10.40am The pitch looks in great shape, and the players are about to come onto the field. The ball-by-ball commentary today will come from Martin Williamson and Jenny Thompson. Let's hope it's a good game ... this one-day series needs it

10.25am Michael Atherton has just said it as it is about the England side. "On paper it’s one of the weakest one-day teams I’ve seen since … well, I’ve seen. It looks suspect in all areas. It’s a little bit of desperation and it’s a bit of hit and hope as far as the selectors are concerned."

10.20am Jayawardene called heads and Sri Lanka have won the toss and will bat. Andrew Strauss has just said that England have got to raise their game. He’s not kidding. The crowd are pouring through the turnstiles and the sun is shining. If it wasn't for the fact that this quasi-reserve England side are so poor, it would be a perfect day. Worryingly, Dicke Bird is ambling around the outfield, and given that he is a one-man rain man, why on earth haven’t the Lancashire authorities paid him to stay away?

10.00am England have made four changes to the side that were hammered at Chester-le-Street. Alastair Cook makes in his one-day debut in place of Kevin Pietersen; Vikram Solanki comes in for the injured Paul Collingwood; Tim Bresnan returns in place of Sajid Mahmood while Kabir Ali replaces Alex Loudon.

9.30am Good morning and welcome to Cricinfo’s coverage of the 4th NatWest one-dayer from Old Trafford. For England, there is only pride to play for but they are in desperate need of victory, if only to briefly silence the growing criticism in the domestic press. After only four wins in their last 17 ODIs, it would be a brave (or stupid) soul who books tickets to watch them in the latter stages of the World Cup.

Sri Lanka are in fine form, and given that their Nos. 1, 2 and 3 in the batting order have hit hundreds in sequence in each of the three games to date, expect Kumar Sangakkara at No. 4 to come up with the goods here.

There was some overnight rain in Manchester but it cleared up early and the forecast is good and play will start on time at at 10.45am (0945GMT). We will have pitch and team news shortly.

0.1

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, feisty start from Harmison, short and it struck a leaping Tharanga on the shoulder

0.2

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, swinging across the left-hander and safely left

0.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 wide, here we go again. wide down the leg side

0.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 wide, ... and again. Harmison really struggles to control the new ball

0.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run, driven unconvincingly through the vacant third slip area for a single to third man

0.4

Harmison to Jayasuriya, 1 wide, way outside off stump. More trouble with the radar

0.4

Harmison to Jayasuriya, no run, better, straight and into the batsman's body

0.5

Harmison to Jayasuriya, no run, bouncer, and close to being another wide but the umpires glance at each other and let it go

0.6

Harmison to Jayasuriya, 1 run, good running. Dropped into the covers, quick call and rushed through

1.1

Ali to Jayasuriya, FOUR, Kabir Ali starts with a ball just short outside off stump and Jayasuriya punches it through the covers for four

1.2

Ali to Jayasuriya, FOUR, even wider, and a controlled cut placed behind square which evades a tumbling third man

1.3

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, better … and quicker (84mph) which the batsmen felt for and missed

1.4

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, short of a length and pushed defensively into the off side

1.5

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, beat defensive prod and loud appeal, but going over the top

1.6

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, good recovery from Kabir Ali, straight and on a length

2.1

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 wide, this defies belief. Harmison back aiming at first slip and on target

2.1

Harmison to Tharanga, 2 leg byes, now, that’s more like it. A fast and accurate bouncer which cracks the batsman on the helmet as he took uncertain evasive action, and flew over the keeper for leg byes

2.2

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run, slightly down the leg, clipped for a single

2.3

Harmison to Jayasuriya, no run

2.4

Harmison to Jayasuriya, no run, Jayasuriya hurried by shortish ball into his body

2.5

Harmison to Jayasuriya, no run, Harmison seems a bit more settled

2.6

Harmison to Jayasuriya, 1 run, scampered single into the covers

3.1

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, driven to short extra cover

3.2

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, again a fuller length and pushed to mid off

3.3

Ali to Jayasuriya, FOUR, a yard fuller and that makes all the difference as Jayasuriya unleashes a lovely drive which flies to the boundary

3.4

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run, again overpitched but this time the batsmen makes a mess of it

3.5

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run

3.6

Ali to Jayasuriya, no run

a better over with Kabir Ali settling into a grove

4.1

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, wide and short and an rather undignified swish by Tharanga which he misses

4.2

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, After the third ball Harmison switched to round the wicket and seems to have sorted out his line at least

4.3

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, short and Tharanga left groping at air outside off stump

4.4

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run

4.5

Harmison to Jayasuriya, OUT, Well I never. Short and wide outside off stump, slashed hard by Jayasuriya straight to the man two yards in on the deep cover boundary who barely had to move. Inspired field placing.

