England slumped to a 119-run defeat by Sri Lankan in Dambulla to go 1-0 down in their five-match one-day series.

Mahela Jayawardene hit 66, Sanath Jayasuriya 41 and Upul Tharanga 40 in the home side's 269-7 on a slow pitch.

Debutant Phil Mustard made a brisk 27 in reply but he and Kevin Pietersen fell to Farveez Maharoof (4-31) as England went from 43-0 to 102-6.

Alastair Cook (46) battled for 80 balls but after he edged Maharoof behind, they folded for 150 in the 35th over.

Interview: England skipper Paul Collingwood

Interview: Man of the match Farveez Maharoof

By Mark Mitchener

606: DEBATE Discuss the day's play on 606

1710: Maharoof is man of the match - he wins a whopping US$1,500 (around �750 at current rates). That's it from me - I'll see you back here on Thursday for the second match in the series, and we'll see whether England can do any better.

Thanks for your e-mails and texts about the culinary XI - I'm afraid England got their just desserts today (groan).

"When we saw the wicket, we realised we had to be patient and keep wickets in hand. The openers gave us a good start - if we'd tried to get 300, we might have lost wickets and struggled to get to 250. But the bowlers did well to get us some early wickets"
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene

"I thought the way the boys bowled was excellent, but we were disappointed with the run chase - I'm not going to make any excuses about it being a good toss to win"
England captain Paul Collingwood

1658: We await the presentations. Maharoof would be my man of the match - but who will it be?

"Maharoof bowls a bit like Glenn McGrath - he's not much more than medium pace, but he bowls line and length and does the simple things right"
Dougie Brown on TMS

"Furthermore (can we detect a drinking theme here?) as a post-dinner tipple you can't beat a bit of (John) Jameson's"
Dave, London, in the TMS inbox

"Don't forget Basil D'Oliveira, Jack Hobbs and Plum Warner, and if you want some puns then consider David Gravy(ney) and Len Mutton for the Culinary XI"
David Dent in the TMS inbox

"Mustard learned most of his wicketkeeping skills from Jeffrey Dijon apparently"
Ed, London, in the TMS inbox

"If the culinary cricket team eats too quickly, they might get a case of the Graeme Hick-ups"
Anton in Newcastle in the TMS inbox

"One for the Culinary eleven - how about Min Pate-l?"
Carl, confused by the weather, London, in the TMS inbox

SRI LANKA BEAT ENGLAND BY 119 RUNS, LEAD SERIES 1-0

34.5 overs - WICKET - Anderson c Jayawardene b Jayasuriya 0 - Eng 150
Jayasuriya has Bopara tied down before he nudges a single to bring up the 150 and bring last man Anderson on strike. But it's all over as Anderson nicks his first ball to slip - England have lost by 119 runs.

34th over - WICKET - Sidebottom st Sangakkara b Dilshan 2 - Eng 149-9
Sidey snaffles a single, so does Bopara, but Dilshan rattles through his over at breakneck speed. Sidey strides forward and is stumped by Sanga. Although the replay is inconclusive (was his back foot in the air?), ump Rudi Koertzen at point gives him out without even referring to the third umpire. Strange.

"Didn't Warren "Chucky" Hegg play a one-day international for England? You can't beat an English breakfast, and we can't beat Sri Lanka"
David Hickie in the TMS inbox

33rd over - Eng 147-8
New batsman is Ryan Sidebottom, whose blue England helmet barely contains his mane of curly hair. Jayasuriya is bowling to Bopara, who straight-drives one through the bowler's hands and they take a single to Malinga - who appears to be everywhere in the field at the moment - at long-on. Jayasuriya goes over the wicket to Sidey, who is very slow in setting off for a run, as though he's got lead weights sewn into the lining of his pads. He has to dive for the crease to get off the mark, although he easily makes his ground.

32nd over - WICKET - Broad run out 1 - Eng 145-8
New batsman is number nine Stuart Broad - he and Bopara did have that big stand against India at Old Trafford - or am I clutching at straws now? He sweeps his first ball to Malinga at fine leg, comes back for the second run and is run out without recourse to Bopara's friend in the third umpire's box.

31.5 overs - WICKET - Swann c Malinga b Dilshan 24 - Eng 144-7
Ravi Bopara is clearly the new Inzamam-ul-Haq - he's nearly run out again when Swann sends him back, he dives for the crease again and the third umpire reprieves him for a third time! How many lives does this cat have? More than Swann, as he tries to reverse-sweep Dilshan but is caught by Malinga at backward point.

"Re the excellent culinary XI. Clearly, one should always start a meal with Grace"
Mark Bentley (and several others) in the TMS inbox

"Surely Graham Onions of Durham deserves a place in your culinary team!"
Alex from Ipswich, via text

31st over - Eng 141-6
Malinga's off after six overs - it's spin from both ends as the bald-headed Jayasuriya enters the fray with his slow left-arm "darts". Bopara takes an unwise second run to long leg, but dives headlong to the crease and his guardian angel in the third umpire's box reprieves him for the second time in his innings. The leg-spinner sub fielder [see 27th over] restricts a legside glance by Bopara to a single, while Swann flicks Jayasuriya down to long-on for two. Jayasuriya tosses one up and Swann slog-sweeps him for four. A drinks break is taken.

"Now slumping at my desk with the energy levels of a sulking teenager. Already disconsolate at Welsh and Irish rugby performances this weekend, now feeling impending lethargy of England's parlous ODI performance seeping over me like slow-flowing cold porridge"
Carole in the TMS inbox

30th over - Eng 132-6
The required run-rate is approaching seven runs per over, but Swann is batting maturely for a man who had never batted in an ODI before today. He sweeps Dilshan well, and nearly finds the midwicket boundary where Tharanga makes a sprawling stop. Another legside wide boosts the score as Swann has nothing to do with it.

29th over - Eng 127-6
Malinga strays with a legside wide, but Bopara steers him to point for two and cleverly glances him through midwicket for four. An expertly-timed shot. He then plays a textbook back-foot defensive shot to the final ball of the over, while Dougie Brown on TMS also compliments Bopara's technique.

"Carrying on the culinary theme. when they tour and need an umpire they could take Merv Kitchen and Pasty Harris as the reserve umpire"
Tony from Mitcham in the TMS inbox

"Sitting here constantly refreshing the live update page. Sometimes when it takes a bit longer for an update to appear I deceive myself by thinking the over is taking a long time because of England hitting so mane boundaries... I usually end up disappointed when the update finally comes"
Karl, Brighton in the TMS inbox

28th over - Eng 120-6
Our first taste of spin this innings - it's Tillakaratne Dilshan with his right-arm off-spin. Bopar takes a quick single, a fizzing throw from Jayawardene shatters the stumps at the bowler's end but the third umpire says Bopara's not out. Nelson very nearly did strike there. Dilshan has a slightly strange, angular run-up, but fellow off-spinner Swann drives him through extra cover for four, before sweeping for two. He's already overtaken Bopara - he has 14 and Ravi has 12.

27th over - Eng 111-6
Maharoof leaves the field, presumably for some treatment, and my worst fears are realised when the sub fielder brought on is leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi. I may just refer to him as "that leg-spinner" - as I mentioned earlier, I don't dare spell-check his name for fear of crashing the entire BBC website. Bopara and Swann knock Malinga around for a couple of singles - Nelson on the board, but it would take a greater victory than Trafalgar for England to win it from here.

