Still Mathews, shuffling in with all the mobility of a mattress. He's targeting the pads of Roy, a calculated risk. The England opener can sometimes play across the line, but the leg side is profitable for him. The Oval hums, no more sign of rain.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"There was a bit of frustration in that shot from Joe Root. He took a couple of paces down the pitch and absolutely kitchen-sinked it over mid-off."

Joe Root might try to blast himself to a score here. Down the track, kitchen sink, over mid-off for four. "Roooooooot". Then more surgeon than butcher, a clip off the hips for another boundary. England's number three up and running. You get the feeling that, even at this early stage in the chase, it will be close.

Imagine how good Angelo Mathews would be if he had two working hamstrings. Here he's already on a sixpence, nipping the ball this way and that. Roy, though, celebrates his reprieve with a back-foot drive through mid-wicket for four. So difficult to do. In fact, the only other man I've seen play that stroke is AB de Villiers.

Image source, Reuters

Yep, hitting outside the line. But is he playing a shot? The third ump did ask shield-wielder Oxenford if Roy was trying to hit it, and he said he was. I'm not sure, though...

This is close. Angelo Mathews' first ball. Jason Roy. Outside the line?

Looking again, it looked like someone nailed Moeen's feet to the floor. Joe Root the new man. He could do with some runs - you don't often say that about him.

Image source, Rex Features

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a decent delivery, just going across Moeen. It was a no-feet, little-waft shot that people rave about when they come off. But it just took the outside edge. Joe Root needs to just knock it about and get the momentum up. Before you know it, you are going at five or six an over."

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"You can almost hit the ball at any point of the bounce here. It doesn't seem to make much difference. It is a very difficult place to bowl."

The groundstaff wait, one puts his hood up, but I don't think this is enough to take us off. Roy, batting yards out of his crease, lunges at Lakmal and gets a couple through the leg side. Same again, followed by the butchering of a long hop, which is sent to bed without supper like a naughty child.

Phil Tufnell
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"I think chasing a score of over 300 at the Oval, you don't need to panic early on. You can lose two or three wickets going too hard early. But you can catch up very quickly."

Nuwan Pradeep takes the other new ball, meaning this Sri Lanka opening pair have a double mullet. Angelo Mathews, hamstring made of spaghetti, missed the first over but is now on the boundary edge, ready to return. He's so influential that Sri Lanka would happily have him lead from a stool at first slip, brew in hand. I'm hearing rumours of rain...

dan j pinchy: Flew from NZ to Oz to watch Robbie GOD Fowler play for North Qld Fury. I don't think he touched the ball and NQ lost 5-0.

Roy up and running, pouncing on some width to nail the ball through the covers for four. There's swing there for the floppy-haired Lakmal, but he's not bowling straight enough to get the benefit. On the England balcony, Liam Plunkett is eating his tea, plate on lap. Be honest, you're doing exactly the same, aren't you?

Jacob Jackson: England are going to have to do some serious batting here. Finally Sri Lanka have turned up to a game.

Jason Roy, on his home ground, takes strike as Suranga Lakmal gets loose. Oxenford waves his shield-free arm towards the scorers. One slip.

Ebony Rainford-Brent
Ex-England batter on BBC Test Match Special

"One of the biggest reasons for England's success in ODIs is because they bat so deep. They do genuinely have 11 batters. I am not concerned by Moeen Ali. It is a good wicket and he is a free-flowing player."