ST Jayasuriya c Dalrymple b Harmison 14 (21m 20b 3x4 0x6) SR: 70.00

I am told by a colleague that as Harmison ran in to bowl, Ian Botham on Sky Sports asked what on earth a man had been placed on the deep cover boundary for ... cue ribbing by his colleagues!

4.6

Harmison to Jayawardene, 2 runs, Clipped off middle and leg square on the leg side for a couple

5.1

Ali to Tharanga, no run, Left - but not too wide of his off stump

5.2

Ali to Tharanga, no run

5.3

Ali to Tharanga, no run, again just outside the off stump and swinging away from the left hander who leaves it

5.4

Ali to Tharanga, no run, Tharanga tries to avoid the packed off side by working the ball straight but not timed

5.5

Ali to Tharanga, FOUR, Too wide and driven with conviction through extra cover

5.6

Ali to Tharanga, 3 runs, A gentle push which evades Solanki at backward point and races across the outfield and Harmison had to make a rather undignified sprawling stop on the boundary. He gets up with all the agility of a grounded giraffe

6.1

Harmison to Tharanga, no run

6.2

Harmison to Tharanga, no run

6.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run, pushed into the off. That dive at the end of the previous over appears to have hurt Harmison a little and he looks a bit pained

6.4

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 run, short and gloved down the leg side to fine leg

6.5

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run, edged through the vacant third slip area ... that's two at catching height through there to date

6.6

Harmison to Jayawardene, 2 runs, little more than a prod, but wonderfully timed and Cook made to chase it all the way as the ball seemed to taunt him by not slowing down

7.1

Ali to Tharanga, no run

7.2

Ali to Tharanga, no run, Leg side, driven wide of mid-on where Plunkett dives but doesn’t stop cleanly

7.3

Ali to Tharanga, FOUR, Driven on the up over extra cover. Ali not bowling badly but his figures undone by one four ball an over

7.4

Ali to Tharanga, no run, Ali responds with a good, quick ball

7.5

Ali to Tharanga, no run, Clipped to leg but no single depsite a second of confusion between the two

7.6

Ali to Tharanga, no run

The crowd are bit quiet but then again people are still filing into Old Trafford

8.1

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 wide, Leg side and a wide. Harmison undone by having to start bowling to a right hander after just getting used to a pair of lefties

8.1

Harmison to Jayawardene, 2 runs

8.2

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 run, Whipped from outside off stump, straight to Bell at square leg – just above head height - and the ball goers straight in straight out again. It was going quickly but at this level, it should be held. In club cricket you would duck.

8.3

Harmison to Tharanga, no run

8.4

Harmison to Tharanga, no run

8.5

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, Again, Harmison looking more at home bowling to the left hander

8.6

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 wide, Well, until he sprays the ball down the leg side, that is

8.6

Harmison to Tharanga, no run, Tharanga tries to get onto the front foot but Harmison just too short to do that to

Plunkett into the attack

9.1

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 wide, It’s catching. He starts with a leg-side wide.

9.1

Plunkett to Jayawardene, FOUR, Too much width and hammered off the front foot over the cover fielders for four

9.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 2 runs, Not one out of the coaching book but worked to leg as he gave himself room. Like Ian Dowie, ugly but effective

9.3

Plunkett to Jayawardene, FOUR, Lovely wristy flick through midwicket. That was the beauty to the previous shot's beast

9.4

Plunkett to Jayawardene, no run

9.5

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 2 runs, chipped over mid-on for two

9.6

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, yet again , Plunkett gives Jayawardene plenty of width and he runs the ball to third man. A poor first over.

