Live Blog: Sri Lanka vs England, 2nd ODI, Colombo

Buttler has wasted little time to get going. He crashes a couple of boundaries against Fernando and takes one off Vandersay too by hoicking across the line.

That changes the complexion of the game a fair bit. Brook gets low to sweep, misses and is rapped on the pads while Root is beaten for pace as he looks to flick. Two massive wickets in a jiffy and Sri Lanka might feel that they have a chance at staging a turnaround.

Ouch, that will hurt Sri Lanka. Five wides, wayward stuff down leg, beats Root’s glance, the keeper can’t do much about it and the ball dribbles away to the fine leg fence. Valuable runs frittered away.

Drinks are on the field now. England seem to be sitting pretty, but there’s still time for things to turn around like it happened in the first ODI. Sri Lanka will need to get rid of Root quickly though if they harbour any aspirations of a comeback. Meanwhile, Wellalage is off the field to receive some treatment.

Sensational use of the feet, gets right to the pitch and nails the drive through extra cover. Mid-off was in the ring and Brook found the gap. Still just five off the over from Dhananjaya with Vandersay and Asalanka also following up with tidy stuff. England need 70 runs in 94 balls.

Plays it late and finds the gap! It’s zoning in on a good length outside off, Brook waits on before crunching it between backward point and short third. The England stalwart is anchoring the chase smartly and the onus will be on Brook to accompany his senior to the best of his ability.

Reverse-sweep is executed properly! Lobbed up outside off, Root gets into the ideal position and brooms it fine enough to beat backward point. He is on the precipice of a half-century, continuing with his rich vein of form.

Caught by Asalanka! Good catch diving forward and Bethell’s gone cheaply! It’s floated up outside off, dips on the southpaw as he eyes a drive and perhaps stops a touch in the deck as well. Chips it in the air in front of short cover and Asalanka dives forward to grab the ball with both hands above the turf.

What an eventful over! Special skills from the leg-break on the gallery after being taken apart for a couple of boundaries. Dismantles the solid partnership by cramping Duckett for room and rattling timber. Sri Lanka get the opening they were desperate for.

Drinks are on the field now. After losing Rehan, the half-centurions from the previous game are chugging along nicely. There haven’t been any boundaries in the last few overs but the pair is rotating the strike in an efficient manner. The alliance is now worth a run-a-ball 62. At the moment, England are right on top.

A much better PowerPlay for England as compared to Sri Lanka. They are right in the scheme of things with Duckett and Root going great guns. The partnership has grown to 43 off 37 balls as I write and Sri Lanka must strike in short order because there isn’t a huge total on the board.

Proficiently placed. Length ball angling in, Root leans across and flicks it behind square on the leg-side. No chance for deep square leg to cordon it off.

Bowled him! Dhananjaya strikes in his first over. It’s actually an inswinger from the part-timer and Rehan, who is opening in Crawley’s absence, doesn’t spot it as he looks to force it through off the back foot. Beats the inside edge and crashes into the off-stump.

Big shout for lbw, a vociferous plead from the bowler. Umpire raises the finger. Duckett reviews. Cuts back in from a short of length and the left-hander is rooted in his crease. Beats the inside edge to ping him high on the back leg. Will the bounce save him? Yes, it does. Going over middle-stump. Successful review.

Sri Lanka have ended up with an underwhelming total. Dhananjaya and Asalanka shored up their innings with well-compiled fourties but nobody could go on to make a decisive contribution. Root bowled the final over and that goes to show how strong of an impact spin has had. He’s picked up wickets off consecutive balls at the fag end. All the scalps have been shared between the tweakers except for Overton’s brace.

Jacks gets the better of Rathnayake. He comes dancing down, but unlike the previous boundary he scored, he isn’t looking to aim straight. Rather tries an agricultural swipe across the line and slices it off the outside half. Simple catch for Dawson at long-off.

England are doing a mighty fine job at containing Sri Lanka. The last few overs had been on the quieter side and Asalanka, the last hope for the hosts, has perished as a result. Swept hard but straight down the throat of deep mid-wicket. Tossed up outside off, he fancies the big shot but doesn’t get much elevation.

Second wicket for Overton. It’s a length ball angling in towards leg, Liyanage budges inside the line to play an aerial flick. Rashid, at fine leg, dives forward to pouch.

Drinks are on the field now. Sri Lanka have lost half their side. Their dependable captain has got a start. Can he take his team close to 240?

Fresh off 46, Liyanage has come out with a positive intent. Gets a top-edge on this occasion and the ball goes fine of the man at 45. He got off the mark on his first delivery with a stylish whip over wide mid-on.

Back-to-back fours! Root overcooks the length on this occasion. Too full and down leg, Dhananjaya paddles it to fine leg after a hard pull fetched four. He survived a run-out opportunity on the first ball of the next over but Dawson breaks the 66-run stand as Root takes a smart, low catch at short mid-wicket.

Dhananjaya falls ten short of his fifty. There’s always this case of flattering to deceive with the Sri Lankan lynchpin. He invariably looks primed for a big score before it all comes crashing down.

Bethell is back into the attack. A boundary after 9 overs! Sri Lanka will heave a sigh of relief. Fraction short, the line is down leg as well, Asalanka gets low and utilizes the bowler’s pace to lap it to fine leg. As I write, the sixth spinner has been introduced with Root rolling his arm over.

Flighted ball, Asalanka gets forward to take it on the full and thumps it through extra cover. Overton makes a diving stop to his left in the deep to save a couple of precious runs.

Overpitched delivery outside off, Dhananjaya leans across and drives beautifully through the covers. Jacks changed over to round the wicket and doled out a half-volley.

Slightly short outside off, Mendis cuts wide of backward point and sets off but Jacks makes a superb diving stop to his right. The interception leads to a mix-up in the middle with Mendis sent back from halfway down. He’s well short of his crease despite a dive. It wasn’t just the sharp stop, Jacks was quick to release the throw as well. Excellent work in the field.