श्रीलंका vs इंग्लैंड, दूसरा वनडे Commentary, Live Updates

A touch fuller, outside off, Mendis stabs it to point.

Much fuller now, on middle, Mendis goes down on one knee as well and sweeps it from the inner part of his willow to the right of deep fine leg fielder for a couple of runs.

Fullish, around leg, Nissanka sweeps it to deep backward square leg for one.

Full, on off, Mendis pushes it through cover for a single.

Short and outside off, Mendis hangs back and looks to cut it, but ends up withdrawing the bat as he sees the ball turning away.

Tossed up, around the sixth stump. Nissanka drills it through cover for a single.

Change! Jacob Bethell joins the attack now.

Fuller, on middle, Pathum strides out and drives it easily to long off for another single.

Full, on off, Mendis leans on the delivery and drives it to long off for one more single.

Pitches it up, on off, Kusal Mendis lunges and defends it down the track.

Short, outside off, Nissanka cuts it gently to point.

Full, on off, Nissanka pushes it to cover.

Fuller, on off, Kusal Mendis drives this to long off for a single.

Powerplay 2 is underway. England can now station a maximum of four fielders outside the 30-yard circle from overs 11 to 40. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis are now eyeing to keep this partnership running.

Short and turning into the batter, Kusal Mendis hops back and flicks this through square leg for one.

Fired on the pads, Pathum Nissanka tucks this towards short fine leg for one.

FOUR! Pathum makes Will pay for a loosener. Short and on middle and leg, Pathum Nissanka rocks deep inside his crease and pulls this over the fielder at mid-wicket for four runs.

Fired across the batter, around off, Pathum Nissanka gets beaten on the outside as he prods in front and looks to keep it out.

Slider around off, Pathum Nissanka steps inside the line and looks to flick this one but gets it edged to covers.

Drag down, around the pads, Kusal Mendis rocks back and dabs this to the right of Rehan Ahmed at deep square leg for one.

Spin from both ends now as Will Jacks comes in from the other end.

Liam drifts one in a bit quicker and flatter, pitches on off and turns away from the batter. Pathum Nissanka rocks back and looks to punch at it but gets beaten.

Fired on off, Pathum Nissanka punches this to the bowler's left for no run.

Full and on off, Kusal Mendis chips this over the bowler for a single down to long off.

Fired into the batter, Pathum Nissanka gets it away off the inside of his bat for a single to mid-wicket's right.

Flighted on off, Kusal Mendis jumps down the track and rolls this down to long off for one.

Tossed up, around off, Kusal Mendis drives this well but fails to beat short extra cover.

Good length on off, Pathum Nissanka punts this to mid on.

SIX! PICKED THE BONES OUT OF IT! Moon ball from Sam Curran, wide outside the off. Pathum Nissanka picks it early and shuffles across a shade. Slogs this over the fence towards the long on region for a huge six.

Short and on off, Kusal Mendis cuts this to deep point for a single.

Good length on off, Pathum Nissanka punches this to sweeper cover and rotates.

Short and going across the batter, Pathum Nissanka goes for the pull but misses.

Good length on off, Pathum Nissanka punches this to covers for no run.

Quicker one, on off, Kusal Mendis pushes this to covers for a dot. A maiden to begin for Liam Dawson.

Low full toss on off, Kusal Mendis rolls this back to the bowler.

Floated onto the pads, Kusal Mendis looks to nudge this around square leg but misses and gets rapped on the front pad.

Fired into the batter, Kusal Mendis tucks this to mid on for no run.

Fired on off, Kusal Mendis presses in front and blocks this out.

Floated on middle and leg, Kusal Mendis keeps it out.

Liam Dawson comes in as the first change.

Good length on the pads, Kusal Mendis flicks this through mid-wicket for a single to close the over.

Good length on off, angling away from the batter. Kusal Mendis plays with the body and gets beaten on the outside.

Back of a length around off, Kusal Mendis pokes at it away from his body and gets beaten.

Full and on off, Kusal Mendis presses onto the front foot and drives this well but straight at short cover.

Hard length on top of middle and off, Kusal Mendis blocks it out.

Good length on off, Kusal Mendis tentatively prods in front, gets it edged off the outside to backward point.

