Sky Sports Today - Breaking Transfer News, Build-up to Super Sunday and the Latest Sports News

England v SL - 5th ODI

Live from Edgbaston

    Mikey believes Sri Lanka ran out deserved series winners

    6/3/2014 9:14:17 PM
  • Can't wait for he deciding odi with @alexbreeze at @CricketingBears gonna be just as exciting as Saturday! Go on @ECB_cricket
    by Adam James via twitter retweeted by CricketingBears 6/3/2014 11:10:53 AM
  • We have all arrived at Edgbaston for today's winner-takes-all ODI between England and Sri Lanka. Fine & dry at the moment. SS2 1.30pm
    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 11:24:03 AM

  • .@BumbleCricket chats with Malinga and @Athersmike talks to Lord's century-maker @josbuttler before play http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpM7UPxCEAAUJFb.jpg

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 11:25:44 AM
  • WELCOME
    Hello everyone and welcome to our live, interactive match blog, coming to you from Edgbaston, where England and Sri Lanka are preparing for a winner-takes-all one-day international. After trading blows at The Oval, Durham, Old Trafford and Lord’s, the series is locked at 2-2 ahead of this Birmingham day-nighter. It’s fine and dry in the midlands at the moment and we’ll be hoping it stays that way for what could be an absolute classic. So, for over-by-over updates and the expert views of the Sky Cricket commentary team, stay right here throughout the afternoon and evening. Match starts, 2pm.
    6/3/2014 11:38:32 AM

  • The stage is set for 'The Decider'

    6/3/2014 11:38:39 AM

  • Eoin Morgan is due a big knock. Is tonight the night?

    6/3/2014 11:47:47 AM
  • Great effort from Edgbaston groundsman @barnstonworth and his @CricketingBears team. Up all night mopping up after torrential rain.
    by George Dobell via twitter retweeted by CricketingBears 6/3/2014 12:05:40 PM

  • Bumble previews tonight's match after a look at the pitch

    6/3/2014 12:55:37 PM
  • Over 2 - Eng 5/0 (Cook, 2 Bell 3)
    Malinga shares the new ball for Sri Lanka. Bell is off the mark with a push drive down the ground for two. Malinga's pace is down at around 80mph. Bell keeps the strike with a single wide of extra cover.
    6/3/2014 1:10:17 PM
  • An early observation on conditions from Mikey... [michaelholding] 
    So far there's been no swing or lateral movement off the seam so that's encouraging for the batsmen.
    6/3/2014 1:10:35 PM

  • What goes through the mind of Lasith Malinga when running in to bowl?

    6/3/2014 1:16:09 PM
  • Over 3 - Eng 10/0 (Cook, 2 Bell 8)
    Kulasekara is pitching it full but there's not much swing or seam with the new ball. Bell picks up two, steered into the off-side off the back foot and then shows some aggressive intent, earning two more with a lofted drive over wide mid-on. The bat turned in his hand but he got enough of it. Bell guides it down to third-man for single.
    6/3/2014 1:16:37 PM
  • Over 4 - Eng 18/0 (Cook, 2 Bell 15)
    Haven't seen anything in the first four overs to suggest this is anything other than an excellent batting track. The ball is coming through nicely onto the bat, not much in the way of seam or swing for Malinga. Bell continues to dominate the strike and drives down the ground for England's opening boundary.
    6/3/2014 1:20:03 PM
  • Over 5 - Eng 22/0 (Cook 5, Bell 16)
    Bell misses out on a short, wide delivery from Kulasekara to start the fifth over. Bell gets a single into the covers, where it wasn't fielded cleanly. Cook collects three to midwicket, just pulled in short of the rope. Sangakkara whips off the bails to end the over, Bell raised his back foot after playing and missing outside off-stump. Replays show that only happened after the bails had come off, although umpire Michael Gough didn't bother sending it upstairs to check, much to Sangakkara's displeasure.
    6/3/2014 1:25:08 PM
  • Senanayake into the attack.
    6/3/2014 1:26:33 PM

  • In the early stages it's looking like a good toss for Cook and England to have won

