The first ball of Wardlaw's eighth over almost spells the end of Morgan, who pulls a ball that looks to be going straight to Coleman but ends up clearing the fielder by inches for six. The skipper follows it up with a lofted drive for four. Wardlaw tightens his line, though, and only two more runs follow. Still, a much better over for England and Morgan, who has 23 from 27 balls. England need to go at nine-an-over from now to reach 300.

Return of the Haq. Majid is back in to the attack, Morgan chips and nurdles, Taylor nudges and swipes and England add three. Eight overs to go.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"This really speaks of the lack of confidence in the England team that they are really biding their time before they launch their assault. Well time is ticking by."

Iain Wardlaw is back in to the attack, post powerplay. It is a decent return as well, with his over going for just one. England need to get a move on or they could well end up falling short of what looked like an absolutely nailed on 300+ total, which would be an utter crime against cricket.

England 225-4 after 40 overs (Scotland won toss)

Run rate: 5.63

Batsmen: Morgan 8, Taylor 11

Fall of wickets: 172-1 (Bell 54), 201-2 (Moeen 128), 203-3 (Ballance 10), 203-4 (Root 1)

Bowling figures: Wardlaw 6-1-27-0, Davey 7-0-46-1, Evans 10-0-46-1, Haq 8-0-43-1, Berrington 4-0-32-1, Machan 2-0-11-0, Coetzer 3-0-19-0

Record: Moeen and Bell's 172 is England's highest World Cup opening stand of all time and the highest by any team at this World Cup

Scorecard

Test Match Special commentary

Some good scurrying from Taylor in the over (Evans' last) sees England accumulate a few more runs, including three through cover. England would have liked to have been launching it now, with more wickets in the tent, but beggars can't be choosers. They have taken nine and eight from the last two overs but 22-2 hardly goes down as one of the great powerplays.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

Image source, Getty Images

"Gary Ballance has scored 10 in each of his first three innings in this World Cup and I can't resist checking this!

"The only other players to be dismissed for the same score in their first three World Cup innings are Nicholas de Groot (Canada 2003) and Shem Ngoche (Kenya 2011) who both made ducks in their first three innings.

"The only other player to make three consecutive scores of 10 in ODIs is Brad Hogg of Australia in 2006-07.

Having seen off Root in his previous over, Davey continues. England massively boost their powerplay run-rate by taking nine from the over. Yep, it has been that bad. Morgan is the main beneficiary, lofting a drive over extra-cover for four. How the England skipper could do with some runs here. He and Taylor have 11 overs in which to get some.

There is a nervy moment for Morgan as an early Evans ball strikes him on the pads, leading to big lbw cries. But the skipper survives. Morgan's nerves are clear to see, although at least he avoids a potential fourth duck in six innings with a flick to fine leg for a single. The powerplay is being wasted. England are 5-2 in it so far.

Callum Johnstone:, external Pathetic management here, had Bell and Ali set but no power play, now they take it and the wickets tumble...clueless!!

WD4:, external Imagine Finch, McCullum or AB just nudging singles. No way. We have nobody at the moment that is intimidating to a bowler.

Pete:, external Game seems tailor/Taylor made (sorry) for a lower-middle order attack. Get Buttler and co in there, even Morgan could get a few.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special

"You're tempted to think only England could do this."

Somehow, England have managed to produce a run of 10 balls, featuring no runs and two wickets at the start of the powerplay. New man James Taylor breaks that with a single, which is the only run of Davey's sixth over, from which he has taken 1-37.

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Christchurch

"'That's the best ball I've seen all day,' says Geoffrey Boycott as Josh Davey has Joe Root caught behind. Root departs to the soundtrack of You'll Never Walk Alone on the PA. England losing momentum."

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Game back on, take nothing for granted. Root was just defending and clearly nicked it because he walked off. England are playing with such little confidence overall. We were taking 300 for granted but not so sure now."

Image source, Getty Images

Game back on. Root offers the most nervous, tentative of forward defences to a Davey ball and catches a slim edge, which keeper Cross gobbles up. England have lost three wickets for two runs and the same old problems have come rushing to the surface again.

England have never been very good at powerplays. They do little to alter that as Evans pins new man Morgan to the striker's end and bowls a wicket maiden.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Ballance hasn't looked in good nick and it was a mild surprise he came in at three in these circumstances. He got a little inside edge and the ball trickled on to the stumps. You needed to see him hitting the ball with authority. It was quite a big call to put Ballance at three so how long do you stick with him?"

Adam Tillsley:, external England so frustrating to watch. Nudging it around where Aus/SA/NZ would be smashing it to all corners and aiming for 350+

John:, external Would Moeen have gone for that if he had a partner with any sort of attacking intent down the other end? Spiritless batting.

Luke Howles:, external Despite the previous two games, England have a long batting line up and with 15 overs to go they should be using it!

Image source, Reuters

Scratch that. Ballance goes as he looks to guide Evans down to third man but succeeds only in nicking the ball on to his own stumps. It is another failure for Ballance, who has scores of 10, 10 and, er, 10 in this World Cup. Speaking of good nick, here comes captain Morgan...

The return of the Haq brings a wicket and Root to the crease, who gets off the mark with a single. England's acceleration may now be delayed for an over or two longer than planned. Neither of these men are in brilliant form, but this is the perfect chance to find that.