On a length around off, Kusal Mendis punches this in the gap at extra cover for one.

Hard length, on top of off. Kusal Mendis blocks this out.

Hello says Jamie to Kusal. Bumper, first up, on middle and off. Kusal Mendis ducks down.

Kusal Mendis walks out early in the 5th over at 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Full and wide outside the off-stump. Kamil Mishara leans low and chases this. Goes after it with a lofted drive. Doesn't get right underneath it and ends up chipping this at a catchable height to Ben Duckett at covers. Ben Duckett times his jump well and doesn't take this at the first go but juggles and grabs hold of it as he falls on the ground. Kamil Mishara departs after 5(12).

Good length on off, Kamil Mishara blocks this one.

FOUR! A welcome boundary for Kamil. On a length around the pads, Kamil Mishara gets inside the line and flicks this through the fine leg region for a boundary.

On a length around off, Pathum Nissanka thumps this back to the bowler for a dot.

Back of a length from around the stumps. Pathum Nissanka rides the bounce and punches this through covers off his back foot for two.

Good length on off, Pathum Nissanka blocks this one.

On a length, angling away from the batter. Pathum Nissanka prods in front and drives at it but gets it edged through the rigth of short third for two.

Back of a length on off, Pathum Nissanka keeps it out off his front foot.

Good length, swinging back into the batter around the pads. Pathum Nissanka tucks this to the left of short mid-wicket.

WIDE! On a length down the leg. Pathum looks to tuck this fine but misses. Wided.

A maiden for Jamie Overton. Good length oKamil Mishara keeps it out.

Back of a length on middle and off, Kamil Mishara defends this one.

Full and wide outside off, Kamil Mishara drives this grounded to the right of the fielder at point.

Wide yorker on off, Kamil Mishara goes for the drive but gets beaten as he is a bit late in bringing his bat down. Luckily for Kamil this wasn't in the line of stumps.

Good length on middle and leg, Kamil Mishara looks to flick this one but gets his bat tilted in his hands at the time of contact with the ball and ends up rolling this to mid-wicket.

Jamie starts arond the stumps for the left-hander. Bowls it on a length, around off, shaping it away from the batter. Kamil Mishara swings through the line but gets beaten on the outside.

A good start for Sam Curran as he gives away just 2 off his first over. Good length on off, angling away from the batter. Pathum Nissanka presses in front and punches this to mid off.

Hard length, on middle and leg. Pathum hops up on his toes and blocks this out.

Inswinging fuller one, on a length, around middle and off. Pathum Nissanka blocks this to mid on.

Short and into the batter, Kamil Mishara rocks back and pulls this through square leg for a single to get off the mark.

Back of a length on off, Kamil Mishara keeps it out.

Good length on top of off, Kamil Mishara punches this to covers.

WIDE! On a length, wide outside off, shaping further away from the batter. Kamil Mishara leaves it. Wided.

Sam Curran will be operating with the other new ball.

Hard length, on top of off, Pathum Nissanka gets right behind the line of it and keeps it out.

Good length on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka flicks this to the left of short mid-wicket for no run.

Pitched up, on middle and off, Pathum Nissanka presents a full face of his bat and nails the straight drive. Jamie Overton outstretches his right leg and fields this well.

In the channel, around off, Pathum Nissanka strides to the pitch of it and leaves it.

WIDE! Good length, wide down the leg. Wided.

Hard length, on middle and off. Pathum Nissanka solidly gets right behind it and keeps it out.

FOUR! Sensational start for Sri Lanka and Pathum Nissanka. Good length, wide outside the off-stump. Pathum Nissanka takes a good stride out towards the pitch of the ball and smashes this through the covers region for a boundary to get us underway.

We are all set for the play to begin. Pathum Nissanka and Kamil Mishara have walked out in the middle to open for Sri Lanka. Jamie Overton will operate with the new ball for England.

England skipper Harry Brook mentioned that the team must adapt to the conditions as swiftly as possible, anticipating a similar playing surface to the first ODI. He emphasized the importance of strike rotation as frequently as possible. Brook expressed disappointment with the recent results, particularly the number of games lost away from home. Regarding team changes, he confirmed that Zak Crawley is injured, and that Will Jacks will replace him and slot into the middle order, while Rehan Ahmed will open the innings.