    6/3/2014 1:29:52 PM
  • Over 6 - Eng 29/0 (Cook 12, Bell 16)
    Sri Lanka turn to spin early in the shape of Senanayake. He is playing today despite being reported to the ICC for a suspected illegal bowling action at Lord's on Saturday. He must undergo analysis in the next 21 days but is available to play in the meantime. Cook cuts his opening delivery away for four behind square, was asking for it, and gets three more later in the over with a similar shot.
    6/3/2014 1:30:34 PM
  • Over 7 - Eng 32/0 (Cook 13, Bell 18)
    Cook opens his bat face to run a single behind square on the off-side and Bell only just clears mid-on for a couple later in Kulasekara's over. Bell's yet to middle a lofted drive today, he's had a couple of goes at it now.
    6/3/2014 1:32:27 PM
  • Over 8 - Eng 34/0 (Cook 15, Bell 18)
    Senanayake goes through a few of his variations to the left-handed Cook, pushing a couple through out of the front of his hand. Cook finishes the over with a drive into the covers for two.
    6/3/2014 1:35:28 PM

  • DROPPED! Bell is given a reprieve on 18 after being put down by Jayawardene. bit.ly/1pOQYlb #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNZtgDCYAMAFCU.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 1:38:36 PM
  • [dropped-catch]Over 9 - Eng 42/0 (Cook 15, Bell 26)
    Dropped! Bell chips Kulasekara's slower ball to midwicket but Jayawardene fails to cling on reaching above his head. It wasn't that difficult a chance, but Jayawardene mistimed his jump. Bell celebrates the let-off with two fours in a row, cutting a wide delivery away and then driving dismissively through the extra cover.
    6/3/2014 1:38:41 PM
  • Mike Atherton reflects on what could be a costly drop... [mikeatherton]
    That was a straightforward catch. Jayawardene appeared to gesture that he lost it in the lights but it didn’t seem to go high enough – maybe he lost it in the crowd?

    6/3/2014 1:39:14 PM
  • Over 10 - Eng 46/0 (Cook 18, Bell 27)
    A well-placed drive earns Cook two from the first ball of Senanayake's over. A single apiece for each batsman later in the over.
    6/3/2014 1:43:06 PM

  • Great view from the balcony #EngvSL @CricketingBears http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNZuhIIgAA3ik9.jpg

    by DarrenMaddy via twitter retweeted by CricketingBears 6/3/2014 1:43:08 PM
  • [power-play]England have decided to use the batting powerplay straight away, therefore the fielding restrictions remain in place between overs 11-15. Mendis is coming into the attack.
    6/3/2014 1:44:18 PM
  • Over 11 - Eng 55/0 (Cook 25, Bell 28)
    Mendis has six different variations according to Sri Lanka's assistant coach Chris Adams. Not a great start, a wide is followed by a full toss that Cook helps away for four during an over costing nine runs.
    6/3/2014 1:47:38 PM

  • Jos Buttler chats to Sky Sports about his Lord's century and a potential Test call-up

    6/3/2014 1:48:03 PM
  • Over 12 - Eng 58/0 (Cook 27, Bell 29)
    There's not been much turn for either spinner so far and it's very slow when it does. England content to pick up three singles from Senanayake's latest over.
    6/3/2014 1:50:37 PM

  • Take a look at Ajantha Mendis' spin variation with England going well on 65-0. bit.ly/1pOQYlb #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNc3hACEAEezBQ.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 1:52:22 PM
  • Over 13 - Eng 65/0 (Cook 28, Bell 33)
    Mendis starts with a big wide down the leg-side, Bell then advances to drive for three towards midwicket before the over starts to improve, culminating in Cook being beaten outside off-stump aiming a big drive.
    6/3/2014 1:54:29 PM
  • Over 14 - Eng 67/0 (Cook 29, Bell 34)
    Bell rotates the strike with single off Senanayake's first delivery but Cook can't follow suit and, in the end, only just makes his ground scrambling for a drop-and-run single to keep the strike.
    6/3/2014 1:56:50 PM
  • [davidgower] It doesn’t get any easier than that! Mendis was almost embarrassed to take the catch. That completely stopped off the pitch.