"Your culinary team is a little short of desserts. Can I suggest the old England and Middlesex batsman Peter Parfait (Parfitt)"
Andy from Nottingham in the TMS inbox

26th over - Eng 108-6
Jayawardene brings in a slip for Graeme Swann, who begins his first ODI innings - having been a "did not bat" in his previous game in 2000. A fierce cover-drive for four off his second ball brings him his first international runs. (He has 13 domestic one-day 50s, best score 83). Maharoof finishes with figures of 10-2-31-4 - splendid work from him.

25.2 overs - WICKET - Cook c Sangakkara b Maharoof 46 - Eng 102-6
Bopara takes a single off the first ball of Maharoof's last over, but his Essex team-mate Cook's goose has been cooked after he edges Maharoof just over the stumps and into the hands of keeper Sanga. He walks off before waiting for the umpire to raise his finger. That's four wickets for Maharoof.

"Re: the culinary XI, may I suggest Derek Pringle(s), not that he was known for his crisp strokes. I seem to recall batsmen feasting off his bowling though"
Joel, Leeds, via text

25th over - Eng 101-5
Cook had faced 75 balls for his 45 before the start of this over from Malinga. He plays and misses, and they decide against running a bye after the ball spins off Sangakkara. Cook prods one towards midwicket and they scamper a single, while Bopara digs one off his toes into the on-side. A legside wide from the Slinger brings up three figures for England, while Bopara keeps the strike when he works a single to fine leg.

"Ending up in Geraint Jones' locker is surely more likely than ending up in his gloves?"
Alastair Menzies in the TMS inbox

"I can only assume that the Colonel has an oversized shirt so that if he misses a chance at a catch with the gloves then there is a reasonable possibility that the ball will stick in one of the voluminous folds of his shirt? Either that or he has a meeting with Dr Black later in the drawing room and he needs an oversized shirt in order to hide a candlestick?"
Paul, Edinburgh, in the TMS inbox

24th over - Eng 98-5
Maharoof's penultimate over. Bopara takes a single before Cook carefully tickles one down to the third man, but a sharp throw prevents them from taking a second run. Bopara then gloriously cover-drives for four, all along the ground and just evading the diving Jayasuriya.

23rd over - Eng 92-5
New batsman is Ravi Bopara - remember his excellent knock against Sri Lanka in the World Cup, in partnership with the Badger? Or am I clutching at straws here? He works one off his legs for a single.

22.5 overs - WICKET - Shah c Mubarak b Malinga 7 - Eng 91-5
First change of bowling for absolutely ages - Fernando's off after taking 1-23 from seven overs, and Malinga returns - he's bowled just two so far. Alison Mitchell on TMS describes the Slinger's haircut as "quite ridiculous", while he fires one in which bounces barely halfway down the pitch and is called a wide. Cook leg-glances to long leg for a single. Shah then miscues a slower ball, is caught at extra cover and the Slinger's made another breakthrough.

22nd over - Eng 87-4
Cook prods a single to long-off, and Shah tickles one to midwicket for a couple before thumping one to deep cover. But he can't help but pick out fielders at the moment - he's yet to hit a boundary. They're fortunate to get a second run from an overthrow off the final ball of the over.

"Connecting the Scottish commentator Dougie Brown with your naval history theme, when Nelson said 'Kiss me Hardy', do you think he meant Brian Hardie the Scottish opening bat for many years with Essex?"
Steve on Oman in the TMS inbox

21st over - Eng 82-4
Cook gets a single when he digs one from Fernando out into the covers. After Shah does the same, Fernando bangs in a short one which is ruled as an aerial wide. Cook nudges one off his hip but it's nothing more than singles at the moment for England, as Fernando finishes the over with a superb yorker which Shah can only dig out.

"I'm relishing the prospects of the new England wicket-keeper. He looks good in his Whites. Hopefully he'll get the rub of the Green and won't be out Plum lbw. That would make him turn a shade of Scarlet, when he should be preening like a Peacock"
Alex in London in the TMS inbox
[I'm sorry, I haven't a Cluedo what you're on about - MM]

"The England batsmen can't afford just to pat the ball back - they need to show some urgency here"
Dougie Brown on TMS

20th over - Eng 78-4
The way Maharoof is bowling, he could bowl his 10 overs straight off the reel here - that would be no bad thing for Sri Lanka. This is his seventh over, Shah has a momentary hesitation and has to scamper back to his crease as Maharoof follows through and threatens to run him out. Russell Arnold on TMS reveals he's a Manchester United fan (oh dear), while accurate bowling and tight fielding restricts Cook and Shah to three singles between them. And that's it for the fielding restrictions.

19th over - Eng 75-4
New batsman is Owais Shah. He's off the mark with a single to mid-on - but would have been out for a duck if Jayasuriya's throw had hit the stumps. Cook takes a single as the asking rate creeps over six an over. More tight bowling from Fernando.

"I have to add my all time batting hero to the culinary XI - Graeme Fowl - er"
David Couchman in the TMS inbox

"A culinary XI needs a decent wine as a 12th man. Let's hope it isn't 'Cork'-ed"
Dave in the TMS inbox

18.1 overs - WICKET - Collingwood c Jayawardene b Fernando 9 - Eng 73-4
Colly hasn't looked in any kind of his usual form, and he edges the first ball of the over to fellow skipper Jayawardene at slip.

18th over - Eng 73-3
Maharoof's economy remains impressive until Collingwood drags a short one to Tharanga at midwicket for a single. Cook then takes a single to mid-on where Jayasuriya's fierce throw hits the stumps at the bowler's end. Cook's made his ground - will they run an overthrow? No, Cook turns it down - leading Russell Arnold on TMS to wonder whether Cook is more comfortable batting from the non-striker's end. Colly chips one to third man and they run another single, before Maharoof tucks Cook up with one that keeps low. Just those three singles from the over.

"You will get in trouble for introdicuing baseball terminology into cricket. It's bad enough that the players are doing so with shot selection. Regardless you will be hung, drawn and quartered if you keep putting batsmen's scores wrong upon their dismissal!"
Boris, studying, London, in the TMS inbox[That's me told then - MM]

17th over - Eng 70-3
Colly is deceived by a slow off-cutter from Fernando, and the Sri Lankan fans in the crowd are loving this as England's run-rate has nearly stuttered to a complete halt. The well-known, flag-waving Sri Lanka fan "Percy" walks around the ground, accompanied by a young lady who is waving both countries' flags. Colly straight-drives past the bowler for four, just when England looked in danger of receiving back-to-back maiden overs. That's the first boundary for more than six overs, and Colly ends the over by pulling a single to long leg.

"In your culinary players don't forget Dimitri (Di-meat-ri) Mascarpone"
Pete, Swindon, (pouring down here) in the TMS inbox

16th over - Eng 65-3
Unsurprisingly, Jayawardene takes the third powerplay, while ump De Silva holds his middle, ring and pinky finger in the air to signify that this is the powerplay where they can have three fielders outside the circle. Cook nearly gives Maharoof an unbelievable fourth wicket when he nearly plays on. Maharoof is varying his pace well but keeping to a superb line and length, Cook can't get him away - and another maiden ensues. He now has figures of 5-2-7-3. A drinks break.

