13th over: England 69-1 (Duckett 27, Root 21) The slight figure of Wellalage is tapped for a single a ball.<\/p>\n
Darryl Accone \u201cFurther to Andrew Benton (13.07) and John Starbuck (13.32) on \u201cCoach Baz\u201d: All other cricket-playing nations will be hoping that the myopia and parsimony of the ECB ensure that McCullum keeps his job as England coach in all three formats. Nothing like knowing you\u2019re up against a sure-fire loser.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whether or not McCullum \u201cdeserves\u201d to lose his job after the Ashes is a different thing to whether he can still make England a better team \u2013 in the way that we saw improvement over the first couple of years. That\u2019s the big question that the ECB have to work out. Is he a one-trick pony?<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n 12th over: England 63-1 (Duckett 27, Root 21) Asalanka hurries through his first over. At the same stage, Sri Lanka were 45-1. Root and Duckett in control was very much the story of the first ODI \u2013 and then things went wrong.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 11th over: England 60-1 (Duckett 26, Root 19) Sri Lanka bring on Wellalage at the end of the power play and Duckett\u2019s eyes light up. His first ball is crunched to the rope, his third clubbed over extra cover for four more. England are now ahead of the rate.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.46 EST<\/p>\n 10th over: England 52-1 (Duckett 18, Root 19) Duckett plays a reverse sweep, with front leg balletically stretched in front of him, and picks up a couple; finishes the over in the same way but only for a half-brushed single.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 9th over: England 47-1 (Duckett 14, Root 18) Sri Lanka think they\u2019ve got Root lbw. The umpire says no, but Pramod is very keen, and they go for the review \u2013 missing the top of off stump by the width of a January yawn. The stadium seems to have filled out a bit now, certainly plenty of music, and now something for the England fans to feast on as Root turns Pramod off his laces and behind square for four.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 8th over: England 39-1 (Duckett 13, Root 12) Duckett re-overtakes Root with a backfoot cudgel over wide long-on for six off Dhananjaya\u2019s last ball.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 7th over: England 31-1 (Duckett 6, Root 11) Asitha stays on for his fourth over, Root sends him trilling away for another boundary, through midwicket with style. Picks up another couple but is beaten late in the over.<\/p>\n John Starbuck, hello! \u201cTanya, I agree. The T20 World Cup is the last chance saloon for bazball. If it\u2019s going to have any future England need to at least reach the semi-finals and even that is being generous. Mind you, there\u2019s still plenty of time for players to get injured, throwing umpteen spanners in.\u201d<\/p>\n I don\u2019t actually know what happens in the scenario that England have a shocking WC, as McCullum has only just been made white-ball coach. I read a piece somewhere \u2013 apologies, I can\u2019t remember where \u2013 saying that perhaps England will get rid of him via nudge tactics, bringing in a curfew, more coaches etc, in the hope that he throws in the towel.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 6th over: England 25-1 (Duckett 6, Root 5) And here is our first sight of spin, in the tall figure of Dhananjaya, right arm, slightly slingy \u2013 and here\u2019s the breakthrough! Rehan shuffles off, scolding his gloves; Root comes in and picks up four first ball, on-driving past the clumpy fielder.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Rehan Ahmed b Dhananjaya 13 (England 20-1)<\/p>\n Rehan, rooted back in his stumps like a farmer in a ditch, is done by a quicker inswinger from the spinner. Goes to cut, but misses. <\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 5th over: England 18-0 (Rehan 12, Duckett 5) A throw from extra cover ricochets off the stumps meaning that England have four handy overthrows early in Asitha\u2019s over. Four dots in the over, England aren\u2019t hurrying into this run chase, and we haven\u2019t even had any spin yet.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 4th over: England 13-0 (Rehan 7, Duckett 5) Pramod again. Rehan looks composed, a couple here, a single there. Duckett shimmies a couple off his boots. Pramod finishing with a swinging yorker that Duckett closes the door on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 3rd over: England 8-0 (Rehan 4, Duckett 3) Asitha bustles in. Duckett shimmies sideways and tries to flick him behind but misses \u2013 Asitha saw him coming. But Duckett picks up runs next ball with a hearty-sounding square thrash.