Summary

  • Banton hits half-century as England put on 74 for first wicket

  • Sri Lanka win toss and bowl first in Rawalpindi

  • Tongue & Dawson replace Baker & Rashid for England

Have your say on England men this winter

  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:31 BST

    Click ' Get Involved' to have your say

    Unfortunately Banton gave it away again. Two 50+ scores isn't bad at all but they are not match-winning scores. England must stick with him though.

    Paul, Sunderland

  2. Eng 107-2published at 19 overs

    Five runs off Dasun Shanaka's third over, with Joe Root getting two of them with a shot through backward square.

  3. Eng 102-2published at 18 overs

    Hundred up for England.

    Harry Brook takes a single off Dunith Wellalage, getting the ball past a cover fielder.

  4. Eng 96-2published at 17 overs

    Joe Root gets his boundary count going, whipping Dasun Shanaka through mid-wicket and then sending a second shot a little closer to mid-on.

    New batter Harry Brook spends the entire over at the non-striker's end.

  5. Postpublished at 10:16 BST

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    Ben Duckett was so fluent a couple of days ago. He has struggled on this surface. They knew it was going to be tougher batting first with the bounce. A sticky innings for Duckett but that was hitting the middle of middle stump.

  6. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 16 overs

    Duckett lbw b Wellalage 29 (Eng 85-2)

    Dunith Wellalage of Sri Lanka celebrates taking the wicket of Ben DuckettImage source, Getty Images

    And England's figures against left-arm spin get even worse!

    Dunith Wellalage bags his second England opener, trapping Ben Duckett lbw as the batter misses a sweep.

    Duckett consults with Joe Root but decides not to appeal - that did look pretty out with impact right in front.

    A challenging day for Duckett, with his 29 runs coming from 39 balls. He was starved of the strike initially, but did pick things up a little towards the end of his innings.

  7. How's stat?!published at 10:13 BST

    Team averages v left-arm spinImage source, CricViz

    In ODIs since the start of 2025, England are one of the worst performing sides against left-arm spin in terms of average (27.35). Of the 12 full member nations, only Australia and West Indies have a lower average against that particular type of bowling in the time frame.

  8. Eng 78-1published at 15 overs

    Dasun Shanaka into the attack.

    Ben Duckett takes a two in the covers off the seamer's opening delivery, with no further runs coming off the rest of the over.

  9. Eng 76-1published at 14 overs

    Joe Root comes out to the middle and immediately takes a single down the ground.

    Two runs and one wicket off Dunith Wellalage's third over - he's enjoying himself after surprisingly being left out of the team on Tuesday.

  10. Postpublished at 10:06 BST

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on Test Match Special

    He's just picked out that fielder perfectly at long off. If you had to pick where to put a fielder it would be there. He didn't have to move an inch. Another diasppointing end to a Tom Banton fifty. He was striking the ball well and unfortunately for him, he's given his wicket away.

  11. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 13.2 overs

    Banton c Liyanage b Wellalage 50 (Eng 74-1)

    Dunith Wellalage of Sri Lanka celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Tom Banton's handy innings comes to an end.

    He shuffles towards leg and tries to lift Dunith Wellalage over extra cover, but picks out Janith Liyanage.

    Banton looks disappointed - he was well set there.

  12. Postpublished at 10:02 BST

    Steven Finn
    Former England fast bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    It's the first time Duckett's timed one properly today and I think he just waited a little bit more. Back-to-back boundaries and both nicely timed.

  13. Eng 74-0published at 13 overs

    14 runs from Eshan Malinga's over and they're all Ben Duckett's!

    He hits a trio of twos and then finishes the over by hitting his first two fours, hitting through extra cover and mid-wicket.

    He moves from nine to 23.

  14. How's stat?!published at 10:02 BST

    Tom Banton's 50 wagonwheelImage source, CricViz

    50* (49) for Tom Banton, who has found all but one of his boundaries through the offside through crisp stroke-play and innovative shotmaking against spinners. It's his fourth fifty in the format, and has moved his ODI average to just a shade under fifty (48.80).

  15. More delays in South Africa-Australia Testpublished at 10:02 BST

    Groundstaff work with covers in South AfricAImage source, Getty Images

    More rain in Gqeberha. The Australian rain dance is working.

    There should have been 75 minutes of play on the final day of the second Test by now.

    Australia couldn't get away with this, could they?

  16. Eng 60-0published at 12 overs

    One more single off Dunith Wellalage's over, with Ben Duckett chipping a single to backward square.

    I was going to give you all of Duckett's ODI opening partners, wasn't I?

    Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Rehan Ahmed, Zak Crawley, Jamie Smith, Phil Salt.

  17. 50 runs

    50 for Tom Bantonpublished at 11.4 overs

    Eng 59-0

    Tom Banton of England celebrates his fiftyImage source, Getty Images

    A half-century for Tom Banton!

    The opener reverse sweeps Dunith Wellalage for a single to backward point, bringing up his fourth 50 in 11 ODI innings.

    It comes from 48 balls.

  18. Eng 57-0published at 11 overs

    Three runs off Eshan Malinga's over with the fielders now back.

    Tom Banton adds two behind square to move to 49.

  19. How's stat?!published at 09:52 BST

    Tom Banton pitch map v Sri LankaImage source, CricViz

    A brisk start from Tom Banton, who has dominated anything full whilst rotating nicely against balls on a good length and slightly wide of off stump.

  20. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:52 BST

    Click ' Get Involved' to have your say

    What is the most asymmetric opening partnership when one batsman reaches 50?

    Pete van den Bosch, Manchester