ENG vs SL Ball by Ball Commentary

OUT! TIMBER! England win by 119 runs. Liam Dawson finishes things off. Drifting a tempting, slower delivery, Dushmantha Chameera moves forward and has a wild swipe at it but misses it completely. The ball rattles over the leg pole. England assert their authority with a ruthless display, taking an early 1-0 series lead while pushing their unbroken mastery over Sri Lanka to 13 games.

SIX! That's a good shot! Tossed up, on middle and leg, Dushmantha Chameera makes room and slog sweeps it magnificently over deep mid-wicket for a bigge.

Fullish, on middle, Dushmantha Chameera taps it back to the bowler.

Short, on middle, Dushmantha Chameera knocks it to mid on.

Quicker, outside off, and it stays low. Dushmantha Chameera looks to sweep it but misses.

Turning away, on off, Dushmantha Chameera slaps it to cover.

SIX! Hammered! Flatter, on middle and leg, Eshan Malinga takes a step forward and powers it high and over the long on fence for a bigge.

Play and a miss! Turn and bounce, outside off, Eshan Malinga looks to play at it but misses.

Short, on off, Dushmantha Chameera punches it to cover for a single.

Good fielding in the deep! Short and wide, Eshan Malinga slaps it through backward point. Sonny Baker dives to his right near the fence and stops the boundary. Three runs taken.

Quicker, on off, Dushmantha Chameera knocks it to mid on for a single.

Flatter, on middle, Dushmantha Chameera blocks it to the right of the bowler.

FOUR! Streaky from Malinga! Back of a length, outside off, Eshan Malinga looks to punch it. Gets a thick outside edge as the ball races away through short third for a boundary.

Angling in, on off, Eshan Malinga punches it to cover.

OUT! TAKEN! That's a terrific catch from Jordan Cox. Fullish, on off, slower too. Dunith Wellalage looks it loft it but doesn't connect well. The ball catches the outside edge and carries towards deep backward point. Jordan Cox moves to his right near the fence and takes a sharp catch.

Wide! Down the leg side, Dunith Wellalage looks to flick it but misses.

FOUR! That's a terrific shot! Back of a length, on off, Dunith Wellalage makes room and chips it magnificently over point for a boundary.

Back of a length, outside off, Dunith Wellalage slaps it over extra covers for a brace.

Play and a miss! Hits the deck hard, on leg, Dunith Wellalage swings hard but misses.

Flatter, on leg, Dunith Wellalage tugs it through mid-wicket for a single.

Turning in, on leg, Dunith Wellalage cuts it to point.

Leg break, on top of off, Dunith Wellalage punches it to point.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries from Wellalage! Fullish, on leg, Dunith Wellalage gets low and sweeps it magnificently over square leg for yet another boundary.

FOUR! Just wide of deep square leg! Short, on middle and leg, Dunith Wellalage goes deep in his crease and pulls it wide of deep square leg for a boundary.

A bit short, on off, Dunith Wellalage knocks it down the ground. He denies for a single.

Fuller, outside off, Dunith Wellalage punches it to the left of long off but denies the single.

WIDE! Much fuller, but spills it down the leg side.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Sonny Baker, you beauty. Pace on, fuller in length, right on off stump! Theekshana is late bringing the bat down to dig it out into the off side. The ball sneaks underneath his blade before he can even react and utterly shatters the stump.

Driven gloriously! Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, outside off. Maheesh Theekshana prods forward to drive it past the cover fielder, but the extra cover runs back and cuts it to two runs.

Just a shade behind the good length, outside off, Maheesh Theekshana bunts it to backward point.

Hard length, over off, Maheesh Theekshana defends it down.

Good length, on middle, Maheesh Theekshana defends it to the right of mid-wicket.

Back of a length, outside off, Dunith Wellalage swings and misses.

Short of a length, outside off, Maheesh Theekshana guides it to third man for one.

Bouncer, over middle. Maheesh Theekshana ducks under it.

DROPPED CHANCE! Short of a length and directed sharply at the ribs. Wellalage, backing away to clear the leg side, completely loses the trajectory and turns his head. It pops off the body frame to Buttler’s left behind the stumps, he reaches out with a single glove, just managing to take the sting off the ball as it rolls down to deep third man for a single.

FOUR! Exquisite! Full-length delivery, on off. Dunith Wellalage clears his front foot and smashes it over left of mid off for four runs.

On a nagging length, outside off, Maheesh Theekshana taps it to cover-point for one.

Short, outside off, Dunith Wellalage pulls it but finds the mid on fielder.

Slower one, on the back of a good length, angling in. Dunith Wellalage looks to flick it but wears on the thigh pad.

SIX! Exceptional from Wellalage! Hard-length delivery, angling just outside off. Dunith Wellalage hangs back to cut it late and manages to sail it just over the backward point boundary cushion for six runs.