Powerplay No. 2 being taken and Bresnan on for Harmison

10.1

Bresnan to Jayawardene, FOUR, bad start, wide and launched over extra cover for four

10.2

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 2 runs, proded past Dalrymple at a diving point

10.3

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 1 run, AGH! Uncontrolled drive which flew high to Dalrymple at point and he parried the chance and slipped as he tried to scamper for the rebound. Might be harsh, but you suspect that Collingwood, who normally fields there, would have held it

10.4

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run

10.5

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run

10.6

Bresnan to Jayawardene, no run

Curate’s egg of a first over but he could have had a wicket.

England will play Lancashire in a Twenty20 floodlit game for Andrew Flintoff’s benefit year on August 24, the so-called Asda Challenge Match. The game will raise funds for Leukaemia Research, the Kirsty Appeal, the CHASE Ben Hollioake fund, the Lord’s Taverners and Freddie’s coffers. Trescothick and Harmison are expected to turn out for England while Flintoff will play for both teams, although he may stop short at bowling to himself. Mind you, is there anything he can’t do?

11.1

Plunkett to Tharanga, 1 run, pushed down the ground for a single

11.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, Driven firmly to Strauss at mid-off, clean pick up and shy at the stumps which would have left Jayawardene two yards short had he hit

11.3

Plunkett to Tharanga, no run

11.4

Plunkett to Tharanga, no run

11.5

Plunkett to Tharanga, 2 runs, Edged drive wide to the left of Solanki at backward point and Bresnan picks up on the boundary and falls over in the process

11.6

Plunkett to Tharanga, 1 run, Slashed over backward point and only a couple of yards short of the inrushing Bresnan and third man

12.1

Bresnan to Tharanga, 2 runs, punched into the covers

12.2

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run

12.3

Bresnan to Tharanga, FOUR, lovely drive through extra cover. He thrives on width but has looked less easy when it’s straight … but England’s bowlers have not been consistent enough to tie him down

12.4

Bresnan to Tharanga, FOUR, a bit more of a slash, made room and launched over the ring in the covers

12.5

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run, now that was ugly, moved to leg, aimed a swish and got nothing

12.6

Bresnan to Tharanga, 3 runs, bit of a heave but it was effective, through wide midwicket where Harmison chugged after it

Bresnan has gone for 20 in two, England for 40 in four.

13.1

Plunkett to Tharanga, 1 run, through Solanki at backward point

13.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, gave himself room and slashed to third man. The last time I saw a batsman move that far to leg was in the Caribbean when my club captain was cowering after smacking a fast man over the top for four

13.3

Plunkett to Tharanga, no run

13.4

Plunkett to Tharanga, 1 run, walked down the track and smacked through Dalrymple in the covers. The bowler unimpressed

13.5

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, again down the pitch but not fielded cleanly at short fine-leg

13.6

Plunkett to Tharanga, no run, now Tharanga on the move as Plunkett bowls. Only four off the over which is a result of sorts

Harmison back to try and restore a sense of order

14.1

Harmison to Jayawardene, no run

14.2

Harmison to Jayawardene, 3 runs, lofted drive over mid-on, plugged on landing in a way which would have impressed Tiger Woods and stopped inches short of the rope

14.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 wide, Harmison responds with a wide, England's 58th of the series so far, Cricinfo's answer to Bill Frindall tells me

14.3

Harmison to Tharanga, 1 run, flicked to leg for a walked single

14.4

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 wide, another wide down the leg, Harmison's 18th of the series. The stats keep coming

14.4

Harmison to Jayawardene, 2 runs, controlled edge down to third man where Plunkett made a superb diving stop to his left

14.5

Harmison to Jayawardene, FOUR, wide ball slashed squarer and Plunkett could only watch that race away to his right

14.6

Harmison to Jayawardene, no run

Owen Edmonds emails to ask if Sri Lanka think this is a Twenty20 match. This would not be a bad score in that format as it happens.

