Key events
One change for Sri Lanka:
Allrounder Dewmi Vihanga replaces Achini Kulasuriya.
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Dasanayaka, Dewmi Vihanga, Inoka Ranaweera, Udeshika Prabodhani
England XI are unchanged
England: Tammy Beamont, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.
Sri Lanka win the toss and will bowl
“because I’m very confident with my bowling unit.” NSB looks happy, says she would have batted, that the surface looks pretty good.
Arnold says he would bowl first, on what looks like a dry pitch. NSB and Athapaththu are walking to the middle with what looks very much like team sheets, so the toss must be imminent.
A 15 minute delay due to rain
Though it all seeems gorgeously sunny now in Colombo. Russel Arnold is looking dapper in regulation CWC maroon trousers and very open necked shirt and is joined by Tash Farrant, who says she was asked by Charlotte Edwards to go into the nets as a left-hander, like Chamari Athapaththu.
Sri Lanka have won only once in an ODI against England, but they do have trump cards. Chamari Athapaththu is a veteran of franchise cricket and a real threat, while left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera had India worried with three wickets in an over in the opening game.
Preamble
Good morning! Today, we are in Colombo, where England start their two match adventure in Sri Lanka by playing the joint hosts.
It’s been a pretty shiny start for England. Two wins from two games left them top of the table after the first couple of rounds – even if the victory against Bangladesh wasn’t the most convincing performance – dragged over the line by Heather Knight and some catches that might have been.
Sri Lanka are yet to get going, losing to India in the opening game of the tournament while their game against Australia was washed out. But the ball spins a lot at Colombo, and England can come unstuck.
Play is due to start at 10.30am BST, though the grungy skies may push things back. Do join us.