"The bowlers are maintaining their discipline as we haven't seen any no-balls or free-hits yet in this game. Alastair Cook can't get the ball off the square at the moment, which is putting pressure on the other batsman"
Russell Arnold on TMS

15th over - Eng 65-3
Cook dabs a single to take his score to 33. Colly opens the face to take a single to third man. Cook works one to third man but a sharp throw from Maharoof, who's everywhere at the moment, prevents them taking two. When he's bowling like this, you could say Maharoof is on fire! Collingwood tries to flick Fernando off his legs but to no avail. Sri Lanka are still keeping it tight.

"Don't you think it sums up the parlous state of English cricket when we have a Scot [Dougie Brown] commentating on it?"
Bob, France, in the TMS inbox

14th over - Eng 62-3
Right then, Captain/Admiral Collingwood, this is Lord Kitchener (er, Mitchener) speaking - Your Country Needs You! There's a chap called Nelson here who would like to add that England expects every man to do his duty. He just looks a little wary every time the score reaches 111. Back in the real world, Colly is off the mark with a single from the second ball he receives, and Cook takes a quick single off the last ball, fielded by Malinga whose sunhat falls off as he fields. Err, why is he wearing a sunhat at night in a day/night game? Can they not find a cap to contain his bleached-blond mane? Anyway, Maharoof has superb figures of 4-1-7-3.

13.1 overs - WICKET - Pietersen c Sangakkara b Maharoof 1 - Eng 60-3
KP gets a faint inside edge at one which nips back from Maharoof and Sanga joyfully takes the catch.

13th over - Eng 60-2
Suddenly the run rate has skidded to a halt as Cook swings and misses against Fernando before taking a single to bring KP on strike. He's off the mark with a back-footed defensive prod into the leg side. Just those two runs from the over.

"I'd like to lay claim to being the worst son in the world (or so my mum would have you believe). I was in the army in 2000 and ended up in the jungle in Sierra Leone. I phoned home on the satellite phone from the jungle (costing the army a fortune) and wished my mum happy birthday. All I got back was 'where's my card?'. I let her know that the Sierra Leone branch of Clinton's Cards was shut, just as the camp took a direct hit from an RPG (rocket propelled grenade)"
Andy, Surrey in the TMS inbox

12th over - Eng 58-2
The new batsman is Kevin Pietersen, who averages a mere 51.75 in this form of the game. He sees off the rest of the over.

"Given our need for middle order firepower and our propensity for stealing talented South Africans, what are the chances of us signing up Lance "Corporal" Klusener for the 2nd ODI?"
John in the TMS inbox

11.2 overs - WICKET - Bell c Sangakkara b Maharoof 0 - Eng 58-2
Cook takes a single before Bell departs for an eight-ball duck when he edges one to the keeper. Commentator's curse? Possibly - I had praised his partnership with Cook, while the TMS crew had also lauded his recent one-day form. We're all guilty!

"Dilhara Fernando is going to be the key for Sri Lanka - he's come on leaps and bounds recently, and could make the difference"
Russell Arnold on TMS

11th over - Eng 57-1
The newly-goateed Mr Koertzen signals the second powerplay - Vaas is off, Fernando's back on, but Cook cover-drives him for four, before swinging and missing at a couple of wide ones. He takes a single to bring Bell on strike, but the Warwickshire man is still (metaphorically) finding his feet out there and defends the last two balls. He should be well-rested after being overlooked for the World Twenty20, though.

"The English boys are looking good, it's unfortunate that Mustard wasn't able to stay on. There's some uneven bounce in the wicket so the batsmen won't be able to play freely"
Russell Arnold on TMS

10th over - Eng 52-1
I saw Cook and Bell form a very effective partnership at the Rose Bowl in the first of the ODI series against India - England would be very happy with another partnership of that length. Bell's finally on strike, but he's unable to get Maharoof off the square at the moment. Maharoof claims the first maiden of the match, and that's it for the first powerplay.

9th over - Eng 52-1
It's still Vaas, and Cook steers him to midwicket for two. Bell is having to do plenty of running but hasn't faced yet, as Cook punches Vaas into the off-side for another two to bring up the England fifty, and chips him past mid-on for yet another two. (To stop saying "two" every time, can I call it a "double" occasionally, or will I get in trouble for introducing more baseball chat?)

"Will anyone who walks the plank end up in Geraint Jones' locker?"
Nemo, Strasbourg, in the TMS inbox

8th over - Eng 46-1
New batsman is Ian Bell, England's man of the series from the recent ODI series against India. They crossed on the catch, and Cook takes three off the last ball to take his score to 18.

7.3 overs - WICKET - Mustard c Malinga b Maharoof 27 - Eng 43-1
Another change of bowling - just the one economical over from Fernando and he's off. Maharoof's on, Cook works him away for a single and then it's all over for the Colonel as he miscues one which skies into the air and Malinga takes a diving catch at wide mid-off.

7th over - Eng 42-0
Mustard defends a full-pitched delivery from Vaas, and when Vaas gives the second ball a bit of width, Mustard swings him high over long-off for six. The ball then flies through the covers for four, just evading a fielder diving through the air like Superman. Mustard has 23 off 15 balls. After a wide, a lofted drive over the bowler's head sees Maharoof stop the four, but they take three anyway. Cook then gets a single - 15 off the over.

"In response to Simon, Bath, about his pork chop, I've done the same so I'm hoping it will be. They normally only take a few hours to defrost"
David, Chorleywood, in the TMS inbox

An England culinary XI: Cook, Butcher, Lamb, (dinner) Bell, Stew-art, Mustard, Beefy, Swann (but don't tell Her Maj), Onions, Ham-ison, Monty Parmesan
Anon in the TMS inbox [Of course, Monty Panesar is an anagram of 'Parmesan Tony' - MM]

6th over - Eng 27-0
An early change of bowling as Malinga is off after two overs and Dilhara Fernando enters the attack. Remember, there's no Murali today - Sri Lanka have four seamers in Vaas, Malinga, Fernando and Maharoof, while Jayasuriya, Dilshan and possibly some of the others will come on later for some spin. Fernando has Cook tied down for the first four balls of the over before he prods one towards mid-on for a single. Mustard then runs a sharp single - and he has to be quick as Malinga's throw hits the stumps at the bowler's end.

"The only Admiral in the England team is Flintoff. And not a very good one at that..."
Jonathan Beaumont in the TMS inbox

5th over - Eng 25-0
Sanga is standing up to Vaas but the Colonel takes a single. Sri Lanka then appeal when Mustard slips while backing up to the next ball and he has to dive to regain his ground at the bowler's end. Cook claims an easy two when he tickles Vaas towards the midwicket boundary. He's scoring runs all around the wicket, steering the next ball to third man for a single. Mustard is still looking for runs, but Sri Lanka have fielded very tightly so far.

4th over - Eng 21-0
Malinga slings one in on leg stump and Mustard successfully works him off his legs through midwicket for four, before nudging a single. Cook then beautifully off-drives for four - best shot of the day. He tries to flick one down the leg side but Sangakkara is alert to prevent a run.