<\/p>\n Good afternoon Andrew Benton! \u201cI hope England lose this one, and the series, then we\u2019ll see the back of McCullum. His remaining in place so far already says that failure is acceptable to the ECB. You\u2019d hope he has a clause in his agreement allowing them to fire him if performances are not up to scratch. I do despair…\u201d<\/p>\n I think McCullum\u2019s fate will probably lie with the World Cup performances – this series is a bit of a place holder.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 2nd over: England 3-0 (Rehan 2, Duckett 0) Duckett survives being given out lbw to Pramod Madushan \u2013 leg absolutely in the right\/wrong place, but hit too high \u2013 then misses a ramp. A wide helps the scoreboard.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a008.02 EST<\/p>\n England need 220 to win<\/p>\n 1st over: England 1-0 (Rehan 1, Duckett 0) Asitha Fernando with the ball, bright white hanky hanging out of his back pocket. Lights are on, trumpets blaring in a pretty empty stadium. Rehan bats his first ball carefully back, before picking up a single. Duckett plays and misses.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.55 EST<\/p>\n Another shout out for the sublime Adil Rashid (2-34) \u2013 who has quietly managed his career in a way that works for him. Stepped away from Test cricket, preserved his shoulder, and at 37 is still a magician, as well as being England\u2019s best spinner.<\/p>\n The lights are on in Colombo, and the players are out in the middle for the second innings. England need 220 at 4.4 runs an over to draw level in the series.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Thanks Jim! A very entertaining read of a slow-burn first innings. Now we see how England deal with Sri Lanka\u2019s big hand of spinners. I\u2019m excited to see how Rehan Ahmed does at the top of the innings \u2013 he played so well for Leicestershire last year, and seasoned watchers said that he had really matured in all aspects of his game. His batting was beautiful, a pure balance of defence and attack.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.45 EST<\/p>\n Game on. England need 220 to win and level the series 1-1.<\/p>\n After losing the toss England would likely have taken that. They used six spinners in total and kept plugging away on a stodgy surface. Sri Lanka couldn\u2019t really break the shackles all innings but they have posted a reasonable score. 220 will take some getting on this surface with Sri Lanka\u2019s experienced and talented spin attack. It could be something of a griper.<\/p>\n Time for me to skedaddle. Tanya Aldred will be along very shortly to expertly call England\u2019s chase. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy your Saturday. Ta-ra!<\/p>\n England\u2019s Joe Root (left) , Jamie Overton (centre) and Jos Buttler look to be in a chipper mood as they back to dressing room. Photograph: Sameera Peiris\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.57 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Asitha Fernando c & b Root 0 (Sri Lanka 219 all out)<\/p>\n Root has two in two and finishes off the Sri Lanka innings! A toe ender is poked back and Root gleefully swallows it before unleashing that boyish grin.<\/p>\n England’s Joe Root takes a catch to dismiss of Sri Lanka’s Asitha Fernando. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.46 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Dunith Wellalage c Curran b Root 20 (Sri Lanka 219-9)<\/p>\n Joe Root to bowl the last over\u2026 Wellalage goes for the big one down the ground but can\u2019t clear Sam Curran. Close but no Havana.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 49th over: Sri Lanka 218-8 (Wellalage 20, Pramod 1) The wonderfully named Jeffrey Vandersay arrives in the middle, he survives an appeal for caught behind first ball, was there glove in it? England send it upstairs but it comes back down again. Not Out. Wellalage swishes Rehan\u2019s final ball away for four to keep Sri Lanka ticking into the final over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Pramod Madushan st Buttler b Rehan Ahmed 8 (Sri Lanka 213-8)<\/p>\n Rehan Ahmed lures Madhusan out of his crease with a flighted leggie and Jos Buttler does the rest. Textbook.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.16 EST<\/p>\n 48th over: Sri Lanka 212-7 (Wellalage 15, Pramod 8) Seven off the over as the batters try to put Dawson off his length with some Martha and the Vandellas – dancing in the crease. The old pro keeps his cool and finishes with 1-41 off his ten overs.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 47th over: Sri Lanka 205-7 (Wellalage 12, Pramod 4) Wellalage deploys the reverse-sweep off the red face Jacks and picks up four, Sri Lanka move beyond 200.