Strauss opts not to take the second Powerplay in a bid to stem the flow

15.1

Plunkett to Tharanga, 1 run

15.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, no run

15.3

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, opened the face of the bat and driven to the cover sweeper

15.4

Plunkett to Tharanga, no run

15.5

Plunkett to Tharanga, 2 runs, driven through the covers and Bell scurries round from sweeper to field

15.6

Plunkett to Tharanga, 2 runs, Tharanga makes room and squeezes through the covers for another couple

And we have a drinks interval

Dalrymple into the firing line

16.1

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run

16.2

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 leg bye

16.3

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run, Jawaydene came down the pitch and chipped from high on the bat just over a tumbling Solanki at midwicket

16.4

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

16.5

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

16.6

Dalrymple to Tharanga, FOUR, deftly run through the slips for four. The PA pumps out The Heat Is On. They’re not wrong

Bresnan back into the attack

17.1

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 1 run

17.2

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run

17.3

Bresnan to Jayawardene, no run, better line and length

17.4

Bresnan to Jayawardene, FOUR, flicked in the air on the leg but once through the infield it was four all the way

17.5

Bresnan to Jayawardene, no run

17.6

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 2 runs, too much width and an easy two to bring up Jayawardene’s 50 off only 32 balls

18.1

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

18.2

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 run, wristy flick to leg and easy single

18.3

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run, a carbon copy of the previous shot, only in reverse

18.4

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

18.5

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 2 runs, overpitched and a comfortable sweep to bring up Tharanga’s fifty off 60 balls. These two have now added 104 off 84 balls

18.6

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 run

19.1

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run

19.2

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run, we've reached that stage when it's easy singles and all a bit soporific

19.3

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 2 runs, dainty flick to the leg side

19.4

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 1 run, tip-and-run to the off side

19.5

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run, more of the same

19.6

Bresnan to Jayawardene, no run, whoa … slumber disturbed by a raucous appeal for leg-before as batsman shaped to turn to leg but not close enough

Those watching on TV might have noticed some marks on the outfield. It seems they are a legacy of recent concerts on the ground. They used The Oval for a series of rock concerts in 1971 and 1972, an idea ended when Motorhead fans started bonfires on the outfield

20.1

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

20.2

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run, Tharanga used his feet but Dalrymple saw him coming and floated ball into his feet

20.3

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 run

20.4

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, no run

20.5

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run, driven past a diving bowler to long-on

20.6

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 run

I’m off for a cup of tea and a bath bun, so it’s over to Jennifer Thompson, the thinking man’s Charlotte Edwards

21.1

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run

21.2

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run, rocketed to deep cover, but Bell slides to keep it a single

21.3

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 1 run, tucked down to third man

21.4

Bresnan to Tharanga, no run

21.5

Bresnan to Tharanga, 1 run, edged to third man

21.6

Bresnan to Jayawardene, 1 run, pulled to the square leg boundary

22.1

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, no run, attempted reverse sweep just hits his bat

22.2

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, FOUR, that’s better. Steps and slaps the ball with consummate control over midwicket

22.3

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, no run, the ball just comes on with the arm

22.4

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 2 runs, pulls out the sweep from his locker

22.5

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run, cheeky aerial dink into space

22.6

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run

23.1

Solanki to Jayawardene, 1 run, How rude of me not to say hello. Hello. Now, you’ve got to feel for Cook and I, making our debuts in this dead rubber. Still, at least the kettle’s only a short hop for me – and my colleagues. Subtlety was never my strong suit.

Vikram Solanki is introduced here for a bit of variety and his part-time offspin

23.2

Solanki to Tharanga, 5 wides, ouch.

23.2

Solanki to Tharanga, no run

23.3

Solanki to Tharanga, no run

23.4

Solanki to Tharanga, 1 run, straight through mid-off

23.5

Solanki to Jayawardene, 1 run

23.6

Solanki to Tharanga, 1 run

24.1

Dalrymple to Tharanga, no run, beats the outside edge. A bit of turn there, leaving the left-handed Tharanga and Jones whips the bails off, just to show he can.

24.2

Dalrymple to Tharanga, 1 run

24.3

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 2 runs, Bresnan cuts off the ball on the square-leg boundary

24.4

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run

24.5

Dalrymple to Tharanga, OUT, Tharanga gives himself room and takes a few steps on the charge, only to find Solanki at extra-cover who takes a straightforward catch. A badly needed breakthrough for England.

WU Tharanga c Solanki b Dalrymple 60 (105m 80b 5x4 0x6) SR: 75.00

24.6

Dalrymple to Sangakkara, 1 run, off the mark with a quick push on the on-side. A good over from Dalrymple.

If you're just joining us for a spot of pre-lunch jollity (or not, as the case may be) my colleague Will Luke has wrapped up the first 20 overs.