Sri Lanka captain, Charith Asalanka, confirmed his team's decision to bat first, noting that all three departments performed well in the previous match and expressing his desire for a strong start in this game as well. He highlighted the fielding as the most pleasing aspect of their last performance, praising Kusal Mendis' mature innings and Dunith Wellalage's effective final over with the bat as well. Asalanka stated they are fielding an unchanged side for the match and believes a score between 270-280 would be competitive. He also emphasized the usefulness of spin in the local conditions, expressing confidence in their home tracks and the consistent delivery of his spin bowlers.

England (Playing XI) - Rehan Ahmed, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook (C), Jos Buttler (WK), Will Jacks (replaces Zak Crawley), Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando.

TOSS - Sri Lanka have won the toss and they have elected to BAT first.

With the series on the line, anticipation is high. England, with their backs firmly against the wall, will be desperate to bounce back and force a decider, while Sri Lanka will be eager to press their advantage and secure a valuable series victory on home soil. This match promises to be a thrilling battle of adaptability and nerve as both teams vie for supremacy in Colombo.

England, on the other hand, displayed excellent form with the ball, led by Adil Rashid's impressive bowling, effectively restricting Sri Lanka to a manageable total. Their top-order batting also showed promising signs, with Duckett and Root building a formidable foundation. The crucial lesson for England was to adapt to the spin-friendly conditions. To stay alive in the series, they need their middle order to show greater patience and technique against the turning ball, building partnerships rather than collapsing under pressure. Captain Harry Brook will expect his senior players to step up and ensure promising starts are not squandered, potentially by better rotation of the strike or a shift in approach on a challenging surface.

For the hosts, the key takeaway from the first match was the resilience of their middle order and the effectiveness of their spinners on a home surface. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a brilliant unbeaten 93, while Janith Liyanage and Dunith Wellalage provided crucial support, pushing the total to a competitive 271. Their bowling attack, particularly the spin trio of Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, and Charith Asalanka, successfully exploited the pitch conditions to dismantle the English batting line-up. Moving into the second ODI, Sri Lanka will look to replicate this cohesive performance, with their top order needing to convert starts into bigger scores and their bowlers aiming to maintain the pressure and seal a series win.

Welcome back, cricket fans, for what promises to be an enthralling 2nd ODI between Sri Lanka and England. After a tense series opener, the hosts, Sri Lanka, find themselves 1-0 up after securing a 19-run victory. That first match saw England's run chase collapse dramatically on a slowing pitch. Joe Root and Ben Duckett had put the visitors in a commanding position with a solid 117-run partnership for the second wicket. However, a middle-order implosion, as the English batters struggled against the turning ball, ultimately led to their downfall, leaving them 19 runs short of Sri Lanka's target. 

... MATCHDAY ...

The pressure is squarely on England as they return to the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo for the second ODI of the three-match series. Trailing 1-0 after a spirited performance by the hosts in the opener, the tourists face a do-or-die situation. A loss here would hand Sri Lanka the series trophy with a game to spare, while a win for England would set up a thrilling decider next week. The first ODI was a game of missed opportunities for Harry Brook’s side. Chasing a target of 272, England looked to be cruising at 129-1 thanks to fluent half-centuries from Ben Duckett and Joe Root. However, the familiar spin web of Sri Lanka dismantled the middle order, sparking a collapse that saw England fall just 19 runs short. For the hosts, Kusal Mendis was the anchor with a brilliant unbeaten 93, while youngster Dunith Wellalage turned the game with his all-round heroics. Heading into this clash, England’s batters will need to find a way to rotate the strike better against the turning ball. The middle order, particularly captain Harry Brook and the lower-middle order, must avoid getting bogged down by the likes of Wellalage and Jeffrey Vandersay. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be brimming with confidence. Their strategy will likely remain the same, post a competitive total and let their spinners choke the run chase on a surface that traditionally slows down as the game progresses. Expect another tactical battle where patience will be just as important as power. England certainly has the firepower to bounce back, but Sri Lanka's home advantage and spin-heavy attack make them a formidable hurdle. If England can’t solve the spin puzzle, the series could be over before the weekend ends.