<\/p>\n \u201cSurely this is already a challenging score…we are talking about England away from home in an ODI.\u201d<\/p>\n Brendon Large holds me immediately accountable. Quite right.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 46th over: Sri Lanka 196-7 (Wellalage 5, Pramod 2) Jacks drops a sitter in the deep! He can\u2019t return the favour to Liam Dawson who looks crestfallen when the ball plops onto the turf. Wellalage pulled in the air and Jacks had to rush in from the edge but once he got his hands to it should have clung on.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 45th over: Sri Lanka 193-7 (Wellalage 4, Pramod 0) Pramod Madhusan is the new batter, Sri Lanka have five overs to haul themselves up to a challenging score.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Pavan Rathnayake c Dawson b Jacks 29 (Sri Lanka 193-7)<\/p>\n A wild hack sees the end of Rathnayake, he\u2019s caught in the deep by Dawson and England look to finish this early.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 44th over: Sri Lanka 186-6 (Rathnayake 24, Wellalage 2) Rashid\u2019s last over is taken for just four runs \u2013 he finishes with 2-34 off his ten overs and pulled off that fantastic low catch to get rid of the dangerous looking Liyanage. Get him back into the cryogenic chamber pronto.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 43rd over: Sri Lanka 182-6 (Rathnayake 21, Wellalage 1) Just one run off Will Jacks as Sri Lanka\u2019s innings starts to really run out of steam. England lose a review going upstairs for a spurious LBW shout that pitched outside leg.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 42nd over: Sri Lanka 181-6 (Rathnayake 20, Wellalage 1) Dunith Wellalage is the new man. Rashid has 2-30 off his nine overs.<\/p>\n Gary Naylor is on the money:<\/p>\n \u201cEngland should play Adil Rashid in every white ball game for which he can raise his arm above his head and then, when he can\u2019t, make him a coach – Professor Emeritus of one day bowling. What a player he is.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.53 EST<\/p>\n WICKET! Charith Asalanka c Duckett b Rashid 45 (179-6)<\/p>\n Sri Lanka\u2019s hopes of reaching 250 take a huge hit with Asalanka holing out to Duckett in the deep.<\/p>\n Adil Rashid celebrates the dismissal of Asalanka. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.02 EST<\/p>\n 41st over: Sri Lanka 178-5 (Asalanka 45, Rathnayake 18) Liam Dawson returns for the final powerplay. What can Sri Lanka muster? In the short term \u2013 five runs off the over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 40th over: Sri Lanka 173-5 (Asalanka 44, Rathnayake 14) Sri Lanka can\u2019t get Rashid away. Just four runs off the over. Lovely to hear the laconic tones of David Gower on TNT\u2019s coverage. They should have had him in for the Ashes, not the biggest of regrets for that series I grant you but a regret all the same. I had a spot of lunch with the silver stoat a few months ago and it was something of a career highlight:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 39th over: Sri Lanka 169-5 (Asalanka 42, Rathnayake 12) Five singles and a wide from Jacks\u2019 seventh. That man Adil Rashid is coming back with three overs left up his sleeve.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 38th over: Sri Lanka 163-5 (Asalanka 39, Rathnayake 10) Rathnayake bunts an Overton full toss for four. That was a bit of a gift from the big fella. Six in total off the over.<\/p>\n \u201cHi Jim. In a world full of fear and anxiety we do at least get to watch Adil Rashid playing cricket. I love the guy.\u201d<\/p>\n And I don\u2019t Dean Kinsella?<\/p>\n *I do.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 37th over: Sri Lanka 157-5 (Asalanka 38, Rathnayake 5) Brook shuffles, Jacks returns. Two runs scored. Yes I know, Hemingway-esque.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 36th over: Sri Lanka 155-5 (Asalanka 37, Rathnayake 4) Pavan Rathnayake joins Asalanka and Overton gifts him a wayward short ball that is duly glanced away for four. Sri Lanka spluttering slightly, England will want to pick up a few more quick ones and keep this target as low as possible. Well, durr.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Janith Liyanage c Rashid b Overton 12 (Sri Lanka 151-5)<\/p>\n Great catch! Overton is recalled and picks up a fortunate wicket, Liyanage times the pants off a leg side flick but it soars to Rashid who dives forward in the deep to pull off a wonderful grab. Fingers underneath the ball and textbook tumble, plenty of life in the old dog yet!<\/p>\n Jamie Overton celebrates the dismissal of Janith Liyanage. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena\/APShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.33 EST<\/p>\n 35th over: Sri Lanka 150-4 (Asalanka 36, Liyanage 12) Sri Lanka bring up the 150 with three runs off Dawson\u2019s seventh over.