"Russell Arnold has played 180 ODIs for Sri Lanka including six at this very ground, Dougie 'I think 280 is more of a par score' Brown has played only 25 averaging 17 and has never faced a ball in Sri Lanka, I know whose 'par score' I trust more"
John, Manchester, in the TMS inbox

3rd over - Eng 12-0
Mustard's first dot ball in international cricket as he prods one back to Vaas. He then gets a thick edge to third man for a single. But he's playing very positively - could he be the man England's one-day side has been looking for, for ages? Cook defends the rest of the over.

"If it all goes wrong Collingwood could be demoted to (un) Able Seaman and be made to walk the plank"
Sam G in the TMS inbox

"Regarding Chris from Manchester's claim to be the worst son on earth; I forget about my mum and dad's wedding anniversary every year. This wouldn't be quite so bad if it wasn't for the fact I was born on their first wedding anniversary. It'll be their 30th next year, and I can guarantee that I'll not remember to get anything to mark the occasion"
David Whitley, Tooting, in the TMS inbox

2nd over - Eng 11-0
It's Slinger time - the wild-haired Malinga charges in and Mustard flicks him off his legs for a single. Cook digs out a couple of good yorkers, and eventually leg-glances him away for four.

"I took a rather large pork chop out of the freezer this morning. Will it be thawed and ready to cook by the time I get home from work at around 6pm?"
Simon, Bath, in the TMS inbox

"Continuing the Military theme, is it safe to say that we are RANK outsiders for this series?"
David Couchman, Macclesfield, in the TMS inbox

1st over - Eng 6-0
The canny left-arm swing bowler Chaminda Vaas takes the new ball, and Cook gets off the mark with a single. The two batsmen fist-pump their gloves in the way that modern cricketers do. For goodness' sake, chaps, are you going to do that after EVERY run? Another 269 times? Mustard edges his first ball to slip where he's dropped by Silva and it shoots through for four. A memorable way to begin your international career. He then off-drives for a single. Cook safely negotiates the rest of the over

"As a Colonel outranks a Captain, should Collingwood be an Admiral, like his namesake of Trafalgar fame?"
Phil in the TMS inbox

1413: They're back out there already. Captain Mahela Jayawardene gives his players a last-minute pep-talk in their "huddle" - a colleague here who will remain nameless speculates that he may be saying something along the lines of "Bowl reasonably straight and we should win this". England's culinary opening pair are a Cook, with Mustard.

"Bertold Brecht solved something like the Mars bar problem in 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle'. Having said that, this must be the first time in recent history that Paul Collingwood and Bertold Brecht have been mentioned on the same page"
Alan in the TMS inbox

1341: So, is 269 enough? Russell Arnold earlier thought 240 to 250 would be a competitive score on this wicket, while Dougie Brown on TMS thinks 280 would be more of a "par" score. Time will tell. Meanwhile, Simon Mann on TMS spots Monty P (dropped for this game) carrying a drinks bag and a towel. I may not have Monty waiting on me, but I'm off for a sandwich - back with you soon.

"Now that Colonel Mustard has proved his worth in the battlefield, is he to be promoted to Brigadier?"
Matthew in the TMS inbox

"I've got my mum's birthday coming up and as usual I never know when it is. She's reasonably high up in a government institute, so I managed to get her birthday off Google. Does this make me one of the worst sons ever to grace this earth?"
Chris, a bad son, Manchester, in the TMS inbox

SRI LANKA INNINGS

50th over - SL 269-7
A fumble by Anderson in the field allows Dilshan a second run from the second ball of the over, before he punches a single to deep cover. New batsman Chaminda Vaas faces for the first time with three balls of the innings remaining. He's a leftie, so inevitably the field is moved once again. Vaas digs out a yorker and Sidey fields off his own bowling to prevent a run. Vaas pushes the penultimate ball into the off-side for a single, which brings Dilshan on strike for the final delivery. Dilshan swings, gets an edge to third man and a single ensues. That's it - Sidey finishes with 2-56.

49.1 overs - WICKET - Maharoof c Anderson b Sidebottom 22 - SL 264-7
Maharoof's brief 12-ball cameo ends as Anderson takes another catch at long-on.

49th over - SL 264-6
Our money from the 44th over is well and truly lost as Broad's on for his last over. A fumble by Shah allows Maharoof to take two from the first ball. He then tries a wild swing to leg, but instead the ball goes in exactly the opposite direction from where he aimed it, and it shoots down for four past backward point. He then swings one towards the square leg boundary, will it be six or out? Shah misjudges it, and it's a first-bounce four. Maharoof takes another two - that's 12 from four balls. The next ball is a bouncer, Maharoof takes a big swing but gets a single as it trickles to midwicket. Colly rotates the field again for Dilshan, who comes down the pitch but swings and misses, and the Colonel prevents a bye.

48th over - SL 251-6
Sidey returns - will he bowl the last two overs from this end (and Anderson only bowl eight)? Maharoof gives himself room to swat Sidebottom back down the ground for two, before he mis-hits one from which they can only take a single. Dilshan then scampers one to bring up the Sri Lankan 250. The last ball is very wide of off-stump but not called a wide. Just five runs from the over.

"I am struggling to understand why Paul Collingwood never bowls Ravi Bopara who is an integral part of the Essex one-day attack. Surely if he bats down at number seven he should do more than just bat"
Tony Forrester in the TMS inbox

"Surely the best option to resolve a Mars Bar dispute over slice sizes would be to not actually slice up a chocolate bar and buy one each?"
Mark Airey, Rochdale, in the TMS inbox

47th over - SL 246-6
Dilshan takes a single, the new batsman is Farveez Maharoof who's known as a clean striker of the ball in the last few overs of ODIs - and he proves that by clubbing his first ball over backward point where it sails away for four. He then blasts Broad to long-off and they run a single.

"Sri Lanka are losing their way here - England have the momentum"
Dougie Brown on TMS

46.3 overs - WICKET - Mubarak c Anderson b Broad 1 - SL 240-6
Mubarak tickles a single to fine leg off his first ball. Another slow bouncer from Broad is this time called a wide by umpire De Silva. Broad isn't impressed, and politely lets the umpire know his feelings on the matter (miming the batsman's action of ducking). After Dilshan takes a single, left-hander Mubarak hooks and it sails to fine leg where Anderson atones for his earlier miss by taking a good diving catch.

46th over - SL 237-5
The new batsman is Jehan Mubarak, who has effectively replaced Russell Arnold in the Sri Lanka ODI team since the World Cup. But as they crossed on the catch, it's Dilshan on strike and he's deceived by a good slower ball as Colly completes his spell, taking 2-44.

45.3 overs - WICKET - Silva c Cook b Collingwood 33 - SL 237-5
Captain Colly's obviously in for his full allocation, and some good fielding from Anderson restricts Dilshan to a single. With third man brought up for Silva, he then misses one outside off-stump (while trying to paddle-sweep to leg) which is missed by Mustard and they run three byes. Mustard then decides to stand back. Silva tries to hoist Colly over midwicket but only succeeds in sending one down Alastair Cook's throat on the boundary.