25.1

Ali to Sangakkara, no run

25.2

Ali to Sangakkara, no run

25.3

Ali to Sangakkara, no run, Ali tucks Sangakkara up and he pushes to short mid-wicket

25.4

Ali to Sangakkara, 2 runs, this time Sangakkara gets the ball away through mid-wicket although he didn’t quite time it

25.5

Ali to Sangakkara, 1 run, through the on-side again, as Ali’s line strays a touch down leg once more

25.6

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 run, bowling to the righthander this time, Ali goes down his legside and Jayawardene helps the ball into midwicket

26.1

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 run, tucked up, but still scrambles a single. A slip has been moved in for Harmison as the Solanki experiment ends. It’s getting very gloomy at Old Trafford, and so is the weather, boom boom.

26.2

Harmison to Sangakkara, no run

26.3

Harmison to Sangakkara, no run

26.4

Harmison to Sangakkara, 1 run

26.5

Harmison to Jayawardene, no run

26.6

Harmison to Jayawardene, no run, stroked firmly to cover, but it’s scooped up and that’s a better over, with just two runs from it.

Our man on the spot says there is zero atmosphere in the ground but that the spectators’ suffering could be about to be temporarily suspended as there are large dark clouds drifting in from the Pennines and a feel of rain in the air. The used to say that if you could see the Pennines from Old Trafford then rain was on the way … if you couldn’t see them then it was already raining.

27.1

Ali to Sangakkara, no run

27.2

Ali to Sangakkara, 1 run, whipped through square

27.3

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 leg bye, darted in at his legs, but digs out a leg bye

27.4

Ali to Sangakkara, no run

27.5

Ali to Sangakkara, (no ball) 1 run, not a great ball, down leg, and a no-ball to boot.

27.5

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 run, helped into the mid-wicket area.

27.6

Ali to Sangakkara, no run, flick of the wrist to cover.

28.1

Harmison to Jayawardene, 1 run, handsome late cut to deep third man. Less gorgeous is the rain that's starting to fall at Old Trafford.

28.2

Harmison to Sangakkara, OUT, around the wicket, steep bounce and it’s too good for Sangakkara who flashes high and hard and the ball arcs through to Jones.

KC Sangakkara c †Jones b Harmison 7 (17m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 46.66

28.3

Harmison to Dilshan, no run, more steep bounce and the ball sails through to the keeper. This is good stuff, Harmison has come back well after his opening spell which included six wides.

28.4

Harmison to Dilshan, no run, same again from Harmison, Dilshan must feel very welcome here

28.5

Harmison to Dilshan, no run, Dilshan finally gets bat on ball. Harmison is in menacing form.

28.6

Harmison to Dilshan, no run, a good leave. Dilshan lets the ball sail on through to the keeper

29.1

Ali to Jayawardene, 2 runs, clipped behind square for easy runs.

29.2

Ali to Jayawardene, no run, mix-up avoided as the batsmen set off for a quick single, but decide to go back. A wise move.

29.3

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 wide, tries to go wide of the crease, and ends up just bowling wide. Rubbish

29.3

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 wide, two come along at once: another leg-side wide from Ali.

29.3

Ali to Jayawardene, 2 runs, the full face of the bat on view as Jayawardene administers a straight drive.

29.4

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 run, played off his hips through midwicket. He’s batting really nicely here, but he won’t be impressed with Dilshan running one short. Not the sort of thing you expect to see at international level.

29.5

Ali to Jayawardene, no run

29.6

Ali to Jayawardene, no run

30.1

Plunkett to Dilshan, 1 run, miscued pull, spliced into space on the on-side.

30.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, FOUR, beautiful pull shot. Fully in control, helps a poor delivery just behind square. Have some of that.

30.3

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 run, lovely drive through cover. But that will be that for a while as rain plays spoilsport at Old Trafford. The covers are pulled on very quickly - the groundstaff could definitely give those well-drilled packs at Wimbledon a run for their money - but then again they will need to be fast: it's very squelchy around the wicket area.

The umpires have had a look at conditions – it’s still raining, but less heavily than before. We could be on for a restart soonish.

While we’re all waiting for play to resume why not read Tim de Lisle’s excellent piece on England’s one-day woes?

