Simon Mann has described the Scotland attack as "friendly" on TMS. I think that's kind. Kyle Coetzer is the latest man to try his arm but it is the same trundling medium pace, which enables Bell to move to his 50, off 80 balls. It is his 33rd ODI half-century. He has barely broken sweat.

We stay with the tamest of the tame off-spin from Majid Haq, who Bell tries to work away but fails to do so for half the over before plundering a single with a sweep to deep square leg.

Thanks Jamie. Well, legitimate fears of an England catastrophe so far appear to be wide of the mark, much like Scotland's bowling in the first 25 overs. It is all too easy for Moeen and Bell, who haven't really played a truly aggressive shot yet. That doesn't change as Wardlaw battles though his sixth over, which goes for a steady six (including the eighth wide of the innings) and brings up the 150.

Image source, Getty Images

From the despair of losing in 12.3 overs against New Zealand I find myself turning to the highest England ODI scores page. The answer is 391-4 against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge in 2005, when Andrew Strauss and Scotland coach Paul Collingwood made centuries.

Moeen is looking assured as he moves towards his second ODI hundred, chipping Majid nonchalantly for two. In fairness to the Scots they need a change, so I hand you to my colleague Phil Dawkes for the remainder of the innings.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"This is a 330+ score, no doubt about it. For a team that has struggled against two good attacks in Australia and New Zealand, this is humpty dumpty bowling."

Wardlaw is back, he has been the best of a mediocre bunch so far with 0-15 from his opening four overs. Short again though, and a delightful swivel pull with one foot off the ground from Moeen. Four more. Humpty Dumpty bowling Geoffrey calls it. Humpty might have been a useful all-rounder, big-hitting, bowling gentle but devilishly swinging deliveries.

There is a direct hit as Bell dives to make his ground for a quick single, the most exertion from the batsmen thus far, but there is no appeal. Moeen hammers Evans for his eighth four.

Machan is in his 18th match but it's fair to say he is rather more of a batsman than a bowler. He has taken eight wickets, and claimed 3-31 against Kenya at Aberdeen in 2013. Wonder what the pitch was like? He tries a quicker one, they're all a bit flat in all truth, but Moeen picks up two more with ease.

Evans is an honest campaigner, with his sprightly run-up in the mould of a high jumper, albeit not at the same curved angle. There is the politest of appeals when Moeen makes no contact with an attempted hook but umpire S Ravi from India rules out any brushing off the glove.

England 117-0 after 20 overs (Scotland won toss)

Run rate: 5.85 per over (projected score of 292)

Batsmen: Moeen 73 from 65, Bell 35 from 56

Bowling figures: Wardlaw 4-1-15-0, Davey 5-0-36-0, Evans 4-0-20-0, Haq 4-0-22-0, Berrington 2-0-18-0, Machan 1-0-5-0

Scorecard

Test Match Special commentary

Sussex batsman Matt Machan, who made 56 against the Kiwis, is the sixth Scotland bowler employed. The stockily built 24-year-old is sporting some dark glasses but there is little in the way of sunshine at the Hagley Oval, and very little in the way of difficulty for the batsmen with those innocuous off-spinners, fired in flat from around the wicket.

Evans returns, his first three overs went for 18 but only a single to each batsmen are conceded here as England continue to lay the foundations for a bit of a yahoo at the end.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Christchurch

Image source, AFP

"They say that Christchurch is the most British city in New Zealand - certainly there are plenty of Britons working in the rebuilding - and the Hagley Oval has a Home Nations feel for this most British of cricketing contests. There's not a great deal of Barmy Army rowdiness, think more a county cricket hum. There's lots of Scottish Saltires too."

Mike, SW London: Not all plain sailing, as England have played a few false shots. Getting through their shots a touch early at times; ball seems to be sticking in the pitch. It's only Scotland's shocking bowling that has enabled a reasonable start. Cannot waste that new ball!

Gary in Wirral: This is nothing more than a chance for the English players to find some form against a pretty poor Scottish attack. It's just a shame they are only bowling 50 overs, I don't think they'd got 10 wickets if they bowled 500 overs

Surely that England run-rate is going to improve significantly? Majid is struggling a bit here, like the majority of the attack it has to be said. He knocks the stumps over in his delivery stride when he bowls over the wicket to Bell, but does find the edge of Moeen, through the vacant slip area.

You feel Moeen may have a Gower-esque lapse of concentration because it is a bit too easy for him. He's unquestionably classy, but Gower will always be the greatest in my view.

Image source, Adam Williams-Online

Here's the Pool A table ahead of this match.

As you can see - it's a basement battle and we're only on match 14 of the tournament.

Sri Lanka picked up their first win of the tournament on Sunday with a four-wicket win against Afghanistan in Dunedin.

Elsewhere, in Pool B, India dished out a 130-run hammering of South Africa in Melbourne - Shikhar Dhawan led the way with 137.

Image source, BBC Sport

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Rt. Rev. Liam Reilly:, external I reckon even I bowl quicker than Majid Haq...

Naveed Afzal:, external Even I'd like to have a bat against this Scottish bowling attack. England should be aiming for 350 here and improve the NRR

Berrington didn't bowl against New Zealand and he might not be on for much longer here. Both England openers seize on loose deliveries to collect boundaries, Moeen scoring at more than twice the rate of his partner, who has faced only four balls fewer. The most comfortable drinks break for England of recent vintage.