There is the official word we were expecting, the match has been abandoned.

Handshakes between captains and umpires. A real shame and not an outcome either side would be happy about.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand take a point apiece.

We did at least get to see a superb knock from Nilakshi de Silva - her 26-ball fifty is the quickest of this World Cup so far - before the rain came. You can enjoy the best of that in the video above.

We'll be back tomorrow when England take on Pakistan, hoping to maintain their 100% winning start to the tournament.

Join us at 10:00 BST for that!

Well, it isn't just a brief shower. The rain is still coming down - and pretty heavily from the looks of it.

I'd expect official word of an abandonment is not far away now. Chances of getting back out there before the cut off are non-existent, surely.

Just as I was writing about news of a restart time, the rain has returned and the covers are coming back on.

We can only hope this is an extremely brief shower because time is running out.

The restart was set for 16:45 BST which meant at least another 25 minutes or so were needed for the ground to dry out and that was before this latest sprinkling from the clouds.

So far the rain is doing the right thing and staying away.

The umpires have been out to have a look and have been in discussions for the groundsman - and now New Zealand skipper Sophie Devine.

We're just going to have to wait and see what the outcome of those chat is.

It looks like there are some damp patches and the covers haven't been completely removed from the outfield but fingers crossed we're not too far away from getting a restart time.

Right, the rain has stopped again and covers are being moved.

Apparently the cut off is 21:50 local time, which is 17:20 BST, and that'd be for a 20-over innings.

Plenty of time then but given how much rain there's been, it is likely to take a while before the playing area is fit for play.

So we just have to hope for no further rain...

Good news. The rain seems to have stopped and groundstaff are out to inspect the damage.

I wouldn't expect an imminent restart but it's definitely positive news...

Ah, maybe not. With covers beginning to be removed, the rain has returned.

As you were.

When - and let's hope it is when - the rain stops, WinViz reckons that New Zealand are really up against it.

Might a shortened game help them out? We've got a while before that becomes a factor.

The way things are looking, though, it might be the best hope of getting a game...

Image source, CricViz

If you're looking for reasons to be optimistic of a quick restart/ any more play today in Colombo, look away now...

Local time there is currently 19:10.

The rain is really coming down hard in Colombo. It doesn't look good for a hasty restart.

We can only hope this downpour doesn't last too long.

The groundstaff are doing a great job of getting those blue tarpaulins that cover the entire playing surface on quickly at least.

Rain stops playpublished at 14:27 BST 14 October

14:27 BST 14 October

Not what anyone wanted to see. The rain has arrived and the covers are being brought on it.

It looks like the start of the New Zealand chase will be delayed.

More updates when we have them.

Phil Long
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Not only a record chase, New Zealand require their highest ever second innings total at World Cup to win this game.

Sri Lanka opener Vishmi Gunaratne: "I think we have a good score on the board, we had some good partnerships.

"I was reminding myself to stay calm and play my natural game.

"The strike-rate was also good to get us into a good position. The pitch is a good one for the batters.

"Nilakshi de Silva is a good batter, she helped us put a good score on the board."

Brilliant hitting from Nilakshi de Silva - a 26-ball fifty, the quickest so far at this World Cup - to take Sri Lanka up to 258-6.

She launches Eden Carson high over long-off for the first six of the innings.

A hard sweep off Melie Kerr starts the next over and brings four more after another misfield in the deep. New Zealand have been very sloppy in the field today.

De Silva, who finishes on 55 from 28 balls, then gets stuck into Sophie Devine with three boundaries on the trot in the final set, 16 from it in total and New Zealand have got their work cut out to chase this down.

Two quick wickets for New Zealand as Bree Illing has Harshitha Samarawickrama caught behind before Sophie Devine removes Kavisha Dilhari in the next over.

Sri Lanka are still going for it, though, with Nilakshi de Silva coming in and powering a couple of boundaries.

But Illing strikes again in her next over as Hasini Perera falls in near-identical fashion to Samarawickrama, edging behind off the back foot.

Sri Lanka don't bat as team as some teams at this World Cup but the intent is still there as Piumi Wathsala comes in at seven.

That's on full show as Wathsala charges Melie Kerr... misses but Izzy Gaze can't take it - missed stumping!

Image source, Getty Images

With 10 overs to go, Sri Lanka have positioned themselves very well to really kick on and have a big finish.

They got 47 runs without losing a wicket in the past 10 overs, have eight wickets in hand and Harshitha Samarawickrama and Hasini Perera's partnership is now worth 53.

New Zealand are going to have their wits about them in the last stage of the innings, both with ball and in the field, to prevent Sri Lanka pushing up towards 250.

Sri Lanka continue to build a good platform from which they will hope to really kick on from late in the innings.

Harshitha Samarawickrama has come in and is going along nicely at a run-a-ball, while fellow left-hander Hasini Perera is ticking over pretty well, too.

They'll want to increase the run-rate before too long and New Zealand could do without the sort of misfields that allowed Samarawickrama to find a boundary through Jess Kerr's legs off Melie Kerr's bowling.

The younger sister is not best impressed...

Both Sri Lanka openers gone now as Rosemary Mair pegs back Vishmi Gunaratne's off stump.

The right-hander had played patiently but was trying to up the ante with Chamari Athapaththu gone.

It's lovely ball from Mair, nipping away just a tad to beat the bat and clatter into the timbers with Vishmi stuck on the crease.

Conditions looks ideal for the seamers right now, the floodlights have been on for a while and there are leaden skies overhead.

A few of those clouds look pretty ominous and the wind has picked up but, crucially, it is still dry for now.

A big wicket for New Zealand, just after they had put down another catch.

The century opening partnership comes up as Vishmi Gunaratne is dropped for a second time!

She charges Melie Kerr and tries to hit over mid-on. The elevation isn't quite there but Suzie Bates can't hold on to the grab above her head.

Another let off for Vishmi but there is no such luck for Chamari Athapaththu in the next over.

The skipper tries to flay Sophie Devine over the off side but is caught by Maddy Green at deep cover for 53.

Hasini Perera, another left-hander, comes in for Sri Lanka.

50 for Chamari Athapaththupublished at 22 overs

22 overs

SL 98-0

The Sri Lanka captain reaches her 20th ODI half-century from 67 balls.

Top stuff from Chamari Athapaththu as she cuts Sophie Devine away for four to get to 49 and then chips into the gap at mid-wicket for two to bring up the fifty.

If the left-hander can stay out there for another 20 overs or so then Sri Lanka will be in a great position.

Image source, Getty Images

In terms of setting a platform, Sri Lanka could hardly have asked for better in the first part of this innings.

Chamari Athapaththu took advantage of the fielding restrictions in the powerplay and since then, she and Vishmi Gunaratne have steadily accumulated against the New Zealand spinners.

Vishmi cashed in on a drag down from Eden Carson for the first boundary since the ninth over.

But there have been a couple of scares for Vishmi.

In the over prior, the right-hander successfully overturned an lbw decision as UltraEdge showed she got a faint edge on Melie Kerr's googly.

Then in the 20th, she thumped the ball back at Sophie Devine but the White Ferns skipper couldn't cling on to the return catch.