45th over - SL 232-4
Broad's changed ends for his eighth over. He digs one in short which Dilshan tries to work to third man but fails to make contact. The TMS satellite line is finally restored ("the mobile phone bill will be astronomical" says Dougie Brown), and this is better from Broad as he's got Dilshan rather tied down, banging in another bouncer to complete the over. Just two singles from the over.

44th over - SL 230-4
The TMS team have returned - albeit on the telephone as the satellite line is still down. Silva takes a well-run two and then jabs a single to third man. My initial reaction from seeing Colly bowling this over was that (considering Shah's two overs) it means one of their three main seam bowlers won't bowl his full allocation. Our money's on Stuart Broad, who's been a bit wayward to be honest. New batsman is Tillakaratne Dilsham, and he's off the mark with a single. Silva has 32 from just 31 balls.

43.1 overs - WICKET - Jayawardene c Shah b Collingwood 66 - SL 225-4
Colly returns - Jayawardene lofts him to Shah on the cover boundary and it's a smart catch from the Middlesex man.

43rd over - SL 225-3
It's Swann's last over, and captain Jayawardene hoists him past long-off for a first-bounce four. He then nearly plays on while trying to hit Swann through the leg side. A smart sweep goes straight to short fine leg, and that's it for Swann - figures of 10-0-47-1.

"On the rare occasions we had cakes at home to choose from, I would lick the top of each one on the plate, then invite my baby brother to choose one. This practice stopped abruptly when my father caught me and made me eat all four in front of my brother. You can imagine the result... I can't go near cream cakes now"
Carole in rainy Maidenhead in the TMS inbox

42nd over - SL 219-3
Broad's off after one over, Sidebottom returns and the Colonel is standing up. The TMS line to Sri Lanka goes down, but stick with me here as Silva tries to hook but gets a top edge which sails over the Colonel for a single. Jayawardene carefully opens the face to dab Sidey to third man for a single. Silva then goes deep off the last ball, and it just clears the rope at long-on for six.

"Let's not forget if Geraint Jones was in the team we would have a Corporal Jones, so lets be thankful for that! Also let's have a few less officer names, everyone in the military knows it's the other ranks that do all the work!"
Rob, Derby, in the TMS inbox[Corporal Geraint Jones behind the stumps? Don't panic! Don't panic! - MM]

41st over - SL 209-3
As Dougie Brown on TMS explains why Broad's not bowling to his field, Silva pushes Swann into the off-side and scampers a single as Mustard hares after it. Jayawardene dabs one to short third man and they run another one to rotate the strike.

40th over - SL 206-3
Broad replaces Colly - he's got four overs left so they had to get him back on fairly soon. His first ball is loose and wide, and Jayawardene square-drives him to bring up his own 50 and Sri Lanka's 200. He then takes two to third man, and prods a single to mid-off, as the floodlights begin to come on. Remember, it may be lunchtime in the UK, but it's a day-night match in Dambulla. Silva chops Broad to deep cover where Shah's fast throw restricts them to a single.

"Watching the comments from here deep in Syria. Following the theme of the military, the way England have been playing lately they would be described as a Major Disappointment"
Iain in the TMS inbox

"Why not let Ravi have a bowl? He's an all-rounder, and used, at any rate, to have a bit of a golden arm"
Ricky from Essex (temporarily domiciled in a hot & sticky Thailand) in the TMS inbox

39th over - SL 197-3
Silva tries to sweep Swann and misses. "That's what I want to see, Swanny," chirps the Colonel. They then scamper a quickly-run three to Cook, who combines with Anderson on the third-man boundary but Silva dives full-length for the crease at the bowler's end and the third umpire decides he can carry on.

"A search of the British Library's collections reveals one title published by Mills & Boon to do with cricket was 'Twenty-Four Years of Cricket', by A. A. Lilley, however as it was published in 1912, I believe this was before they started the romantic period"
Andy in the TMS inbox

"Surely there must be a Mills and Boon / Duckworth and Lewis gag there somewhere?"
Phil in the TMS inbox

38th over - SL 192-3
Colly dives to his right, trying to take a difficult caught-and-bowled chance off Jayawardene, but lands painfully on his right shoulder. Physio Kirk Russell comes on to treat him, and it looks like he's fine to continue for the meantime, but Dougie Brown on TMS warns that he may find it more painful in the next few days. Silva finds the boundary for the first time, while Sri Lanka could accelerate now with 12 overs remaining.

37th over - SL 185-3
Jayawardene tries to reverse-sweep Swann but fails to connect. Silva then cuts him to deep point for a single as Swann rattles through his seventh over.

36th over - SL 181-3
Colly replaces Anderson, who's got two overs left. Silva and Jayawardene both take singles at will, until Colly sends down another bouncer which is ruled to be an aerial wide.

Alison Mitchell on TMS: "This change of balls reminds me of when I used to fight my brother for who had the biggest slice of Mars bar. My mother would let one of us cut it in half, and the other one would choose which slice to have"
Dougie Brown: "I used to take Mars bars from my sister - she never had a chance"

35th over - SL 175-3
We have the first mandatory ball change in an ODI - after 34 overs as per the new rules. So, the ball used for the first 34 overs is replaced by another used (not new) ball. Silva is off the mark with three off his first ball. Jayawardene sweeps at Swann who again appeals for LBW, but they go through for a leg-bye, while Silva dabs a single to keep the strike.

34th over - SL 168-3
The new batsman is Chamara Silva, who looks on from the non-striker's end as Jayawardene clips Anderson off his legs for two. Jayawardene is then tucked up by the fifth ball but it runs away safely. He cuts at the last ball but it goes straight to Captain Colly at backward point - a tight over for England.

33rd over - WICKET - Sangakkara st Mustard b Swann 38 - SL 166-3
It's still Swann from the Scorebox End (or as Alison Mitchell on TMS thinks it should be called, the Jungle End). He's still going over the wicket to the right-handed Jayawardene but around the wicket to the left-handed Sangakkara, who advances down the track and pierces the infield with a powerful cover drive for four. Swann tries to vary his pace, and then Sanga falls to the Mustard-Swann combo as he goes down the track again to the last ball of the over and is smartly stumped. It's Swann's first ODI wicket and Mustard's first dismissal.

"Saving Private Ryan (Sidebottom) anyone?"
Neil, Slough (where it's raining) in the TMS inbox

"Would Vaughan be referred to as 'Field-Marshal' due to his constant field tinkering?"
Tom, London, in the TMS inbox

32nd over - SL 159-2
Some news from the county scene - Richard Johnson (he who once took 10 wickets in an innings - and opened the bowling for England in their last ODI in Dambulla in 2003) and Ben Hutton have both retired. Anderson's back in the attack after that loose over from Shah, and he's straight back in with a wide. Three singles are taken, then Sangakkara takes an agricultural heave but completely misses the ball. He ducks under a short one, and we have a drinks break.

"After all this exciting Twenty20 cricket that's been on, this feels like a Test match... yawn. Smash it!"
Alex Hemburrow in the TMS inbox

"I hope we don't see any Corporal Punishment today!"
Stu Smith, RAF Innsworth, in the TMS inbox

31st over - SL 155-2
It's spin from both ends as Colly's off after six overs and Swann returns from the far end. Jayawardene isn't happy about people in brightly-coloured shirts walking behind the bowler's arm at the edge of the sightscreens - maybe the local police could get involved there too? He takes a single, as does Sanga, while Jayawardene looks more in control than his partner as he clips Swann off his legs - the singles are flowing much easier now.