Short again, wide outside off, Dunith Wellalage attempts to pull but misses.

Short, wide outside off, Dunith Wellalage makes a leave at it.

SIX! Oh, mind boggling! Much fuller, just outside off, shaping away. Dunith Wellalage uses his bottom hand to punch it over deep cover, showing the full face of the bat for a biggie.

OUT! CASTLED! Jamie Overton joins the party now. Pitches it on the back of a good length, just outside off, angling in. Wanindu Hasaranga makes room and tries to whack it toward wide long on, but the ball skids through and beats the under edge crash into the stumps. The idea wasn't wrong from Hasaranga, it's just that Overton got a bit of favour from the track.

Bangs a bouncer, over middle and leg. Wanindu Hasaranga ducks under it.

Short of a length, well outside off, Dunith Wellalage cuts it to deep third for one.

Hard length, outside off, Wanindu Hasaranga stabs it through cover and gets a single.

Back of a length, outside off, Wanindu Hasaranga guides it to backward point.

A touch fuller, on off, Wanindu Hasaranga dabs it to cover.

On a nagging length, outside off, Dunith Wellalage dabs it to short third.

OUT! TAKEN! What's the Queen song? Another one bites the dust. Pitches it fuller, just outside off, keeping it straight. Kamindu Mendis plants his front foot toward the leg side to the pitch of the delivery and tries to smoke it downtown, but ends up hitting it from the outer part of his bat. The ball balloons toward long on and Harry Brook makes no mistake in spilling it away.

Bumper, over middle. Kamindu Mendis rocks back and fails to connect his pull.

Slower bouncer, outside off. Kamindu Mendis attempts to heave it across, but ends up withdrawing his bat as he notices the pace off delivery.

Pitches it fuller, outside off, Kamindu Mendis looks to drills it downtown, but it nips away and sneaks past the outside edge.

Short of a length, outside off, Wanindu Hasaranga guides it to deep third for one.

TWO WIDES! Back of a length, angling down the leg side. Kamindu Mendis misses his heave. Jos Buttler fails to glove it before the ball rolls to deep fine leg for a run plus wide.

Full, outside off, Wanindu Hasaranga drives it past the cover fielder and gets a brace.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Adil Rashid has the last laugh. Turning away, just outside off, Dasun Shanaka leans on and looks to block it but misses it completely. The ball kisses the outside edge of Shanaka's bat and carries towards Jos Buttler, who takes a sharp catch. Sri Lanka continue to crumble.

SIX MORE! That's a flat six! Tossed up, outside off, Dasun Shanaka latches onto it and slaps it powerfully over extra covers for a flat six.

SIX! That was hit with some power! Tossed up, outside off, Dasun Shanaka shimmies down the ground and powers it over the bowler's head for a huge six.

Much fuller, on off, Dasun Shanaka pushes it to point.

Tossed up, outside off, Kamindu Mendis looks to slap it but gets a bottom edge. The ball rolls towards short fine leg for a single.

Just over the bowler! Fullish, on off, Kamindu Mendis chips it down the ground. Liam Dawson dives to his right but just manages to get his fingertips to it. The ball rolls towards mid off as the batters collect a single.

Fired in, on off, Dasun Shanaka pushes it to backward point for a single.

Two wides! Down the leg side, Kamindu Mendis looks to flick it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the batters cross.

Fullish, on middle, Kamindu Mendis plays a reverse sweep towards backward point.

Too full, on middle, Kamindu Mendis blocks it back to the bowler.

OUT! TAKEN! Liam Dawson strikes. Tossed up, on off, Charith Asalanka moves forward and looks to loft it. Doesn't quite get it off the meat of his bat. The ball goes high in the air towards long on. Tom Banton keeps his eyes on the ball and takes a sharp catch. The captain tries to up the ante but fails to do so.

Short and wide, Dasun Shanaka slaps it through cover-point for a single.

Gives it air, on off, Dasun Shanaka sweeps it through mid-wicket for a run.

A bit short, on off, Charith Asalanka rocks back and tugs it through mid-wicket for a single.

Short, outside off, Charith Asalanka slaps it through wide of mid off for a brace.

Fired in, on middle, Dasun Shanaka punches it to extra cover for one more.

Short, on off, Charith Asalanka tugs it to wide of mid on for a single.

Quicker, on the stumps, Dasun Shanaka taps it to mid on for a run.

Flatter, on off, Dasun Shanaka knocks it to mid on for a single.

Flighted up, on middle, Dasun Shanaka sweeps it through backward square leg for a brace.

Much fuller, on off, Dasun Shanaka digs it to point.

FOUR! Finds the gap! Fullish, on middle and leg, Dasun Shanaka gets low and sweeps it. The ball races away through the right of short fine leg for a boundary.

Tossed up, outside off, Charith Asalanka taps it to cover for a single.