    6/3/2014 1:58:54 PM

  • Bell c and b Mendis 37[wicket]

    Bell seemed determined to get himself out during Mendis' over and finally succeeds from the final ball, prodding a tame return catch back to the bowler. Poor delivery but an even worse shot.
    6/3/2014 2:01:15 PM

  • WICKET: Ian Bell goes for 37 after being caught and bowled. England now 76-1. bit.ly/1pOQYlb #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNfGkBCYAAWwB9.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 2:02:07 PM
  • Over 15 - Eng 76/1 (Cook 34, Ballance 0)
    Bell had already twice miscued shots into the leg-side earlier in the over before departing to Mendis. That was the final ball of the batting powerplay and brings Ballance to the crease.
    6/3/2014 2:03:15 PM
  • Over 16 - Eng 79/1 (Cook 36, Ballance 1)
    With the fielding restrictions now relaxed, Dilshan is into the attack to bowl some off-spin. Ballance is off-the-mark first ball with a drive down the ground, one of three singles in the over.
    6/3/2014 2:05:20 PM
  • Over 17 - Eng 84/1 (Cook 39, Ballance 3)
    Two left-handers together now for England and, with the field spread far and wide, they're happy to collect five singles from Mendis' over.
    6/3/2014 2:09:53 PM
  • Over 18 - Eng 88/1 (Cook 42, Ballance 4)
    Cook late cuts for two and there is also a single apiece off Dilshan's over. Time for drinks at Edgbaston.
    6/3/2014 2:12:33 PM

  • England running smoothly on 88-1 from 18 overs. Live on Sky Sports 2 HD now. bit.ly/1pOQYlb #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNh_szCIAIHLYN.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 2:14:45 PM

  • Senanayake's action is currently under review by the ICC

    6/3/2014 2:15:10 PM
  • Over 19 - Eng 92/1 (Cook 44, Ballance 6)
    Priyanjan, another of Sri Lanka's battery of off-spinners, comes into the attack. He's quite short and has a similar action to Dilshan. Again risk-free singles are the order of the day for Cook and Ballance.
    6/3/2014 2:18:08 PM

  • Here's another look at Bell's dismissal: bit.ly/1pOQYlb #EngvSL http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BpNjC81CYAEod_l.png

    by Sky Sports Cricket via twitter 6/3/2014 2:19:20 PM
  • Over 20 - Eng 98/1 (Cook 46, Ballance 10)
    There's not much happening at the moment as Dilshan continues. Ballance sweeps for the first time, making solid contact to drag it from outside off-stump for two behind square.
    6/3/2014 2:21:19 PM

  • Ballance c and b Malinga 10[wicket]

    Malinga strikes with the first ball of his second spell. Ballance plays too early and, in the end, loops a catch back to Malinga. He pushed his hands at the ball but it didn't come through as quickly as he expected off the pitch. Another odd dismissal.
    6/3/2014 2:22:28 PM
Powered by Platform for Live Reporting, Events, and Social Engagement

LIVE and exclusive on Sky Sports

Most Popular

  1. 'Hamilton did nothing wrong'
  2. Rosberg reignites Hamilton feud
  3. WATCH: Fiery press conference
  4. Sterling dreams of Kop chant
  5. Five things we learnt in China

Matches

The Ashes

The Ashes

Rection to England's 5-0 series whitewash in Australia

Interactive 92live map

Interactive 92live map

Follow Sky Sports News as we report live from all 92 English league clubs

Features

Souness: Mark of champions

Souness: Mark of champions

Graeme Souness hailed Chelsea after their win over QPR, describing their dogged display as "the mark of champions".

Supplement podcast

Supplement podcast

Download to hear the panel discuss the demise of Man City and the futures of van Persie, Cech and Wilshere.

Sky Cricket Podcast

Sky Cricket Podcast

Shane Warne, Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and David Lloyd pay tribute to the legend, Richie Benaud.