Sri Lanka have won their last three matches when batting second against England. They chased 220 at Edgbaston and 186 and 266 in Colombo in 2014. What price a fourth successful pursuit in a row...?

Image source, Getty Images

Sri Lanka choose to take the batting powerplay an over early. Three players allowed out of the circle. Stuart Broad to bowl.

England are becoming despondent now as Kumar Sangakkara walks down the wicket to their fastest bowler, Steven Finn, and hammers him over wide long-off for six. It's a shot we've seen Brad Haddin play against Finn and the bowler has no answer. Has Finn ever got angry? He's the nicest fast bowler around. Three singles to go with the maximum.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"There's been some lovely batting in terms of single-taking. Because there's a lack of turn, they can get it through the gaps more easily."

Dinesh Chandimal, who is down to bat at number seven, is getting padded up. At this rate, the next man in won't get a knock. It's like net practice as Thirimanne and Sangakkara knock the ball into gaps. Five singles, one two.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Steven Finn just didn't look penetrating. He looked like he was running through treacle. I'm disappointed - I want the kid to succeed."

Steven Finn is brought into the attack and the tall paceman has an expression across his face which is half smiling, half grimacing. Nobody wants to bowl to Kumar Sangakkara with the batting powerplay in sight. A decent line and length is rewarded with three dots before Kumar helps himself to a single off his hips.

Michael Goode:, external This is getting embarrassing now! I think we are probably one of the worst one day teams around at the minute.

Steve:, external Insipid stuff. I am shattered and up for Ireland v England in the rugby in a few hours - not a good start to the day.

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"England are up against it. The outfield is fast, Thirimanne is in, he looks well set, and Sri Lanka have so much experience in this batting line-up. The target of 310 looks eminently gettable at the moment."

And you thought England were scoring slowly earlier on?

It's a terrible start from Pakistan at the Gabba. They have crawled along to 14-2 after the first 10 overs. Tendai Chatara has been the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers, claiming the wickets of Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad, with his five overs only going for eight runs.

Captain Misbah-ul-Haq's two runs so far have come off 24 deliveries.

Full scorecard

Image source, AFP

James Anderson nips off the field and into the bowels of the stadium. I'm not sure why. Peter Moores, clutching his tablet, rises from his seat and follows him.

"James you need to..."

"Peter, let me have a wee in peace, will you?"

More Moeen, more runs. Four of them.

Sri Lanka 166-1 (30 overs) - target 310

Batsmen: Thirimanne 89*, Sangakkara 27*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Dilshan 44)

Bowling figures: Anderson 5-0-23-0, Broad 5-1-28-0, Woakes 6-0-33-0, Finn 4-0-26-0, Moeen 8-0-39-1, Root 2-0-12-0

England 309-6: Root 121, Bell 49, Buttler 39*

England won toss

Scorecard

The confidence is coursing through Thirmanne's veins as he drives Chris Woakes to the boundary. Sri Lanka are more than halfway there now. England living on a prayer as Kumar Sangakkara cuts another four over the head of the point fielder.

Josh Payne: There is no way David Saker can come out of this World Cup with any credit.

Jeremy Coney
Ex-New Zealand captain on BBC Test Match Special

"I love watching Kumar Sangakkara bat. Once he gets in, there are not too many ways to get him out. You have to wait for a mistake and he doesn't make many of them. He's almost surgical in the way he can play the ball wherever he wants to in the field."

I can't imagine there's been much demand for yellow 'Malinga' wigs in Wellington until today, but the trader who sold them outside the ground this morning must be quids-in. Those partying Sri Lanka fans have more reason to cheer when Thirimanne clears his front leg and plants Moeen Ali into the leg-side stands. All too easy.

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Nasir Jamshed's wicket is the 26th consecutive Pakistan wicket in ODIs to fall to a catch. No other team has a sequence of more than 18."

To give England their credit, they are still buzzing around in the field - especially their fielders inside the circle. Some of the Sri Lankan's shot placement has been brilliant though - Kumar Sangakkara guiding Chris Woakes through the unmanned slip region and watching the ball race away for four. The bowler just rolls his eyes in exasperation.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"All of England's seamers are the same - they just need the extra dimension of an out-and-out pace bowler or a left-armer. Teams that win tournaments are blessed with variety at the right time. England can't pick players they haven't got. There is no depth - our best prospect, Steven Finn, has been ruined."

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Wellington

"'Are they getting these?' is the question to spark debate in the TMS box. At the moment, we conclude that Sri Lanka are set to overhaul this England total. On a slowish deck, this England attack is looking a little one-paced. I wonder what James Tredwell is thinking."