FOUR! Not where he intended! Fullish, just outside off, Charith Asalanka changes his stance and plays a reverse sweep. Gets a bottom edge as the ball goes through the legs of the keeper for a boundary.

Good length, on off, Dasun Shanaka punches it to point.

OUT! TAKEN! Another wicket in the same over for Sonny Baker. Hits the deck hard, on middle and leg. Lahiru Udara moves to his off side and tries to paddle it over short fine leg. The ball hits the upper part of his bat and lobs towards Adil Rashid at short fine leg, who moves to his right and takes a well-judged catch. Dasun Shanaka is the new batter.

A bit too full, on off, Charith Asalanka pushes it to point for a quick single.

Fullish, on leg, Charith Asalanka flicks it to mid-wicket.

A tad fuller, on off, Charith Asalanka taps it back to the bowler.

OUT! TIMBER! Sonny Baker gets a wicket now. That was too quick for Kamil. Angling in, on a length, on top of leg. Kamil Mishara stays back and looks to heave it, but the ball goes through the gate, between Mishara's bat and his pads, and rattles over the leg pole. Sri Lanka fall further behind, but more importantly for England, the drop catch did not cost much.

Slower and much fuller, outside off. Lahiru Udara takes a big step across the stumps and drills it to the mid on fielder with one bounce.

Hard length, over middle, Lahiru Udara nudges it to mid-wicket.

DROPPED! Oh, that is a sitter for Will Jacks. Foxed by the slower, shorter delivery outside off, Mishara top-edges an aggressive pull high into the night sky. The ball takes a tricky swirl on its descent towards short third. Jacks tracks it all the way, flinging himself to his left, but ends up spilling the chance.

Short, just outside the leg stump. Lahiru Udara misses his flick, wears on the pad and rolls toward backward square leg for a leg bye.

FOUR! Nicely played! Short, just outside off. Lahiru Udara gets on his back foot and slaps it wide of mid off for four runs.

Pitches it up, on middle, Lahiru Udara works it to mid-wicket.

FOUR! SHOT! On a nagging length, around off and middle. Kamil Mishara gets down on one knee and sweeps it through sqaure leg for a boundary.

Full, on off, Lahiru Udara drives it to long on for one.

OUT! CAUGHT! There comes the opening breakthrough for England and the bowling change has done the job for Harry Brook. Will Jacks drags his length back, yet again, pitching it just outside off and turning in sharply toward the batter. Pathum Nissanka doesn'tget enough time to make room and ends up mistiming his pull toward mid on, where Jamie Overton back paddles a couple of steps to reverse scoop the catch over his head.

Short, on off and middle. Pathum Nissanka shuffles across and pulls it the right of deep backward sqaure leg for a brace.

Short of a length, over middle. Pathum Nissanka pulls it to the left of deep backward sqaure leg for a brace.

Tossed up, fuller, around off, Kamil Mishara drives it to long off for one.

Much fuller, just behind the yorker length, outside off, Kamil Mishara jams it to point for a quick single.

Pitches it up, outside off, Pathum Nissanka swats it from the inner part of his bat to mid on and gets a single.

Bashes onto the length, does Baker, outside off. Pathum Nissanka looks to cut at it but the ball beats the outside edge.

SIX! BANG! The first biggie of the inning. Outside the off stump, just a shade behind good length. Pathum Nissanka rocks back and pulls it from the middle part of his bat, over deep square leg for a biggie.

Back of a length, angling down the leg side, Kamil Mishara fails to flick it, wears on the body and the ball rolls away to square leg for a leg bye.

Hard length, over off, Kamil Mishara defends it back to the bowler.

Short, around off, Kamil Mishara pulls it to mid-wicket for one.

Back of a length, well outside off, Kamil Mishara swings and misses.

In the air... SAFE! Short of a length, around off, Kamil Mishara mistimes his loft to long off and gets a brace.

Change of pace, on the nagging length, around middle. Kamil Mishara nudges it to mid-wicket.

O the fuller side, outside off. Kamil Mishara mistimes it back to the bowler.

Back of a length, just outside off, Pathum Nissanka dabs it to backward point for one.

Pitches it fuller, angling down the leg side. Pathum Nissanka misses his flick.

Just a shade behind the good length, outside off, Kamil Mishara looks to lash it away, over cover, but misses.

Hard-length delivery, pitching it just outside off and nipping it away. Kamil Mishara looks to defend it, but it zips past the outside edge.

On a nagging length, just outside off, swinging in. Pathum Nissanka shuffles across to flick it but hits the pad before it rolls to short fine leg for a leg bye. Sri Lanka are underway!

Hard length, nipping in, over middle. Pathum Nissanka blocks it down.

Short of a length, outside off. Pathum Nissanka looks to drag his pull shot, but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Attacking the batter, right away! Back of a length, angling in, on off and shaping in. Pathum Nissanka hops and looks to tuck it away, but gets beaten and wears on the thigh pad.