Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It has been a slow start from Sr Lanka. England at the same point were up around 60 or 70. England have bowled better than Sri Lanka did, but the wicket has definitely slowed up."

England's brains trust is huddled on the dressing room balcony, well wrapped up against the elements. Bayliss, Gibson, Farbrace, Thorpe and Neal deep in conversation. "What's the plan tonight, lads? Dominoes or cribbage?" Chris Jordan into the attack - six off his first over, in ones and twos.

Close!published at 10 overs

10 overs

SL 41-1 (target 325)

Image source, Reuters

Sri Lanka's approach is not without risk, though. There's almost a run-out there - a direct hit from Eoin Morgan would have done for Mendis as he pinched a single.

And another boundary. Mendis this time, driving Willey through mid-on for four. Very nice. Sri Lanka picking up the pace. 

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It was a good effort from Roy. He has not just been in good form with the bat, he has fielded like a demon at backward point. He flung himself to his right and it would have been a great catch. Gunathilaka would argue he was always in control."

Close!published at 9 overs

9 overs

SL 35-1

That would have been a blinder. Gunathilaka, having taken Woakes for four off the first ball of the over, collects another courtesy of a guided cut. Jason Roy, at backward, takes off to his right but he's 12 inches or so away from a spectacular catch. Four more.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Chris Woakes and David Willey have bowled very good length. Both captains were duped at the toss. The pitch looked green. England dropped a spinner and Sri Lanka bowled first, but it didn't do anything."

The wind has picked up in Cardiff - it's not doing David Willey's floppy fringe any favours. My my, his hair does look well conditioned. Is Timotei still available these days? The left-armer is on the money again - hammering away at that back-of-a-length spot on or just outside off stump. He ends a fine over by beating Mendis' flat-footed drive. Here's a reminder of how he got rid of Kusal Perera.

Mendis, on the back of successive half-centuries, reminds England of his talent with glorious square drive as Woakes' radar lets him down for one.

Graeme Swann
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"Sri Lanka are trying to score. They are going for their shots but everything keeps smashing into the splice."

Willey has a packed off-side ring for protection: mid-off, short extra cover, deepish cover point and a backward point. But he's punished for drifting on to Gunathilaka's pads and Sri Lanka have their first boundary of the innings. The response: a bumper that hurries the left-hander's pull and lands safely at a vacant mid-wicket. Plenty happening here.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"The longer the bowlers can get the batsman thinking 'how can I survive here?' as opposed to 'how can I smash it around?' the better."

One Kusal goes, another arrives. Mendis in at three for Sri Lanka, whose stiff task just got that little tougher. Woakes extracts bounce to find the upper part of Gunathilaka's bat, then movement away to Mendis' outside edge. Whooosh! A rapid bouncer has Gunathilaka hooking at thin air and Buttler leaping. England firmly on top.

Vic Marks
Ex-England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

"It looked a bit high but it makes a big difference when the umpire makes his decision. It is around knee roll. There goes Sri Lanka's review. It must be a nice feeling as an umpire to see your decision reviewed and to be able to stick your finger up a second time and almost say 'I told you so, off you go.' Willey has created no great movement but he is on target."

Got 'im! Full from Willey, Perera plays back and is pinned on the back leg. The umpire's finger goes up. But Perera wants another look...

The wind has picked up at Cardiff, the black sightscreen whipping behind the bowler's arm as Willey charges in. He strays down leg, Perera is struck on the thigh pad and then glove and the ball lands short of Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

Rieuwert CC: Does Dan Norcross really exist or is it Graeme Swann impersonating Aggers?  

Close!published at 2.6 overs

2.6 overs

SL 8-0

Well, close-ish. Woakes drops short, Perera top-edges a pull and it just evades Adil Rashid as he runs back towards the boundary at short-fine leg. A couple of runs for the leftie. Streaky.