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. Postpublished at 18:13 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    One thing I do like is that the Sri Lankan bowlers are keeping the stumps in play.

    It means there is a degree of jeopardy every time you do play across the line.

  2. Postpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    Maia Bouchier needs to put that out of her mind now and focus on the job at hand.

    That's a beautiful shot.

    The last thing Maia will want to do is get out now because she'd have to go and face the music with Alice Capsey!

  3. Eng 21-2published at 3 overs

    Maia Bouchier responds well to the calamity with back-to-back fours off the spin of Athapaththu.

    England's run-rate is still good, but those two wickets were very, very poor.

  4. Postpublished at 18:10 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Once again, captain Heather Knight is in early with a big rebuilding job on her hands.

  5. Postpublished at 18:09 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    Maia Bouchier just ball watched there.

    Immediately both set off for two, there's a call for two but Bouchier is not looking at her partner at all.

  6. Postpublished at 18:08 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alison Mitchell
    Cricket commentator on BBC Two

    It's a calamity for England. Utter confusion between Bouchier and Capsey.

    Capsey is the one who has to go. She is not happy at all.

  7. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 2 overs

    Capsey run out 9 (Eng 10-2)

    Oh.

    This is not good. Complete mix-up between the batters and Alice Capsey has to trudge off.

    Maia Bouchier swings the ball out to square leg, and both batters look pretty set on coming back for the second. But there's no communication as Bouchier turns back, and Capsey keeps coming.

    They're both stranded at the same end and the bowler and keeper complete a simple run out. Capsey is raging.

  8. Postpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    Alice Capsey was outstanding in the first T20. She hits the ball so hard. She's just fearless and she strikes the ball so well.

    The fact she's got so much confidence - she's a superstar in the making.

  9. Postpublished at 18:04 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    Great shot from Alice Capsey. That will settle the nerves.

  10. Eng 8-1published at 1 over

    Alice Capsey eases the pressure with two boundaries in the over - but both are quite aerial, and drawing ambitious cries of "catch it!"

    But a huge early strike to start proceedings for Sri Lanka. Looks like it's going to be a trial by spin again for England tonight.

  11. Postpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Georgia Elwiss
    England all-rounder on BBC Two

    WyattImage source, Getty Images

    I am staggered. Danni Wyatt cannot believe she has gifted her wicket.

  12. Postpublished at 18:02 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Steven Finn
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    It's an absolute loosener first up from Fernando. Short and wide. Danni Wyatt's eyes light up but all she can do is toe-end it to the fielder.

  13. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 0.1 overs

    Wyatt c Perera b Fernando 0 (Eng 0-1)

    Sri Lanka strike first ball! Would you believe it?!

    It's short and wide - one that Wyatt would crunch for four nine times out of 10 - but she cuts it straight to the fielder at cover!

    A swish of the bat as she departs and a look of disbelief on Wyatt's face.

    Another first-over dismissal for England's destructive opener.

  14. Postpublished at 17:59 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Russel Arnold
    Former Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

    SkippersImage source, Getty Images

    Chamari Athapaththu has to lead the batting unit. It's all about confidence and the power she possesses.

    She can hit the ball all around the park and the main thing that stands out is that arrogance. She'll take anyone on, on any day. Never a backwards step.

    If she comes off she knows she can win games for Sri Lanka on her own. An incredible player.

  15. Postpublished at 17:58 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Key to Sri Lanka's hopes is experienced skipper Chamari Athapaththu.

    Basically, if she has a good day, so does the team.

    The all-rounder is their only player with franchise experience, and has carried the weight of their team for more than a decade.

    She hopes that more exposure can be given to women's cricket in the country, and highlighted the importance of franchise cricket in developing her young players.

    Read more from Athapaththu here.

  16. Postpublished at 17:55 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Two

    Mahika Gaur is such an exciting prospect. She's 6'4", left-arm seamer and as soon as she puts on a little bit of muscle, a little bit of pace she's going to play for England for a very long time.

  17. Postpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    So 17-year-old seamer Mahika Gaur comes back in to replace Issy Wong, whose struggle for rhythm continued in the second game.

    Before the series, Jon Lewis said he'd be having a look at a few new players - but interestingly, the likes of Bess Heath and Lauren Filer will have to wait a little longer for their debuts after Sri Lanka's historic win to make it 1-1.

  18. Postpublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu: "I'm really confident about my bowling unit so we decided to bowl first.

    "I'm really pleased with how my team performed [in the second T20], we bounced back at the right time so that's really good for us.

    "We have to play proper cricket today."

  19. Postpublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    Tonight's game is also live on BBC Two, and you can also watch on iPlayer and at the top of this page.

    It's a stunning evening in Derby and let's hope we're in for a cracking game to decide the outcome of the series.

  20. Postpublished at 17:41 British Summer Time 6 September 2023

    England captain Heather Knight: "We'd have done the same but we're batting and it's a chance to put things right from the other day.

    "We've made one change. Mahika Gaur comes back in to take the new ball. It gives us that different angle and a bit of bounce as well so we're excited to see how she goes in her second game.

    "The girls have trained brilliantly. Obviously we're disappointed in the other day but it's important that we don't dwell on it too much.

    "We're a young side, we've got a lot of scope to improve."