driven back to Dilshan who moves to his right and dives to stop the ball. He gets into a tangle with Ali as well.
Shortish delivery outside off, punched away through cover for a single.
Flighted delivery around off, Ali goes back and pushes the ball to extra cover.
Flat and slow around off, bounces a bit but Bell sits back and pushes the ball down to long on for a single.
Bell gets low down, very early and laps the ball over Sangakkara's head. Bell returns for the second.
Dilshan called back into the attack.
Bell advances down the track and drives to mid off. He wants the quick single. The throw comes in to the non-striker's end but doesn't find the stumps. End of a productive Powerplay for England.
Tossed up on middle, Bell gets down on his knee and sweeps the ball to deep square leg for a couple.
Floated up on middle, Bell presses forward and defends.
Shortish delivery outside off, Bell goes back to cut but gets a bottom edge past the stumps and past Sangakkara.
FOUR! That is very elegantly done! Flighted around off, Bell chips down the track and lofts the ball over mid off for a boundary.
Flat delivery outside off, punched away to cover.
Fifty for Moeen Ali, his third in ODIs.
FOUR! You can call this a flick-sweep! Flighted on middle, Ali gets right across, sits down and wristily sweeps the ball to the backward square leg fence.
Shortish outside off, Bell rocks back and punches gently to cover for a single.
Bell sits down to a tossed up delivery and looks to sweep. The ball doesn't hit the bat, touches the glove and goes over Sangakkara for a couple of runs.
Skiddy arm ball on the pads, Bell camps back and looks to nudge the ball but misses and is hit on his pads.
Bell goes back to a flighted ball on middle and blocks with a straight bat.
Loopy delivery on middle, driven straight back. Herath moves to his right, sticks his leg towards the ball and stops it.
Dilshan has done a temporary job by picking up the first wicket and Mathews hands the ball to Rangana Herath.
Flat and slow on the pads, nudged away past mid-wicket for a single. England are going at over 8 an over.
Slightly flat around off, Bell gets half forward and punches to cover.
Floated up outside off, Bell carves the drive through point and gets a couple.
FOUR! Bell gets ringing now! A long hop on off, Bell goes right back and pulls hard to the mid-wicket boundary with ease.
Ali dances down first ball he faces against Mendis. He looks to swing down the ground but mistimes the ball to mid on for a run.
Flat and spinning away just outside off, Bell goes back and punches to cover. There is a misfield and a single is taken.
Without doubt, Mathews goes for spin from both ends. Ajantha Mendis has been brought on now.
Ali gives the charge as Dilshan flights the ball around off, Ali swings hard but mistimes the ball softly to mid on.
Ali nearly gets six fours in a row! Another short one on off, Ali rocks back to pull but mistimes the ball in the air to deep mid-wicket. The fielder from deep square leg gets around and stops the ball.
FOUR! Slammed! Ali's fifth boundary in a row! Shortish delivery on off, Ali camps back and pulls the ball away to the mid-wicket fence. A few days back, in a tour game, Ali scored six boundaries in an over.
Shortish on middle, Bell backs away and punches the ball down to long on for a single.
A bit short and outside off, Bell rocks back to cut but misses by a miniscule.
Ian Bell is the new man, in at number three.
OUT! Third time unlucky, is Cook! This was too plumb to opt for a review! Dilshan flights the ball on middle and Cook looks to flick, playing for the turn. He misses and the ball hits him just over his boot. Dilshan appeals, the umpire, the same one who's two decisions were turned down earlier in the innings, thinks hard and raises his finger. To the umpire's delight, Cook doesn't take the review but this seemed too close anyway. Dilshan is delighted with this breakthrough, off his very first delivery.
Mathews sees that pace isn't working and opts for spin. Tillakaratne Dilshan comes into the attack.
FOUR! Two clean shots and two edges, the result the same! Length around off, Ali stays back and looks to flay the ball through point but gets an inside edge that takes the ball past the stumps, to the fine leg fence. 19 runs off the over!
FOUR! Three in a row now, this one was off the edge! Prasad runs in from around the stumps and bowls it full outside off. Ali looks to drive hard through cover but gets a thick edge that races past slip and goes into the third man fence.
FOUR! Poor bowling from Prasad! The oomph he is putting in while delivering the ball is only causing the ball to disappear quicker off the blade. Fullish with room outside off, Ali slams the ball over cover-point and finds the fence again.
FOUR! Blast of power! Fullish, in the slot outside off. Ali brings his bat down fiercely on the ball and cracks the ball with a powerful drive past short extra cover for four.
Back of a length and just outside off, Ali looks to pull across the line but misses. He was a bit too early into the shot and there isn't much bounce either.
Crisp drive! A low full toss outside off, Cook leans forward and drives through extra cover. The ball slows down in the outfield and Mendis runs after it to keep the ball in. The Lankan fielders could have to do a lot of hard yards, chasing the ball.
FOUR! Poor fielding gifts the English a boundary! Nicely dabbed away! Fullish around off, Ali gets forward, opens the face of his bat and runs the ball fine down towards the third man fence. Prasad runs across and bends down but not enough. The ball goes under his hands and touches the ropes.
