Summary

  1. 'I had to really take responsibility'published at 17:54 British Summer Time 7 September

    Kate CrossImage source, Getty Images

    England captain and player of the match Kate Cross speaks after her side's victory over Ireland.

    On her career-best 6-30: "I’ve felt in quite good rhythm since The Hundred finished. I love playing one-day cricket. I feel like I really know my blueprint with how I play. I had a little more to think about today as captain, but that made me feel like I had to really take responsibility.

    "Other than myself and Lauren Filer, there was 30 overs bowled by debutants today. It really felt like me and Lauren had to step up, but it was a really enjoyable day. I loved it."

    On managing five debutants in her first game as captain: "That was the bit that I really needed to think about. We've not had much time together either. We got together in Loughborough on Monday and the one thing that I've learned from captains that I've had is that to get the best out of your players, you need to know them quite well.

    "But I thought everyone did really well. When you’ve got one debutante, you look after them, but when you've got five, it can be quite stressful. The way that the girls all got around each other today was a really good effort."

    On making a career-best score with the bat to win the game: "Well, I managed to put myself one up the order! The girls all said it was a good pitch, and felt like if we’d batted first, we’d have tried to put on 270 or 280 as a par score. And so, I actually thought we did quite well to keep them to 210 in the first innings, because they had a couple of really good partnerships.

    "The way Bess Heath batted was fantastic. She’s not played much one-day cricket, and I really saw her mentality shift after the run out with Mady [Villiers]. From that point it felt like she was going to be there to shake hands at the end. It was a really mature innings from her."

    On where England can improve in the next two matches: "Everyone's got that first game under the belt now. There would have been a lot of nerves around.

    "We actually probably didn’t bowl as well as we would have liked. I think our percentage of hitting the stumps wasn't as high as we would have liked. I’ve not spoken to the batters, but I think some of them are quite disappointed in how they got out.

    "The games come thick and fast. We'll have a little debrief and then go on to Monday. We'll just try and tighten things up a little bit."

  2. 'We need to stick to the simple things for longer'published at 17:51 British Summer Time 7 September

    Ireland captain Gaby Lewis speaks following their four-wicket ODI defeat to England: "That was below par for us. It wasn't our day today, but we'll come back stronger. I think there's still positives to take.

    "Obviously, we're a bit down, because we do know our full potential. I think we haven't even showed half of that today. We have a lot more to show, and I think we will show that in the final two games."

    On Orla Prendergast’s contribution (76 and 2-27): "Orla was absolutely brilliant with bat and ball. She got us early wickets like she normally does. I’m absolutely delighted for her."

    On collapsing from 151-3 to 210 all out: "I think it was maybe just decision making, and I think we need to stick to the simple things for longer. That’s something we'll work on.

    "I think it's good that we are getting in. That’s step one, but step two is making [starts] count. We did show that in the Sri Lanka series, so we can do it. And it's just a bit of belief as well."

    On Ireland’s bowling and fielding: "It definitely wasn't as polished a performance as we saw in those Sri Lanka games. I definitely think as a fielding group, we didn't help our bowlers. It wasn't a day for us in the field.

    "But in saying that, we need to change it up. This is a professional team, so I think we'll go back tonight, look at the footage and hopefully rectify those mistakes in the next game."

  3. Cross leads youthful England to win over Irelandpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 7 September

    Kate Cross celebrates a wicket against IrelandImage source, Getty Images

    While we wait for word from The Oval, we've got time to look at another England match that took place today...

    Kate Cross' career-best figures of 6-30 and 38 not out helped a youthful England side to a four-wicket win over Ireland in the first one-day international in Belfast.

    England reached their target of 210 with 15.1 overs to spare, with captain Cross' highest ODI score rescuing them from a precarious 156-6.

    Read Ffion Wynne's full report here.

  4. Postpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 7 September

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    The umpires are standing there quite relaxed really.

    They know it's dark, it's not borderline so no one is going to get cross.

  5. Postpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 7 September

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    This 100 partnership has just chipped away at England's lead.

    They'll want to come back out.

  6. Postpublished at 17:40 British Summer Time 7 September

    Well, there is nothing official yet but, if that does prove to be it for the day, it has been a very good one for Sri Lanka.

    They took eight England wickets before lunch and have now moved to within 114 runs of their hosts' total, with five wickets still remaining.

    Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis have batted well for the tourists.

  7. Postpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 7 September

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    I'll be amazed if they come back.

    These are the rules and regulations as they stand at the moment.

  8. Postpublished at 17:36 British Summer Time 7 September

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    OvalImage source, Getty Images

    Sri Lanka won't want to go off.

    They're cruising.

  9. Bad light stops playpublished at 45 overs

    SL 210-5

    The decision has been taken out of England's hands.

    Another light check from the umpires and they've decided, spinners or no spinners, it is too dark to continue.

    I fear that could be it for the day.

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 7 September

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    This is rubbish. It is not Test cricket if your fast bowlers cannot bowl. For goodness sake come off.

    John Bird

  11. Postpublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 7 September

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    Sri Lanka are getting nearer and nearer.

    England will be looking at bringing their seamers back on.

  12. SL 210-5published at 45 overs

    Sri Lanka have worked their way into a decent position here. From 93-5, they have given themselves a decent chance of parity on first innings.

    Chris Woakes, who had another chat with Brendon McCullum on his way, is back on. Has he brought a message back on with him?

  13. Postpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 7 September

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent

    England have done their bit here.

    They're leaking runs really.

  14. Postpublished at 17:32 British Summer Time 7 September

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    Every time he attacks, he hits it for four or six.

    There is an element of him hitting it with uncertainty, he's keeping everyone interested though.

  15. SL 208-5published at 44 overs

    Dhananjaya 64, Kamindu 51

    Tossed up on the pads by Joe Root and Dhananjaya de Silva hoists the ball over the leg side for four.

    Chris Woakes has headed off and appeared to be having a bit of a chunter to Brendon McCullum as he walked into the dressing room.

  16. Postpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 7 September

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I don't know what more Kamindu can do to move up the batting order.

  17. SL 204-5published at 43 overs

    Trail by 121

    Is there an element of England playing on as part of one of the stated aims of Bazball: saving Test cricket by making it more entertaining?

    At this stage, it certainly doesn't feel like staying on is in their best interests as far as winning the match is concerned with Kamindu Mendis whipping the ball leg side for four to reduce the deficit further.

  18. Postpublished at 17:25 British Summer Time 7 September

    Sir Alastair Cook
    Ex-England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    That's one way of playing it.

    De Silva missed it but it got caught on the edge of his bat and it ran away for four.

  19. 200 runs

    SL 200-5published at 42 overs

    Trail by 125

    Close!

    Joe Root fires one down leg, Dhananjaya de Silva misses it first time but somehow connects with the back of his bat in the follow through.

    The ball loops up but beyond the fielders and runs away for four.

    A couple more from the Sri Lanka skipper takes them to 200.

  20. Postpublished at 17:20 British Summer Time 7 September

    Isa Guha
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    There's a boo, not for the light, but for Joe Root who's coming into the attack.