"Further to the excellent 'Sarge' Mahmood comment - every time I've watched him he is M.I.A. (Missing in Action). A Mamod traction engine is more lively"
Marc, Chester, in the TMS inbox

"On the military theme, presumably if Trescothick ever comes back he�ll be Private Problems
Richard Blakeley (London, but a Yorkshire fan) in the TMS inbox

30th over - SL 150-2
Shah sends down a full-toss - and that's regarded as buffet bowling by Sanga, who helps himself to a pull to midwicket for four. Simon Mann fears they have the measure of Shah, as they comfortably nurdle him away and nine runs are taken off the over, while the 50 partnership also comes up.

29th over - SL 141-2
Jayawardene scampers two off the first ball, then cover-drives Colly for a single. Sanga then lofts a drive towards long-on, where some comedy fielding sees Anderson miss the ball completely and let it through for four.

"In response to Dickon's question, torrid is also used liberaly in 'romantic' novels, of the Mills and Boon variety (or so I'm told!). Perhaps Mark has picked up the word from his extra-curricular reading?"
Sarah, Leeds, in the TMS inbox[I can honestly say I've never read a Mills & Boon in my life - have they ever ventured into the world of cricket? - MM]

28th over - SL 132-2
A slightly curious change of bowling as Swann's coming off after three overs and part-time off-spinner Owais Shah is thrown the ball. (Should KP get a bowl, given how far he can turn it?). Simon Mann on TMS says Shah bowled "a few rank bad deliveries" against India at the Oval, but did get the wicket of Dravid. Mustard is still chirping away, encouraging "Ace" (as he calls Shah). Shah fields smartly off his own bowling and restricts the batsmen to just two singles apiece.

27th over - SL 128-2
Jayawardene drives to long-off for a single as Radio 4 listeners brace themselves for the Shipping Forecast. Sanga tries to hook Colly to square leg but misses the ball completely and the ball rebounds off Mustard's gloves to bring the stumps down. Sanga dabs a single into the leg-side to complete the over.

"I display Hampshire bias and maybe even a little bitterness when I say if Mascarenhas didn't wear an earring and played for a 'proper county' (Lancs/Yorks for example) he'd be playing now and would have played a lot more in recent years to boot!"
Stuart in a grey office in a grey town - Reading, in the TMS inbox

26th over - SL 126-2
Swann is still appealing for LBW when it hits Jayawardene outside the line of off-stump. Does he know the law? They take a leg-bye. Sangakkara then runs a quick single, the throw from Bopara breaks the stumps at the bowler's end and the third umpire Tyron Wijewardene says "not out". Jayawardene sweeps to good effect - first for a four, then for a single.

25th over - SL 119-2
Jayawardene finds the boundary for the first time when he square-drives a loose one from Colly for four. He works the England skipper away for two, then dabs a single to backward square leg. But England have done well to slow the scoring rate here. We're at the halfway point.

"Surely it should be Captain Cook (or at least it really will be in a couple of years) and Colonel Mustard, whilst the others merely Swann about the outfield with a Broad grin on their faces as the Sri Lankan wickets tumble? It's just a shame they won't be able to shock the opposition by letting them see a Montster coming over the hill"
Rich, Bristol, in the TMS inbox

"The dog (believed to be a terrier) didn't actually bite Chic Brodie - just ran into him (and he was playing for Brentford against the mighty Colchester United at Layer Road)"
Rob in the TMS inbox

24th over - SL 112-2
Sangakkara trots through for a single off Swann, who now has to bowl to the right-handed Jayawardene for the first time - and decides to go over the wicket. Another loud LBW shout as he tosses one up and beats Jayawardene in the flight, but it hits him well outside the line. The Sri Lanka skipper straight-drives for a single, and Swann's back around the wicket to Sanga, who works him to midwicket for two.

"Collingwood is taking the pace off the ball, and making the batsmen frustrated. Wickets in hand will be Sri Lanka's key to making a competitive total"
Russell Arnold on TMS

23rd over - SL 108-2
As the local police move in to investigate the fence-hopping spectators, Colly continues, and the Colonel is clearly getting used to international cricket as he's now chirping up nearly as often as Paul "The Badger" Nixon. A single to Sanga is the only run yielded from Colly's over.

"Bless! Monty looks so sad. Just wanted to know if anybody else thinks Sidebottom looks like a spaniel when he's playing at being aggressive? Mainly the hair but he has a good snarl going on too"
Harry, Lincoln, in the TMS inbox

22nd over - SL 107-2
Our first sight of spin as Graeme Swann enters the attack with his right-arm off-spin. (His stats from this season's Friends Provident Trophy were nine wickets in eight games at an average of 33.55, economy rate 4.31). He goes around the wicket to the left-handed Sanga, and his first ball is an absolute jaffa which turns prodigiously. The Colonel pipes up with "That's excellent, Swanny". They then both appeal for LBW as Sanga is rapped on the pad with another one which turns sharply. He's through the over quickly, and nearly gets a maiden but Sanga drives the final ball to long-on for a single.

21st over - SL 106-2
With the powerplays over, the field disperses, and Colly tries an uncharacteristic bouncer which is well held by the Colonel, still standing up. He looked like he was expecting that - maybe they have some sort of secret code. Jayawardene pulls Colly to midwicket but is denied a four by a superb diving stop from Sidebottom, who is wearing a large dark blue sunhat.

"Knowing how this wicket plays, these two batsmen have to consolidate. 240 to 250 would be a competitive score - anything higher would be a bonus"
Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Russell Arnold on TMS

20th over - SL 103-2
Broad takes the final powerplay over, Jayawardene straight-drives and they run a comfortable three runs which brings up the hundred. Alison Mitchell on TMS observes fans leaping over a fence and surging into a previously empty stand. Sanga scampers a single and non-striker Jayawardene nearly runs into Bopara who tries to retrieve the ball. Two are taken off the final ball.

"In answer to Chris Thompson in the 14th over, I am not sure about General Misfits, but I would expect Andrew Flintoff to be a Major Doubt for most of the rest of this series (and, probably, the one after that)"
Ian, in an office with more Sri Lankans than England fans, Dubai, in the TMS inbox

19th over - SL 97-2
Captain Mahela Jayawardene strides to the wicket, and marks his guard in the crease so loudly that it's picked up by the stump microphone - it sounds like someone sawing wood. Finally we have a fourth bowler as Captain Colly introduces his own military medium pace into the attack - and yes, his Durham team-mate Mustard is standing up. He chirps "C'mon Colly!" after every delivery. Another dog (not the same one as earlier) runs behind the bowler's arm, but Sanga is not distracted and takes a single. Jayawardene nudges a single to third man to keep the strike.

