Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

Image source, Getty Images

The ball with the wobble seam, somehow it has got a bit of movement.

Pathum Nissanka knew he was gone. Three fours and a six for Nissanka in his 25 runs.

That is a delivery he puts away, that's his bread and butter, but for some reason he just missed it.

That is what pressure feels for you.

Nissanka is already walking off...

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

There's not bat on it, that's for sure.

Daniel Norcross
Test Match Special commentator on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

That looked plumb from here!

This looks out! Pathum Nissanka reviews an lbw shout to Gus Atkinson.

Phil Long
BBC Test Match Special statistician

That single proved Russel's point. That's the first time there has been two singles in one over. Eight singles have come across seven different overs.

A few of you are grumbling about Jofra Archer after his opening spell.

These were the stats before the previous game...

England pacers in the powerplay - ODIs since 2025 Jofra Archer - 13 wickets, 20.9 average, 4.68 economy

Other Pacers - 20 wickets, 40.8 average, 5.70 economy

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

The area Sri Lanka struggle with is rotation of strike and getting a bit of rhythm, and it is the singles which allow you to do that.

Mark Wood
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

A beautiful shot by Pathum Nissanka. Again, this tells you how the pitch is playing.

Good length, and Pathum Nissanka leans on it past backward point.

England's bowlers have got to change their expectations.

It's a bouncy surface here. The length you need to hit the stumps may also be too full. Pathum Nissanka guides another one, this time getting it through the off side for four. As with the previous overs, the boundary is followed by a run of dots.

Across the opening seven overs of the innings, England have bowled only three deliveries projected to hit the stumps.

Back to the previous point, Mark Wood's a reliable chap. I'd trust him to name a baby. I'm sure there are plenty of your jobs he'd excel at in retirement.

Kamindu Mendis shows the quality of this surface by dispatching Josh Tongue over the leg-side for four.

Harry Brook withdraws his slip fielder in this over - an admission that run-scoring needs to be slowed. This is a good pitch, far better for batting than the one up at Chester-le-Street.

Mark Wood
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Image source, Getty Images

Assessments are that it's a good wicket.

It is a used pitch, but it still looks value for runs across the square.

England's bowlers need to adjust their expectations from Chester-Le-Street.

SL 33-0published at 5 overs

5 overs

Nissanka 19, Kamindu 14

I'm not sure if Mark Wood is up for requests but we need to go bigger. Shall I ask him to name your baby too?

Jofra Archer's mood worsens as he is pulled for a second six at the end of the over. Pitch it up.

SL 22-0published at 4.2 overs

4.2 overs

This is some shot! Jofra Archer does nothing wrong as Pathum Nissanka swats him off a length to the back of the stand over square leg. It had a gentleman in a high vis jacket scrambling.

Mark Wood
England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We're getting a template of the pitch now.

Every time it has been a touch short, it has gone for four.

Interestingly, England's fielding have people off the rope trying to cut it off, but it is flying past them.

Whenever England have hit a good length it has been hard to score.

Another short ball goes for runs, this time Pathum Nissanka pulling Gus Atkinson. The pitch looks good.