Pieter Reeve: This is all fine from England IF they manage to accelerate at the end, but I'm not sure they will.

Richard Atherton: Thank you England for being so unpredictable; you're keeping me awake on a cold Saturday night!

Morgan is off the mark with a good stroke, punching Lakmal down the ground for a confidence-boosting four.

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

"I think this pitch is a little slower than the English batsmen are accustomed to. Ian Bell went further than he wanted too, created a little gap between bat and pad and he's dragged it on. He looks a forlorn figure and just when England look like they're getting away, Sri Lanka grab them by the scruff of the neck."

Gone! England's progress is checked again, and I'm afraid that this is the sort of dismissal we've reproached Ian Bell for countless times over the years. He gets to fifty-odd, looking a million dollars, and then with the match in the balance and the job half done, a careless stroke ends his vigil. In this case it's an airy drive, Lakmal nipping one through the gate and rocking back off peg. Enter Eoin Morgan.

Image source, AP

England 100-2 (20 overs) after winning toss

Batsmen: Bell 49*, Root 17*

Fall of wickets: 62-1 (Moeen 15), 71-2 (Ballance 6)

Bowling figures: Malinga 4-0-20-0, Lakmal 3-0-32-0, Mathews 7-1-22-1, Dilshan 5-0-15-1, Herath 1-0-6-0

Full scorecard

Rangana Herath, the crafty left-arm spinner, is called into the attack for the first time. He's a very effective operator, but these two are starting to get the hang of rotating the strike - Bell and Root nudge three singles apiece to bring up the 100.

David in London: I'm not sure this display has anything to do with spin. We are simply unable to deal with the loss of a wicket and go straight into our shell when the batsmen should be positive (as Sri Lanka's will be). After all 60 odd runs for just one wicket at a rapid run rate is a strong position but with our tactics we turn it into a negative.

The last thing England need is another wicket, but they'll be conscious of the need to keep the scoreboard ticking over here - especially after having watched Sri Lanka's potent batting line-up smash 332 in their last match. Lakmal's latest over exemplifies that dilemma as Root gets away with a loopy top-edge from an unconvincing pull shot, and then England survive a chancy quick single.

Andrew Platt: England batsmen play the slow ball as if they're in a Test match - ridiculously laboured batting for an ODI.

Brad K: I'm trying to think what James Tredwell, has to do to get a game? Any answers? Must be the most patient player ever!

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport in Wellington

"Two doors down from the TMS box is an empty hospitality suite. Inside, the patio doors are open on to the cricket, with a long, purple sofa placed in the gap. Probably the best and most comfortable view in the ground. You know where to find me."

Despite those wickets, England still have an excellent platform here, and trouble-free accumulation for the next few overs will do nicely, thank you very much. Root and Bell are in cautious mode at the moment, taking just two singles from another clever over from Mathews. The run rate dips to five for the first time.

Mike Wren-Kirkham: Can't understand Ballance's batting in ODIs, whenever I see him play for Yorkshire he smashed it. Mismanaged.

Rangana Herath, who has been Sri Lanka's go-to spinner over the past few years, hasn't even been needed yet. It's Dilshan, very much the number-two tweaker, who continues, and there are just signs that England have belatedly managed to work him out, milking the veteran for five singles.

Image source, AP

Paul Martin: I stand by previous tweets, Ballance has been thrown to the wolves by selectors who refuse to admit they are wrong.

James: Run rates going down, wickets tumbling and very fast outfield. SL to eclipse eng score in 40 overs. Tops.

A much-needed boundary for England as Joe Root, who has been in decent touch of late without really cashing in in the runs column, drives a wide half-volley from Mathews through the covers. The wicket still looks good and England have runs on the board and two fine players at the crease - but can they keep their heads after that setback?

Bryan Waddle
BBC Test Match Special

"The runs have dried up and one of the reasons for that is Ian Bell hasn't seen much of the strike in the last few overs."

That's the third catch that Sri Lanka have put down - unlike them, and potentially costly. But can England make them pay? They look all at sea with pace off the ball - just three singles from another canny over of tweak from Dilshan.

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

"Sri Lanka have got to hold their catches. You have got to keep claiming wickets because Joe Root is a big wicket. That was an easier catch than the others before it."