"Has anyone ever seen the word "torrid" used outside of a report on some form of sport? No? Neither have I. You're becoming institutionalised MM"
Dickon, London, in the TMS inbox
[A few of my work colleagues probably think I should have been institutionalised years ago - MM]

18th over - WICKET - Tharanga c Collingwood b Broad 40 - SL 95-2
...but it's still Broad, and Tharanga scampers a single as KP acrobatically fields at extra cover. Broad then appeals for LBW when Sanga's hit on the pad, but stern-faced Rudi is unmoved and signals a leg-bye. Broad then fires in a bouncer, Tharanga ducks and it sails into Mustard's bright green wicket-keeping gauntlets. The last ball of the over is slower, Tharanga hits it into the air, and it's an easy catch for Colly at backward point.

"Going with the military theme, it's a shame Sarge Mahmood isn't playing"
John, Sutton, in the TMS inbox[Anyone who, like me, observed Mr Mahmood's bowling, batting and fielding in the Ashes Tests at close quarters, will reply "No it's not" - MM]

17th over - SL 93-1
Tharanga drives a slower ball from Sidey, and it flies away into the covers for two. He then on-drives a single to long-on. Sidey chuckles at Pietersen's fielding, while the TMS team debate Monty's controversial exclusion. We really ought to see a fourth bowler soon, folks...

"Does anyone else think that in those green gloves, Mustard looks like 'Aquaman'?"
Tim in the TMS inbox

"Mark, I'm informed in the world of football, and wish to remain so. Keep the sackings coming! Avram Grant anyone?"
Patrick, Brent Cross, in the TMS inbox

16th over - SL 90-1
Rudi Koertzen signals the third powerplay - and then pointedly thrusts three fingers of one hand into the air to signal that England have opted under the new rules [see 0949 entry] to have an extra, third fielder outside the circle for this powerplay. A fairly sedate over from Broad yields five singles.

"I found a frog in my toilet the other night"
Simon Mann on TMS

"Can you tell me if the Colonel is standing up to any of the quicker bowlers? Saw him do it for Durham a few times. Once Ottis was having a bad time and hurled a bouncer down in frustration. Nearly decapitated Mustard. He was nearly a collar size-zero!"
Stevie Mac, Newcastle, in the TMS inbox

He's been standing back so far to Sidey, Anderson and Broad. I'd imagine he would to the likes of Swann and Colly (or Bopara and Shah if they get to turn their arms over). While we're on the medium-pacers, I hope I'm not revealing excessive Hampshire bias by wondering why Mascarenhas isn't playing? Is he injured? In his last 50-over ODI, he had figures of 10-2-23-3 against India at Lord's (only conceding two boundaries), and in the previous game at The Oval, hit five successive sixes! Hardly out of form?!

15th over - SL 85-1
Tharanga launches Sidey to long-on, and some great fielding by Anderson stops the ball just inside the rope as he steps over with his momentum. Three runs are taken. Sangakkara then late-cuts to third man for four. A drinks break is taken.

14th over - SL 76-1
Sangakkara is off the mark with a single off Broad, who then boosts the total with a wide. Play is then interrupted halfway through the over when a dog runs on to the pitch. No-one shows any great urgency to remove the errant canine from the outfield, while Dougie on TMS explains how he was chased by a dog yesterday. At least no-one suffers the same fate as Brentford goalkeeper Chic Brodie, whose league career was ended when he was bitten by a dog during a game. He then made a comeback playing for Margate in an FA Cup game against Bournemouth - and had another torrid afternoon as the non-leaguers lost 11-0.

"I see we have Captain Colly and Colonel Mustard. Does that mean the rest are General Misfits?"
Chris Thompson in the TMS inbox

13th over - SL 73-1
They crossed on the catch, so new batsman Kumar Sangakkara is at the non-striker's end as Tharanga defends the fifth ball before driving the sixth into the covers for four, while Dougie Brown on TMS recounts a fantastic story of how the late Ben Hollioake once punched Worcestershire mascot "Peter the Pear" over a fence, only to find a young lady inside the mascot costume.

12.4 overs - WICKET - Jayasuriya c Bopara b Sidebottom 41 - SL 71-1
Anderson takes a rest after six overs, and Sidey's back in the attack, having changed ends. He beats Jayasuriya's outside edge with the first ball, the veteran opener then tries a lofted drive over mid-on. But there's a fielder there, Jimmy Anderson, he gets both hands to it... but puts the chance down. Dougie Brown on TMS tries to stick up for a fellow pro by claiming the wind was a factor, but I think he should have taken that one. Thankfully, it doesn't cost England much as two balls later, Jayasuriya tries to go deep again but is safely pouched by Ravi Bopara on the midwicket boundary.

12th over - SL 69-0
The wind blows the bails off again as Broad continues, but the runs continue to flow as Tharanga hits him through the on-side for two. But that's the only scoring stroke from the over.

"I fail to see how getting the Colonel a smaller shirt would be more comfortable for him. I,like the Colonel, like to wear baggy clothing as I find normal sized tops constricting for my movement. I don't think that we want to start restricting the movement of our wicketkeeper as we will have a hard enough job winning in Sri Lanka as it is"
Phil Watson in the TMS inbox

11th over - SL 67-0
Umpire Asoka De Silva signals the start of the second powerplay. Jayasuriya wafts Anderson to midwicket for two, and then tries the same shot again and hoists him over long-on for six, while Anderson strays with two successive wides. Jayasuriya then hits the ball into the ground and runs a quick single, as does Tharanga, and Jayasuriya rounds off Sri Lanka's best over so far by hooking a four past midwicket.

"I am ignorant of the world of football and wish to remain so. I'm sure all football fans have received this news long ago on their mobiles so stick to what this board is all about - trivia and occasionally cricket. Keep this board football free"
Colin Allcars, Newport, in the TMS inbox
[Occasionally cricket? Cheeky - MM]

"England haven't taken a wicket yet but with Jayasuriya at the crease, they'll be pleased to have kept them to five runs an over"
Dougie Brown on TMS

10th over - SL 51-0
A change in the commentary box as Roshan Abeysinghe replaces Alison M, and back on the pitch it's the first change of bowling as Stuart Broad replaces Sidey at the commentary box end. Jayasuriya hits his first ball over cover and it bounces just inside the rope for four, bringing up the Sri Lanka fifty. Jayasuriya then steps back to give himself room and fences at one which sails through to Mustard. Jayasuriya takes a leg-bye to end the first powerplay.

"At last a reason to look at my work's PC this cold and wet Monday morning! C'mon England, do us proud. I find it hard to believe Hoggard never plays this form of the game, he's the best bowler our country has, he certainly should be playing"
Spoff, Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox

9th over - SL 46-0
Tharanga takes two off the first ball and then off-drives Anderson for four, taking his tallly to 31, as Captain Colly attempts to reinforce the off-side infield. Jayasuriya dabs one to backward point for a single off the final ball.

"Perhaps SiBo could take the opportunity to exchange hair do's and don'ts with Lasith Malinga whose lovely locks always seem to retain a 'just stepped out of a salon', bouncy quality - whatever the weather"
Jon, Ashford, in the TMS inbox

"Does Sarah in Canterbury hold the record for the most number of 'posts' in a season? I've yet to be published despite numerous efforts..."
Ash (also optimistically), Crawley, in the TMS inbox

8th over - SL 38-0
Jayasuriya drives Sidey straight to Ian Bell at cover, who dives down low but the TV replay is inconclusive over whether the ball bounced in front of him or if it was a chance. Sidey tries a slower ball, which Jayasuriya hits square of the wicket and it evades two diving infielders to rattle away to the boundary. Jayasuriya then advances down the track and lifts Sidey over extra cover for four.