Hurrah! The covers are coming off.

30.4

Plunkett to Dilshan, FOUR, wide delivery, cut down through point and bobbles on the second bounce, past a luckless Bresnan who slips and lands on his back

30.5

Plunkett to Dilshan, 1 run

30.6

Plunkett to Jayawardene, no run

31.1

Ali to Dilshan, no run

31.2

Ali to Dilshan, 1 run

31.3

Ali to Jayawardene, no run

31.4

Ali to Jayawardene, no run

31.5

Ali to Jayawardene, 2 runs

31.6

Ali to Jayawardene, 1 run, steer into the midwicket area.

A tidy over from Ali, but Sri Lanka are still very much in the ascendancy, with Jayawardene comfortable and heading towards his century.

32.1

Plunkett to Jayawardene, no run, a wristy waft, fails to connect. Good area from Plunkett, the ball heads just over off-stump.

32.2

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 1 leg bye

32.3

Plunkett to Dilshan, no run

32.4

Plunkett to Dilshan, OUT, straight, true and Plunkett gets the reward – the off-stump is pegged back. Dilshan was trying to make room for himself.

TM Dilshan b Plunkett 7 (37m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 63.63

32.5

Plunkett to Arnold, 1 run

32.6

Plunkett to Jayawardene, 2 runs, a neat flick through leg, where Cook is waiting to grab the ball and fire it in back.

33.1

Bell to Arnold, 1 run, State of play update: no overs have been lost to the rain. Even thought 20 minutes were lost to the rain, the interval will now be reduced to half an hour. Good reshuffling from the admin fellas there, and Strauss follows suit with a shuffle of his own – bringing on Ian Bell.

33.2

Bell to Jayawardene, no run

33.3

Bell to Jayawardene, 1 run

33.4

Bell to Arnold, no run

33.5

Bell to Arnold, 1 run

33.6

Bell to Jayawardene, no run

34.1

Dalrymple to Arnold, 1 run

34.2

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run

34.3

Dalrymple to Arnold, 1 wide, drifting down the leg side

34.3

Dalrymple to Arnold, 3 runs, slightly short and bit wide outside the off stump, Arnold waits for the ball to pass the stumps and then taps it past the keeper, almost took it of the keeper's gloves, well played

34.4

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, no run, tossed up outside the off stump, Jayawardene steps forward and forces it away behind point, no room for a single there

34.5

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, no run, worked away off the pads to the square leg region

34.6

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, 1 run, better line and length, Jayawardene looking to work it way on the leg side closes the face of the bat bit too early and the leading edge goes past the bowler, close call

35.1

Bell to Jayawardene, FOUR, short ball, drifting onto middle and leg, Jayawardene waits for the ball and the at the last possible moment spoons it away to the fine leg fence, lovely shot

35.2

Bell to Jayawardene, 1 run, again worked away in a similar fashion to the deep square leg region

35.3

Bell to Arnold, OUT, that's the end of that! Arnold attempts another cheeky dab and this time he ends up with a faint edge, Jones holds on well to a fairly hard chance - Sri Lanka five down

RP Arnold c †Jones b Bell 7 (10m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 100.00

35.4

Bell to Maharoof, no run

35.5

Bell to Maharoof, 1 run

35.6

Bell to Jayawardene, FOUR, swivel pull for his hundred. Well batted that man; that’s two hundreds on the bounce. He needed just 82 deliveries to do it, in a knock that included nine fours. It’s been a joy to watch. Top timing.

36.1

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run, defended outside the off stump

36.2

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run

36.3

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run

36.4

Dalrymple to Jayawardene, OUT, simplest return catch popped up and there’s no mistake made by the bowler who snaffles the leading edge. Jayawardene’s cross with himself, but he needn’t be – that’s been a lovely innings and he’s left his team in a strong position to hit the 300-mark.

