Summary

  • Sri Lanka win series against England for first time

  • Athapaththu (44) top-scores in composed run-chase

  • England lose regular wickets to Sri Lanka's spinners

  • Hosts' innings littered with poor shots and a calamitous run-out

  • Wyatt falls to first ball of innings, Capsey run-out

  • Three-match ODI series follows - first game in Durham on Saturday

  1. SL 5-0published at 1 over

    Target 117

    Super shot but it's matched by the fielding in the deep.

    Anushka Sanjeewani gets down on one knee to scoop the last ball of Mahika Gaur's over.

    It looks to be heading for four before Sarah Glenn comes running around from fine leg and pushes the ball back into play.

    Two runs saved.

  2. Postpublished at 19:33 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Russel Arnold
    Former Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Two

    Sri Lanka read the situations well and they just stayed in the moment, it was about the next ball and suddenly you find that the pressure is taking its toll and it's bring the mistakes.

    England couldn't get the momentum.

  3. SL 1-0published at 0.1 overs

    Target 117

    Mahika Gaur opens the bowling and finds the edge first ball.

    It's a full, swinging delivery and Chamari Athapaththu pushes forward and sends a nick down to deep third for a single.

  4. Postpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alison Mitchell
    Cricket commentator on BBC Two

    Sri Lanka are ranked number eight in the world and England number two. England did not bat like a team ranked number two in the world.

  5. Postpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    Heather Knight will be disappointed with her team's batting for the second game in a row.

    But she'll be telling her team that they have to believe. If they can get two early wickets then the pressure starts to build on Sri Lanka.

  6. Postpublished at 19:31 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Thanks, Ffion.

    We're all set for the Sri Lanka innings. They are 117 runs away from a famous series win.

    You'd expect England will have to be immaculate with the ball and in the field to deny them.

  7. Postpublished at 19:30 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Right then.

    Who's taking the series?

    Here's Sam Drury to take you through Sri Lanka's pursuit of 117.

  8. Postpublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Captain Chamari Athapaththu still has a big part to play with the bat, but she has done half her job with 3-21 and had marshalled her troops brilliantly.

    Sri Lanka also backed it up with a great performance in the field by taking all their catches again.

    England can of course still win this game - Sri Lanka's strength is their bowling - but there are definite concerns about their approach to playing spin.

  9. Postpublished at 19:27 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    It was the worst possible start to the evening for England with Danni Wyatt getting out first ball.

    Then it got worse with the calamitous run out. For me, some of the options the England batters were choosing weren't the smartest.

    They didn't learn from previous dismissals and didn't take the sensible option. That's why they've been bowled out for a below-par total.

  10. Postpublished at 19:25 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    And after that, well... the wickets just kept tumbling, basically.

  11. Postpublished at 19:22 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    So having been bowled out for 104 in the second T20, it's been another poor performance from Heather Knight's side.

    It started in the worst possible way with Danni Wyatt's dismissal, and didn't get much better.

    After the high of the Ashes and a busy Hundred, has it been one series too far for England?

  12. Postpublished at 19:20 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alison Mitchell
    Cricket commentator on BBC Two

    Out as out can be. England are all out with six balls to spare and it's two wickets in two balls for Chamari Athapaththu.

  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 19 overs

    Gaur lbw b Athapaththu 0 (Eng 116)

    Hitting middle stump! England are bundled out for 116!

    It has been another disappointing performance from England with the bat but an impressive one from Sri Lanka with the ball and in the field.

  14. Postpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alison Mitchell
    Cricket commentator on BBC Two

    Given! Is this the end of the England innings?

  15. England reviewpublished at 19 overs

    Is Mahika Gaur gone first ball?

    This looks very close. It's given out, and she reviews with a bit of a wry smile.

  16. Postpublished at 19:18 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    Kate Cross came down, played down the wrong line and then gave up on it.

    An easy stumping and another wicket for Athapaththu. England really are in a bit of bother now.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 18.5 overs

    Cross st Sanjeewani b Athapaththu 2 (Eng 116-9)

    No need for a review here.

    Kate Cross tries to keep the scoreboard moving, skips down the pitch to the spinner but misses, and the keeper completes yet another stumping.

    England are in danger of once again not batting out their 20 overs.

  18. Postpublished at 19:16 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    Sri LankaImage source, Reuters

    It's game management. At some point, you have to realise that you're not in the driving seat and figure out how to get out of trouble.

    It's not always just trying to hit boundaries. England could have been much smarter.

  19. Not outpublished at 18.3 overs

    Eng 115-9

    The impact is outside the line, so Glenn survives.

    She didn't look sure about the review initially, but it's paid off.

  20. Postpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    Hitting across the line is tricky on this pitch. My gut feeling is that Sarah Glenn is in a bit of trouble.