Pitched up just outside off, Ali looks to drive through cover but the ball straightens a tad and beats him.
Sangakkara is dancing around behind the stumps. Length outside off, Ali looks to cut the ball but misses. It swings late after passing Ali and Sangakkara who was wrong-footed has to move to his right in the end and stops the ball.
FOUR! That is tremendous timing! Mathews runs in from around the stumps and bowls a back of a length delivery outside off. Ali sits back and punches gorgeously through cover for a boundary.
Fullish outside off, Ali flashes hard at this one but gets an inside edge past Sangakkara, fine towards the third man fence. Ali gets two runs.
FOUR! That's a graceful strike! Fullish slow delivery well outside off stump. Ali waits for the ball to land and hoists it over the infield and into the fence. The outfield is slow, so it may not be a bad ploy to go over the top in the Powerplay.
Cook finally gets the ball on the bat! Shortish outside off, cut away through point for a couple of runs.
WIDE! Sangakkara has collected this well away from his body and gets up right between first and second slip! Shortish and angled well outside off. Cook goes for the cut but misses and Sangakkara dives away to gather the ball. The umpire sees the Lankans appeal confidently, shakes his head and quietly stretches his arms out to signal a wide.
Wonderful chase by Kusal Perera! Back of a length on the knees, Ali clips the ball through mid-wicket. The ball appears to reach the fence but Perera runs after it and dives in the end. He pulls the ball back just before it gets to the ropes. Three runs to Ali!
Length delivery outside off stump, Ali stays back and punches sweetly to short extra cover.
Fullish on middle, Cook flicks the ball through square leg and picks up a single.
That is tentative! Length delivery around off, nips away and Cook pokes with hard hands at the ball. He gets beaten by a few inches.
Flashy from Cook! Fullish delivery outside off, moves away a bit and Cook goes for the spanking drive. He misses by a long way in the end.
That is not a good shot from Ali. He stays back to a back of a length delivery angled outside off. Ali looks to swing across the line with a heave but meets thin air.
Ali gets slightly forward to a fullish delivery and defends.
DRAGGED ON BUT THE BAILS STAY STILL! The ball stops standstill right in front of the sticks. Back of a length and just outside off, Ali rocks back to pull but gets an inside edge on to his pads. The ball rolls behind and hits the base of the stumps but the bails are stubborn and stay in the groove!
Pitched up outside off, Cook gets a decent stride out and drives through cover-point for a run.
Fullish delivery around off, Cook resorts to leave this one alone.
Nicely driven! Fullish around off stump, Cook drives sweetly past the non-striker and mid off gets to the ball to stop it.
Length ball outside off, Ali shoulders arms with ease.
That's very Amla-like! Fullish and just outside off, Amla, oops Ali leans forward and drives on the up through cover for a couple of runs.
Tip and run! Length ball around off, Cook dabs the ball into the off side for a quick single.
Shortish delivery outside off, Cook rocks back and cuts hard but Dilshan dives to his left and makes a good stop.
A fine shot but a lovely stop by Mathews! Fullish, half volley outside off, Ali gets nicely forward and drives through extra cover. Mathews moves to his right from mid off and dives to stop the ball superbly.
FOUR! Up and over! No nerves for Moeen Ali! Banged in short outside off. Moeen goes up off his toes and cuts the ball over point for a boundary.
The second new ball will be taken by Dhammika Prasad from the other end.
Pitched up just outside off, Cook goes half forward, ensuring he doesn't get his front foot across and drives to extra cover. That's the end of an eventful maiden.
This one's not in line with the stumps. Slightly short and outside off, Cook cuts to cover-point.
NOT OUT! Cook survives on height off back to back deliveries! England have saved their single review twice! Perfect length ball on middle, nips in sharply and Cook looks to play around the pad but misses and is struck on his pad, once again around the knee roll. It looked close to the naked eye and the umpire obliges on the appeal with a raised finger. Cook has a lengthier chat with Ali than on the previous ball and opts to go upstairs. Hawk Eye shows the ball going over the stumps yet again. Cook should be in a casino today, not on a cricket field.
This is really interesting! Cook has been given out lbw again and this time it looks close but he still goes for the review. Has this ever happened before in cricket? Same batsman taking a review off consecutive balls?
NOT OUT! A fantastic review in favour of England, this would have gone just over the stumps! On a length on middle, straightens a bit and raps Cook around his knee roll. Mathews goes up right away and finds the finger going up from the umpire. Cook seems doubtful of the decision and goes for the review. Hawk Eye shows that the ball would have just gone over the stumps.
Wicket on the third ball! Cook is caught in front and it could be slightly high which is why Cook takes the review.
Good length ball once again on middle and off, pushed away into the leg side.
Good length delivery on off stump, Cook stays in the crease and defends.
Welcome back to what is a steep chase for England. They need 318 to win and will be up against many spinners. If dew comes in, batting could get easier. The English openers are Moeen Ali and Alastair Cook. The first new ball will be taken by Angelo Mathews.