Ffion Wynne
BBC Sport cricket writer on BBC Radio Sports Extra

The thing with Tammy Beaumont is that the seamers will be targeting that front pad.

Well, it's a streaky start from Amy Jones, the opening ball of the innings rather squirting off her bat, but it beats the diving fielder at third and rattles away for four.

Tammy Beaumont gets on strike for the penultimate delivery after some sloppy fielding lets Jones through for a single and she begins with a little lbw scare. Hands on heads all round for Sri Lanka.

Still, a productive over.

Tammy Beaumont and Amy Jones are out in the middle for England.

Udeshika Prabodhani will open the bowling for Sri Lanka.

How will England fare setting a total for the first time in the tournament? Only one way to find out...

Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

We know that they have an easier run of games, and they have got Pakistan next, but then they get into the games against India and Australia before they play New Zealand. It is very much a bowl first day, but they are looking at the bigger picture, moving to later on in the tournament.

The last thing you want to do is bowl first in all your games and then play India or Australia, and your batters have not had any time in the middle.

Lisa Shtalekar
Former Australian captain on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It's interesting to see, given the amount of rain we have seen fly over the stadium, but given the fact that England have only one game with the batting perspective, I think they are looking ahead and would want to give the batters confidence and give them time in the middle.

Image source, Getty Images

Although fixtures against Sri Lanka and Pakistan should be straightforward for England as they look to continue their winning streak, they could prove decisive with back-to-back matches against India and Australia to come.

England thrashed South Africa in what could have been a tricky opener, avoided a scare against Bangladesh and now have a golden opportunity to make sure they go into those games against the pre-tournament favourites unbeaten.

But they will have to contend with more spin-friendly conditions in Colombo on Saturday, with opener Tammy Beaumont saying the nature of the pitches is reducing the gulf between teams.

"Every game in this World Cup is big. Bangladesh played so well against us and Sri Lanka will be a challenge in home conditions," she told BBC Sport.

"The conditions are bringing all the teams into it, so it's important we have to keep playing well.

"It certainly feels like the fixtures have worked quite well for us, so hopefully we can keep building that momentum and it will be all guns blazing by the time we get to Indore."

You can read more here.

Image source, Getty Images

Sri Lanka sit sixth in the ICC's Women's ODI rankings and headed into the World Cup in mixed form - they'd won just two of their eight 50-over outings in 2025 but those victories had come against India and South Africa in Colombo.

They currently lie seventh in the table after two matches, losing to India by 59 runs (DLS) in their tournament opener and picking up a point against Australia after their game was washed out.

Despite enjoying home advantage against opponents England, the head-to-head record makes for grim reading for Sri Lanka. They've only won one of their 20 ODI meetings - a one-wicket win in 2013.

A lot will rest on the shoulders of captain Chamari Athapaththu, who is seventh-ranked all-rounder in the ICC rankings. She is their highest run-scorer and second highest wicket-taker in ODIs since the end of the 2022 tournament.

Here's what England's path to the semi-finals looks like:

• 3 October - beat South Africa by 10 wickets
• 7 October - beat Bangladesh by four wickets
• 11 October - Sri Lanka (Colombo)
• 15 October - Pakistan (Colombo)
• 19 October - India (Indore)
• 22 October - Australia (Indore)
• 26 October - New Zealand (Visakhapatnam)

Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, after winning the toss: "We decided to bowl first as I am comfortable with my bowling unit and we have an experienced bowling unit as well, and the conditions are good as well.

"We will look to restrict them to below 220. We are struggling with the batting in the middle overs, but we have worked hard on it and hope we can perform well today.

"Very privileged to lead this team at home. We know we are not playing many games, but we are well rested and we will stick to our plans. Just one change as Dewmi Vihanga comes in."

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt: "I was going to bat, so pretty happy with that. It's the third match [here] so the idea was to bat first and hopefully it will get slower and our spinners will come into it.

"Alice Capsey is a brilliant all-rounder for us and it makes up the balance of the team. We're not blessed with loads of all-rounders so the more the merrier.

"We're not taking anything lightly. Some great control with their spinners in the middle overs. Hopefully we can navigate that as a team and ride the pressure."

England XI: Tammy Beaumont, Amy Jones (wk), Heather Knight, Nat Sciver-Brunt (c), Sophia Dunkley, Emma Lamb, Alice Capsey, Charlie Dean, Sophie Ecclestone, Linsey Smith, Lauren Bell.

Sri Lanka XI: 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.

Chamari Athapaththu correctly calls "heads" and Sri Lanka will bowl first in Colombo.

Righto, time for the toss!

What have you made of England's tournament so far? Who's stood out for you and where do they need to improve? Can Charlotte Edwards' side go all the way?

Do get in touch with your thoughts on the above - or anything else!

Just please remember to pop your name at the end of your message.

Given we have a bit of time on our hands, here are the highlights from England's previous outing - a nervy four-wicket win over Bangladesh.

Enjoy!

Let's get the bad news out of the way straight away...

Play has been delayed by 15 minutes due to a rain shower in Colombo.

Hello there!

It's day 12 of the Women's World Cup and England are back in action against Sri Lanka.

Victory for Nat Sciver-Brunt's side - who are unbeaten after two matches - would take them top of the table. Can they pick up two important points in Colombo?

Toss and team news coming up.