Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Stuart Broad seems to have good rhythm. He's running in well and the ball's coming out nicely. He just didn't have enough match fitness earlier in the tournament."

England have leaked a few runs in these first few overs but they still look bright in the field. A pumped-up Broad keeps Thirimanne on strike with a good leaping stop off his own bowling. Thirimanne gets a moody stare for his troubles too.

Then England decide to test Thirimanne out against the short ball - James Taylor goes under the helmet at short leg and Broad sends down some chin music. Fine over from Broad, a maiden.

Sri Lanka put down a few chances in the field and they paid for it. Will England rue that early drop? Thirimanne immediately rubs salt in the wound with a straight drive for four, then charges at Anderson and tries to loft him down the ground, but he doesn't time the shot and it only yields two.

Anderson has made a sharp start here and ends the over with a snorter, getting the ball to shape away and drawing a false stroke from Dilshan.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"That was at a nice, comfortable height. It went quickly but I don't think Jos Buttler did Joe Root any favours by running across him."

Broad continues, still searching for his ideal line and length you feel. He locates it with an absolute beauty second ball, getting Thirimanne to fence at one outside off, but there's no edge despite the optimistic appeal.

There's an edge next ball though! Thirimanne wafts at one, the ball flies to first slip but Jos Buttler flies across and puts off Joe Root, who spills it. Root's drop on paper but the hands ruefully placed on Buttler's head tell you who was at fault for that miss.

Broad signals his disgruntlement by sending the next ball bouncing over the keeper's head for four byes. Dear oh dear.

Michael Johnson: 309 poor in modern game. Thinking two quick wickets then Sangakarra and Jayawardene will get centuries! Hope I'm wrong though!

James Anderson has dismissed Lahiru Thirimanne four times in the five ODIs they've played together. The Sri Lanka opener will have had a restless night's sleep last night, visions of the Burnley Express no doubt steaming through his nightmares.

As you'd expect, he shows the bowler plenty of respect, playing out four dots then tucking him off his hips for a single. Good, probing start from the England paceman.

Bryan Waddle
BBC Test Match Special

"I'm not so sure why Joe Root and Ian Bell are stood at slip applauding Stuart Broad when he's just been hit for four over third man."

Stuart Broad has been a bit of a weak link for England so far in this World Cup campaign, and he doesn't start well - his first ball is short and wide and flayed up and over backward point by Dilshan for the first four of the innings.

Now then, big appeal next ball as Jos Buttler collects down the leg side, but Rod Tucker is unmoved and replays show the ball clipped Dilshan's thigh pad.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"England will get a bit of movement. James Anderson's opening few balls moved just a fraction."

Nith from Amersham: England are not short of talent but they put too much emphasis on just one format. Look at India, Australia and South Africa - they can perform in any format regardless of the surface or country. No excuses England!

Thanks Higgy. Well, when I left you at the 25-over mark, it wasn't looking too rosy for England, but they've set Sri Lanka an imposing total here. England - most uncharacteristically - made hay in the first powerplay - can Sri Lanka do the same?

Jimmy Anderson takes the new nut, and immediately finds a little bit of swing. Lahiru Thirimanne tucks the first ball off his hip for one, but it's a tidy start from Burnley's finest.

Right then. Can England defend 309? James Gheerbrant is your man to talk you through the opening stages of Sri Lanka's reply.

Jon Evans:, external Jayawardene's 'just 6 an over' is the point folk are trying to make. We think it's great but it is about par nowadays.

Joe Root's 121 was the sixth highest score by an England batsman in World Cup history.

• 158: Andrew Strauss v India, Bangalore, 2011

• 137: Dennis Amiss v India, Lord's, 1975

• 131: Keith Fletcher v New Zealand, Trent Bridge, 1975

• 130: David Gower v Sri Lanka, Taunton, 1983

• 128: Moeen Ali v Scotland, Christchurch, 2015

• 121: Joe Root v Sri Lanka, Wellington, 2015

Image source, Getty Images

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"Before this game, the average first-innings total in ODIs at the Regional Stadium in Wellington is 219."

Image source, Getty Images

Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene: "Rooty batted really well. He batted sensibly, built an innings and once he got his hundred he went after it.

"England had a good start and we managed to pull it back in the middle. But we probably leaked a few too many in the last 10 overs.

"The pitch is a bit on the slow side. There's not much movement up front - if we start well it's just six runs an over."

England 309-6 (50 overs) after winning toss

Root 121, Bell 49, Buttler 39*

Fall of wickets: 62-1 (Moeen 15), 71-2 (Ballance 6), 100-3 (Bell 49), 161-4 (Morgan 27), 259-5 (Taylor 25), 265-6 (Root 121)

Bowling figures: Malinga 10-0-63-1, Lakmal 7.4-0-71-1, Mathews 10-1-43-1, Dilshan 8.2-0-35-1, Herath 5.5-0-35-1, Perera 8.1-0-55-1

Full scorecard

Andrew Samson
BBC Test Match Special statistician

"The last time England made 300 or more in consecutive World Cup matches batting first was 1979: 322-6 against New Zealand at The Oval & 333-9 against Sri Lanka at Taunton."