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 34th over: Sri Lanka 147-4 (Asalanka 34, Liyanage 11) Runs glorious runs! Liyanage has come out for the traps with gusto, sweeping Rehan for a couple and then getting another paddle away fine for four. The run rate is now at the dizzy heights of 4.47. I\u2019m only slightly joshing, 250 on this wicket would probably be a very challenging score.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 33rd over: Sri Lanka 138-4 (Asalanka 32, Liyanage 4) Janith Liyanage is the new man and he makes quite the entrance, dancing down and whipping Dawson away for a delicious four through midwicket. Might we see a change of tack here? That\u2019d be fun wouldn\u2019t it?<\/p>\n Share<\/a>WICKET! Dhananjaya de Silva c Root b Dawson 40 (Sri Lanka 134-4)<\/p>\n Dhananjaya flies too close to the sun after that flurry of boundaries! He attempts to launch Dawson over long on but doesn\u2019t get enough of it and Joe Root holds a tidy catch in the deep.<\/p>\n Dhanajaya walks as Liam Dawson celebrates his dismissal. Photograph: Sameera Peiris\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.32 EST<\/p>\n 32nd over: Sri Lanka 132-3 (Dhananjaya 39, Asalanka 31) Hold the front page, it is raining boundaries in Colombo. Well there were two in a row from Dhananjaya off Joe Root which counts as a deluge in this match where there have just been nine fours and the one six. Dhananjaya smeared a length ball through the leg side and then showed a velvet touch with a clip away fine for four more. Is your nose bleeding yet?<\/p>\n Jos Buttler reacts as Dhananjaya plays a shot. Photograph: Ishara S Kodikara\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.13 EST<\/p>\n 31st over: Sri Lanka 121-3 (Dhananjaya 29, Asalanka 30) Something\u2019s gotta give soon. Rashid is in and out of his over in a blink, just two off it. Root is coming back for another, the pressure cooker is hissing.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 30th over: Sri Lanka 119-3 (Dhananjaya 28, Asalanka 29) Stand by your beds. As if England didn\u2019t have enough spin options, Joe Root is tossed the ball by Harry Brook. Root gets some darting turn immediately and fizzes one past Asalanka\u2019s edge. Oh Joseph. Just a single off the over too, he\u2019ll get another.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 29th over: Sri Lanka 118-3 (Dhananjaya 28, Asalanka 28) Rashid into his sixth over. A more productive one for the home side with six runs worked off it. The old master has 1-21 from his work so far though.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 28th over: Sri Lanka 112-3 (Dhananjaya 25, Asalanka 25) Jacob Bethell recalled for a dart. For some reason he really reminds me of Rufiooooo from Hook. A splosh of red in that Peacocking barnet would finish the job. He drops short though and is spanked for the first four in what has felt like an eternity. Asalanka the man to break the interminables.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 27th over: Sri Lanka 105-3 (Dhananjaya 23, Asalanka 20) Rashid has a leg slip in place for the nudge off the face. Nowt doing this over, just three more added to the total.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 26th over: Sri Lanka 102-3 (Dhananjaya 22, Asalanka 19) We\u2019re over the half way mark and it is fair to say we are in a holding period. A headlock period. Three singles poked off Rehan and the hundred is breached by Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 25th over: Sri Lanka 99-3 (Dhananjaya 20, Asalanka 18) Four more off Jacks to move Sri Lanka to the delicious precipice of three figures. Say that three times fast.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 24th over: Sri Lanka 95-3 (Dhananjaya 18, Asalanka 16) Apologies for the delay, I was just rudely interrupted by the postman. I feed the pigeons, I sometimes feed the sparra\u2019s too, it gives me a sense of enormous wellbeing. Anyway, four runs worked off Rehan Ahmed.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.41 EST<\/p>\n 23rd over: Sri Lanka 91-3 (Dhananjaya 17, Asalanka 13) Just three runs off Jacks, England rattling through their overs, it\u2019s hard going out there and therefore on here. Anyone got any exciting weekend plans? More exciting than a Dhananjaya clip for a single anywho?<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n 22nd over: Sri Lanka 88-3 (Dhananjaya 15, Asalanka 12) Rehan Ahmed is introduced for his first twirl of the day. Four runs picked off the over once again. Have we chanced upon a glitch in the matrix?<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769263209_154_James_Wallace.png\")
James Wallace<\/p>\n