Ian Bell hasn't looked entirely convincing so far, but there's no sign of him throttling back - he lofts new bowler Angelo Mathews over the infield for two more. However, Mathews does slow England's charge just a little - just three from that over.

Antony Style: Very glad Gary Ballance has retained his place, we need someone who is capable of a big score.

Simon Bamford: I've got my Ginger Nut biscuits and fizzy pop ready for a long night listening to you guys.

Michael Vaughan on Twitter:, external "This is the Ian Bell I like..."

Moeen Ali is usually the aggressor in this opening duo, but with Ian Bell going like a train at the other end, he can afford to be more circumspect against Lasith Malinga. He plays out five dots, and when the bad ball eventually comes at the end of the over, he creams it through the covers for another easy-on-the-eye four.

Image source, Getty Images

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It's all going England's way. Both would have been blinding catches, but this is a flat pitch and these half-chances can count."

Bell has decided he's not going to die wondering today - he tucks into the first ball of Lakmal's over and lashes it over point for a one-bounce four. Lakmal hasn't quite found his radar yet and he sends his next ball past Kumar Sangakkara for four wides. And Bell adds to the mounting pressure on the bowler with a sweet clip to the vacant cow-corner region for another boundary.

His next shot isn't so clever though - he drives aerially and is put down by the diving Dinesh Chandimal at cover point. And he offers another half-chance next ball! This time it's the cut shot that's nearly his undoing, the ball screaming through the usually reliable hands of Dilshan at point. It's all happening in Wellington!

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"Lasith Malinga is getting shape, but this is a good pitch. The bounce is lovely - the batsmen should be lining up."

Now then, Ian Bell looked pretty scratchy against Scotland last time out, only managing two boundaries in his 85-ball innings. He's matched that tally within six deliveries here, but not without an element of luck - he flays one uppishly just past the diving Dilshan at point, then nudges one down to the third-man boundary with an open face. Brisk start for England, this.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"There are so many players in this England team who aren't anywhere near playing at 8/10. They need to improve, just play well."

Thomas Measures: Is it me or are Sri Lanka playing in white and gold tonight?

Can Moeen get England off to a flyer in this powerplay like he did against Scotland? He certainly can with a few shots like this - he leans into a glorious cover-drive and eases Suranga Lakmal to the rope for the first boundary of the match. And he follows that with a even better shot, punching Lakmal down the ground for another four when the bowler overpitches fractionally. A fluent start for the Worcestershire opener.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"It's right that teams are starting slowly then accelerating - you don't want Ian Bell to play like David Warner or Aaron Finch. You play to your strengths."

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"I've noticed that the other teams are starting rather quietly and then accelerating in the final 10 or 20 overs. India and South Africa are doing that."

Paceman Lasith Malinga is a key performer for Sri Lanka, and he's been getting better and better after a slow start to the tournament. He bounds in, his majestic mane bobbing with every stride. His first two balls are right on the money, forcing Moeen to defend with a straight bat. The third ball is clipped off his hips for the first run of the match.

Geoffrey Boycott
Ex-England batsman on BBC Test Match Special

"I would have brought in Alex Hales for Gary Ballance and thought seriously about putting somebody in for Steven Finn. He's a wonderful prospect, but the ball is floating out of his hand and not zipping out. He's bowling 'hit me' balls. It's stubbornness from England. I knew they'd beat Scotland and say they had to keep a winning team."

The anthems are done, the formalities are over. It's time to get down to business...

Jonathan Agnew
BBC Test Match Special

"Is there a more cheerful national anthem than Sri Lanka's?"

Scott Lennon: All the talk about Hales/Bopara - why is Broad there? Contributed nothing with bat or ball in ODI in a long time #ChrisJordan

Marc Sepetowski: I really hope Gary Ballance gets a score today. How he has kept his place in the side is beyond me...

Put the kettle on, make some toast, read a novella - it's time for the lengthy Sri Lankan national anthem...

Image source, Getty Images

In Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka have the only two batsmen in the tournament to have scored more than 1,000 runs in World Cups. Both scored centuries in their last innings. Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan is also coming off the back of a hundred in the win against Bangladesh, while captain Angelo Mathews scored the second highest number of ODIs runs in 2014 - behind Sangakkara. So Graeme Swann, how do England stop the Sri Lankan run machines?

"It will be very difficult for England," says the former England spinner. "Sri Lanka's strength is undoubtedly their batting, so, if England bat first, they have to look to post 340 and, if they bowl, they have to look to restrict them to 260. For Sangakkara, I'd recommend bowling off-spin at him as early as possible. He's not a great starter against off-spin, especially if there's a bit of turn."