DPMD Jayawardene c & b Dalrymple 100 (155m 83b 9x4 0x6) SR: 120.48

36.5

Dalrymple to Vaas, no run, defended outside the off stump

36.6

Dalrymple to Vaas, no run

We apologise for the loss of commentary which once again was caused by our dismal ISP who have just been fired

37.1

Bresnan to Maharoof, no run

37.2

Bresnan to Maharoof, no run

37.3

Bresnan to Maharoof, no run, proded into the off side but the fielders pounce onto the ball

37.4

Bresnan to Maharoof, no run

37.5

Bresnan to Maharoof, no run

37.6

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run, sneaked down to third man but not controlled

38.1

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run, on the mark

38.2

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run, driven back hard, canons off the bowler and loops over the umpire

38.3

Dalrymple to Vaas, 1 run, clipped to leg

38.4

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run

38.5

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run, this is sensible tight bowling and Maharoof too cramped tobe able to get it away

38.6

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run

Dalrymple is proving to be a ray of light for England in a dire series

39.1

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run

39.2

Bresnan to Vaas, 1 run, controlled shot off the face of the angled bat down to third man

39.3

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run, Maharoof forced onto the back foot and no power in the shot

39.4

Bresnan to Vaas, 1 run, Angled off the back foot behind square on the off and Harmison creaks round to field

39.5

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 wide, a wide down the leg but Jones took it and hovered as the batsman wobbled in his crease but just kept his balance

39.5

Bresnan to Maharoof, 2 runs, nice teamwork on the deep extra-cover boundary to save a four, one dives, one throws

39.6

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run, comfortable single to end the over

40.1

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run, hit hard back at the bowler

40.2

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run

40.3

Dalrymple to Vaas, no run, played for spin, went on with the arm so he missed it

40.4

Dalrymple to Vaas, 1 run, run out for one on the off

40.5

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run, a single up to long-on

40.6

Dalrymple to Vaas, no run, unconvincing appeal but it turned and sneaked past the bat

Plunkett back on

41.1

Plunkett to Maharoof, 1 run, wide but not timed into the covers

41.2

Plunkett to Vaas, no run, forced onto the back foot

41.3

Plunkett to Vaas, 1 wide, just what England needed, a clear-cut wide that only swung away from the left-hander and got even wider

41.3

Plunkett to Vaas, 1 run, squeezed out into the covers

41.4

Plunkett to Maharoof, no run, well, it was straight at least

41.5

Plunkett to Maharoof, FOUR, genuine edge that would have been swallowed by a slip but England cannot afford such a luxury with the bowlers so wayward

41.6

Plunkett to Maharoof, 1 run

42.1

Dalrymple to Maharoof, no run, flicked off the front foot staright to midwicket

42.2

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run, turned from the off to long-on

42.3

Dalrymple to Vaas, 1 run, top-edged a sweep from outside off stump but into no-man’s land

42.4

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 wide, turned a mile and ended wide down the leg, Jones snatches at it and the ball ricocheted off his fingertips with Maharoof sprawling in the dirt

42.4

Dalrymple to Maharoof, 1 run

42.5

Dalrymple to Vaas, no run

42.6

Dalrymple to Vaas, 1 leg bye, leg-bye rolls square and Jones scampers to field. The end of a really good spell from the Middlesex man

43.1

Plunkett to Vaas, 1 run, inside edge bounces just behind the stumps and Jones considers shying at the bowler’s end but with no one backing up, opts not to

43.2

Plunkett to Maharoof, no run, a pull which looked the business but he barely connected. One for the photographers

43.3

Plunkett to Maharoof, no run

43.4

Plunkett to Maharoof, 1 run, Sri Lanka taking singles almost at will, and they had such a good start that that will give them a formidable score

43.5

Plunkett to Vaas, OUT, shaped to run the ball towards third man, possibly bounced a bit more than he expected, and a thickish edge straight to Jones

WPUJC Vaas c †Jones b Plunkett 7 (23m 15b 0x4 0x6) SR: 46.66

43.6

Plunkett to Bandara, no run, a straight ball to end a much better over from Plunkett

44.1

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run

44.2

Bresnan to Bandara, no run, bouncer which sails past the batsman’s head and Bresnan tries a hard stare but looks not remotely threatening

44.3

Bresnan to Bandara, 1 run, single to Trescothick rushing in from extra cover but safely home – and he missed the stumps anywhere

44.4

Bresnan to Maharoof, FOUR, in the air, wide a diving Solanki at backward point and Dalrymple’s lunge on the boundary cannot quite stop the four

44.5

Bresnan to Maharoof, 1 run, clipped up to long on

44.6

Bresnan to Bandara, 1 no ball, daft. He’s had his one bouncer for the over and so he bangs in another one even shorter