"Mark, here I sit, poised to become a sports writer for the University newspaper (along with many others)! You talked about Sri Lanka's kit, what would you have the England team wear if you designed the uniforms?"
Ben, Exeter, in the TMS inbox

Ben, I don't have the first clue about design, fashion or anything like that. I'd say the most important thing would be for the players to be comfortable in it - like getting the Colonel a smaller shirt, for instance.

7th over - SL 29-0
Tharanga works Anderson to midwicket for two, while my colleague Paresh Soni notices that Mustard's wearing a very baggy shirt - he could be an ice hockey netminder in that one. The windy conditions only serve to accentuate this. England then miss a chance for an early wicket when Tharanga backs up too far but Colly's throw misses the stumps - he would have been out if it had hit.

6th over - SL 26-0
Sidey is still bowling to two slips, watched by new bowling consultant Ottis Gibson who is sheltering in the shade with his very own electric fan keeping him cool. Having seen him in the Friends Provident Trophy final, England could do worse than pick him to bowl! Jayasuriya flicks one off his legs for two and Swann (ODI shirt number 66) does the fielding. Another flick to midwicket prompts Colly to remove the second slip, but Jayasuriya then works the final ball of the over through third man for four.

And news from the world of football - QPR, bottom of the Championship, have sacked manager John Gregory.

"I hope I'm proved wrong but every time we don't pick Monty these days we lose. The bowler that replaces him usually goes for more runs than Monty. A bit like leaving our best batsman out of the 20/20 side (Ian Bell!). More often than not in the past with England cricket it has been management/team selection that's wrong, which then puts the team on the back foot from the start"
Dave in Oldham in the TMS inbox

5th over - SL 18-0
As Alison Mitchell replaces Simon Mann on TMS and spots a nearby horde of cattle just outside the ground, Anderson strikes Jayasuriya on the pad and they run a single. Finally we have the first boundary as Tharanga late-cuts for four. He then mistimes one into the off-side for two as KP runs back to save the boundary.

4th over - SL 11-0
Sidey strays with a wide to bring Sri Lanka into double figures. Jayasuriya threatens to cut loose for the first time with a wild swing-and-miss outside off-stump, but turns the next ball away for a single. Tharanga is then well beaten as the ball flies inches wide of his off-stump. Sri Lanka not starting with their usual early fireworks.

"They're bowling to a 7-2 off-side field to both batsmen, who are both left-handers. I would have thought on a pitch like this, they'd be trying to bowl as straight as they can, but have more fielders on the leg side"
Dougie Brown on TMS

3rd over - SL 9-0
The Colonel has taken ODI shirt number 52, for those of you who may note such ephemera. Jayasuriya is in Neil Fairbrother mode, taking a single off nearly every ball he faces, while Tharanga is more sedate, but flicks Anderson away for a couple of twos.

"It's hard to build up a team atmosphere in conditions like this, as the fielders can't hear what each other are saying"
Warwickshire and Scotland all-rounder Dougie Brown on TMS

"How marvellous! A fresh, squeaky clean new series, with all the delicious anticipation that brings! How long before the sense of anticlimax sets in and I'm watching gloomily from behind a cushion?!"
Sarah (optimistically?), Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

2nd over - SL 4-0
Ryan Sidebottom takes the second over and has a pretty strong LBW shout from his first ball, but it looks like Jayasuriya got a slight inside edge and he scampers through for a single. The umpire at the bowler's end is Rudi Koertzen, who's almost unrecognisable, having grown a white goatee beard with a smattering of sun cream on his lips. With Sidey bowling left-arm over, there's chaos as a number of chairs have to be removed from in front of the sightscreens, and even Monty P is deputised to help the ground staff clear the area behind the bowler's arm. The wind blows one of the bails off and Sidey, whose mane of hair is not suited to windy conditions either, sends down a wide - but he beats Tharanga's outside edge with the last ball. A long over, that.

1st over - SL 2-0
Anderson's first ball is outside off-stump and new keeper Phil "The Colonel" Mustard gets an early touch. Tharanga gets Sri Lanka off the mark with a single, and Jayasuriya follows suit. Having experimented with a light blue kit for the World Twenty20, Sri Lanka are wearing kit of a similar blue colour to England's. Alison Mitchell on TMS thinks it's "indigo", while I'd put it as more of a royal blue. Jimmy gets a bit of swing, and it appears to be extremely windy in Dambulla.

0959: The old firm of Jayasuriya and Tharanga opening up for Sri Lanka, and Jimmy Anderson's taking the new ball. Here we go, folks.

"It's Monday morning, I'm at work, and the Montster's not in the team, can this day get any worse?"
Mike Poland, counting down the minutes to 5pm, Worthing, in the TMS inbox

"Is anyone else slightly concerned we could get mauled today, looking at our team?"
Mark, Bristol, in the TMS inbox
[Nothing like a bit of optimism on a Monday morning - MM]

"They've dropped Monty? Not surprised to be honest. Getting beaten so soundly in the foursomes at the weekend then only scraping a win in the singles? Back to the nets for him I th think"
Yam Yam Jock in the TMS inbox, who was obviously watching the Seve Trophy at the weekend

How to get BBC Sport on your mobile or PDA

0950: As ever, don't forget that you can follow the game even if you're on the move and get BBC Sport delivered directly to your mobile or other handheld device. Stay in touch!

0949: Right, here's a summary of the ODI rule changes which were introduced at the weekend (web users can take a look at the full version below):

0937: Sri Lanka, as you may have heard, are without off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for the first three matches of the series. But they have decided against replacing him with a specialist spinner. No offence to leg-spinning all-rounder Kaushal Lokuarachchi, but thankfully he's not been selected and I won't have to type his name out any more today. If I tried to spell-check his name, it would probably crash the entire BBC website.

The Sri Lanka team will be mostly familiar to anyone who followed the World Cup - Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando.

TOSS NEWS: Paul Collingwood calls incorrectly, Mahela Jayawardene elects to bat first. A curious by-product of the new ODI rules (more of them in a minute) is that the ball is replaced after the 35th over. Having lost the toss, Colly has chosen two "old" balls from a box, from which Sri Lanka will select one for the last 15 overs of their innings. England will take the other.

0932: Here's the England team - Alastair Cook, Phil Mustard (wk), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood (capt), Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson.

Changes from the last 50-over (against India at Lord's) see Mustard make his debut for the injured Matt Prior, and he'll open with Cook who replaces Luke Wright. Bopara's in for the injured Andrew Flintoff, Shah replaces Panesar, and Sidebottom is in for Dimitri Mascarenhas.

0924: Some pre-match stats from my ever-efficient "gaffer" Paul Grunill - England have played twice at Dambulla and lost both times, by five wickets in 2001 and by 10 wickets in 2003 (after being bowled out for 88). Sri Lanka have played 15 ODIs on this ground, won 12 and lost three.

0922: Swanny's only previous one-day international outing for England was on 23 January 2000, against South Africa in Bloemfontein. He bowled five wicketless overs for 24 runs (one fewer over than Graeme Hick, who took 1-32) and didn't bat.