I tell you what... this ground is Wellington is a lovely sight. In fact, I've not seen a newly-built stadium in New Zealand I've not liked. Next time I need a conservatory building, I'm hiring a Kiwi architect. Moeen Ali continues and an inside edge onto Thirimanne's pad almost loops to Joe Root. Close, but no cigar.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Sri Lanka are just trying to collect five or six runs an over without risk. England are waiting for a mistake."

Thanks James. Looking difficult for England isn't it? They might need a wrecking ball to dislodge Kumar Sangakkara from the wicket on this placid pitch. The lush, green outfield looks bigger than it actually is too as the bowling is milked for ones and twos. It's a minor victory for Chris Woakes when his extra bounce sees him beat Thirimanne's outside edge.

Moeen Ali has been able to turn himself into a wicket-taking bowler in Test matches, but so far in his short ODI career he just doesn't carry the same threat. The Sri Lanka batsmen bunt a couple of singles from another carefree over.

Time to hand back to Marc Higginson to take you through to the close.

The spin-from-both-ends experiment is shelved after limited success. England need wickets, and that means turning to their best bowlers.

So far in this tournament, that's been Chris Woakes, and he gets the ball back. He can't stem the flow of singles though. Sri Lanka are cruising this.

Andy Bichel
Ex-Australia pace bowler on BBC Test Match Special

"This is what I love about Brisbane. It really tests your technique as a batsman. Pakistan's troubles at the top of the order continue."

It has been a disastrous start from Pakistan in their game against Zimbabwe in Brisbane as Nasir Jamshed and Ahmed Shehzad are both already out.

Jamshed was first to go. He only scored one before he was dismissed in the last ball of the second over when he pulled to Sikandar Raza at square leg off Tendai Chatara's bowling.

Chatara struck again in the fourth over as Shehzad was out for a duck, caught behind by Brendan Taylor.

Pakistan have suffered heavy defeats against India and West Indies but, batting first, are hoping for a big score against a Zimbabwe side that have conceded totals of 339, 285 and 372 against South Africa, United Arab Emirates and West Indies respectively.

Image source, AP

This is no good from England - they're giving Sri Lanka a boundary ball almost every over, and as a result they can't create any pressure. Moeen is the latest culprit, serving up a short one on leg stump which Sangakkara pulls effortlessly to the fine-leg fence.

England have just got a crafty hustle on here - they've got their two spinners on and they're trying to unsettle Sri Lanka by rattling through these middle overs without giving them pause for thought.

It's a strategy that's yet to bear fruit - Thirimanne, who looks comfortable, opens the face to glide one down to third man for four.

Image source, Reuters

Scott Superbad: This is why Bopara should be in the side! His bowling would be useful about now.

What England don't want here is to allow Sangakkara to play himself in with a few easy runs. Moeen Ali, who has dismissed the Sri Lanka veteran on a few occasions, is tasked with keeping him honest, and he does so pretty well - four runs from a decent over.

Sri Lanka 105-1 (20 overs) - target 310

Batsmen: Thirimanne 54*, Sangakkara 2*

Fall of wickets: 100-1 (Dilshan 44)

Bowling figures: Anderson 5-0-23-0, Broad 5-1-28-0, Woakes 2-0-8-0, Finn 4-0-26-0, Moeen 3-0-11-1, Root 1-0-5-0

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

England won toss

Scorecard

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a tricky time in the game. Sri Lanka will look to knock it around and England to get through a few quick overs with the two spinners on."

Thank goodness for that. Now, who's at the crease? Ah. Only Kumar Sangakkara.

Sangakkara's first task is to face the part-time twirl of Joe Root. He eases himself into the game with a couple of singles, while Thirimanne keeps his score ticking over too.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

"It's a big blow. It was the drift that did the batsman. The ball didn't turn, and Dilshan was trying to turn it over mid-wicket but it was onto him quickly and he just scooped up a catch."

At last, England's badly needed breakthrough arrives. Moeen has just been getting a couple to grip, and perhaps that plants a seed of doubt in Dilshan's mind as he tries to to abort an attempted sweep and ends up popping an edge straight to Captain Morgan at short midwicket.

Lahiru Thirimanne brought up his fifty earlier in that over, by the way.

Scorecard

Image source, Getty Images

David, Spain: Of the SL batting strength after Mathews, Chandimal can bat, although his Test average is better than his ODI average. And Perera, once he gets his eye in can certainly contribute a few hefty clouts.

Finn continues. What's England's plan here? An uncharitable observer would suggest that England are just going through the motions here, allowing Sri Lanka's batsmen to deal in singles and waiting for the mistake. Four from another unthreatening over, and it's all too easy for Sri Lanka at the moment.

Can Eoin Morgan grasp he nettle with an innovative piece of captaincy a la Brendon McCullum?

Moeen Ali continues, going round the wicket to the left-handed Thirimanne. Just a couple of singles as Sri Lanka continue to bob along nicely.

Image source, Getty Images

We are just getting under way in Brisbane as Pakistan play Zimbabwe, with both sides desperate for a victory after disappointing starts to the competition.

This is how it stands in Pool B, and it is not pretty viewing for fans of either side.

Listen to ball-by-ball Test Match Special commentary by clicking on the live coverage tab at the top of this page.