44.6

Bresnan to Bandara, 3 runs, cut wide and Plunkett, who was slow to pick the ball up, recovered brilliantly at third man to make a sprawling stop on the rope

45.1

Plunkett to Bandara, 1 run

45.2

Plunkett to Maharoof, 1 run, yorker well dug out and a scampered single as the ball bobbled to mid-on

45.3

Plunkett to Bandara, no run, bouncer which the batsman does a limbo to

45.4

Plunkett to Bandara, 1 run, short again but fenced down second bounce to third man

45.5

Plunkett to Maharoof, FOUR, pitched up and Maharoof cracks it to the extra-cover boundary with real venom

45.6

Plunkett to Maharoof, no run, tried the same again but with less power and the man brought in for that shot saves the single

46.1

Harmison to Bandara, no run, Harmison looks better with the old ball. Right on the button first up

46.2

Harmison to Bandara, no run, and again

46.3

Harmison to Bandara, FOUR, pushed straight, Harmison tried to stop it with his boot and it then races past a diving Trescothick and mid-off. It was barely more than a defensive prod.

46.4

Harmison to Bandara, 1 wide, down the leg side again. You have to ask what the bowling coach is doing between matches ...

46.4

Harmison to Bandara, 1 run

46.5

Harmison to Maharoof, 1 run, single to Trescothick who has been pushed back at long-off

46.6

Harmison to Bandara, no run, defensive prod into the covers, seven off the over

47.1

Ali to Maharoof, FOUR, dreadful ball – a full toss – but superbly dispatched over extra cover for a two-bounce boundary

47.2

Ali to Maharoof, 1 run, aimed to leg but it looped over Strauss’s head at extra cover

47.3

Ali to Bandara, FOUR, this is pathetic from an international bowler. A second waist-high full toss edged for four to third man

47.4

Ali to Bandara, SIX, a slow ball, pitched up and lofted with ease ten rows back over long-on. Four balls, 15 runs.

47.5

Ali to Bandara, no run, a dot ball!

47.6

Ali to Bandara, no run, a good slower ball to finish an otherwise dismal over

48.1

Harmison to Maharoof, 1 run, gives himself room, Harmison follows him, and the ball is driven to deepish mid-on

48.2

Harmison to Bandara, no run, getting a bit carried away, Bandara aims a shot that would have sent the ball into Accrington and misses

48.3

Harmison to Bandara, 1 run, tip and run to get Maharoof back on strike

48.4

Harmison to Maharoof, 2 runs, chucked everything at it and the ball went high into space on the off for two

48.5

Harmison to Maharoof, no run, Harmison again followed the batsman as he made room, and went between his legs. Would have been a wide in normal circumstances

48.6

Harmison to Maharoof, FOUR, big swing and smacked past Harmison who wisely opts to remove his hand from the path of the ball. No call for heroics at this stage

49.1

Ali to Bandara, 1 run, another full toss, but only a single this time

49.2

Ali to Maharoof, SIX, yet another full toss and it got all it deserved, hammered for six over square leg. Maharoof brings up his fifty and his side’s 300. Ali is dreadful.

49.3

Ali to Maharoof, SIX, Ali overcompensates with a short slower ball which is thwacked into the crowd at midwicket.

49.4

Ali to Maharoof, (no ball) 1 run, guess … go on. Yes, a full toss which Maharoof skies and Jones runs round to take a catch .. but rightly called a no-ball

49.4

Ali to Bandara, FOUR, the good news is that it actually pitched. The bad news is that it was short and pulled square for another four

49.5

Ali to Bandara, 1 run, another full toss, hit square. It should have been called as it was above waist height but the umpire clearly wants to get off before sunset

49.6

Ali to Maharoof, no run, a dot ball to end an over which produced 20 runs.

The last four overs produced 50 runs to take the game out of reach unless England make a comeback of Lazarus-like proportions. The bowling was poor, and Sri Lanka batted with style and experience.

It’s lunch now – although England’s bowlers should be given bread and water and sent down to the nets – and we will be back for the second half of the match at about 3.10pm (14.10GMT). We apologise for the loss of commentary for a few overs during the Sri Lanka innings but it was down to our recently-fired ISP.