Key event
6th over: Sri Lanka 58-1 (K Mendis 1, Mishara 15) Nissanka is furious for himself for losing concentration and playing a stone-booted wild hack. Archer feels he deserved that. A tricky over fro Sri Lanka as he varies his pace from 70 to 90mph. And that’s the end of the power play.
WICKET! Nissanka b Archer 34 (Sri Lanka 56-1)
Clay feet, wild slash, bails fly.
5th over: Sri Lanka 54-0 (Nissanka 33, Mishara 14) Another six, this time slog-swept by Nissanka, which Jacks follows up with a wide down legside. A perfect moon peeks out from behind a night-time cloud on Navam Full Moon Poya.
4th over: Sri Lanka 45-0 (Nissanka 26, Mishara 13) Both seamers have now been sent out to pasture, as Dawson replaces Archer. He’s on the money immediately, though a full toss is punished by Mishara, sent flashing through point with twinkling toes.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 39-0 (Nissanka 25, Mishara 8) Will Jacks is brought on on to slow things up, which he does immediately. There’s even an umpire review for a run out, as Jacks fires the ball back on the advancing Nissanka. He saves himself with a outstretched bat and a dive.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 35-0 (Nissanka 22, Mishara 7)Archer doesn’t fare much better- two sixes, one for each batter, swinging the bat sweetly and freely, and four wides fly past the diving gloves of Jos Buttler.
Updated
The players are out! Sri Lanka to bat first.
1st over: Sri Lanka 14-0 (Nissanka 13, Mishara 0) Sri Lanka haven’t beaten England in a T20 since May 2015. England will be determined to keep it that way. Sam Curran with the first over of the day. His first ball is immaculately defended by Nissanka, who sends the next three to the boundary – through the empty slips, swept for four and uppercut just short of the rope. Fourteen from the over – which is one less than from Curran’s opening over on Friday.
I’ve just realised my email address is wrong – so apologies if it bounced back. Will change it but in the meantime the correct address is tanya.aldred.freelance@theguardian.com.
Russell Arnold with the pitch report and the shiniest brown shoes of the day. “There are drier conditions today and it is very pleasant, the pitch has an even covering of grass. The spinners were more successful in the last match when they pitched outside the line of the stumps.”
Roshan Abeysinghe and Steve Harmison are out in the middle. It’s dark in Pallekele and the floodlights turn the grass neon. They rave about Adil Rashid.
“He’s the only spin bowler to get bot the length right and also the pace,” says Harmy, resplendent in a purple linen shirt.
Sri Lanka XI
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis (wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka (capt), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Eshan Malinga, Matheesha Pathirana.
England XI
England: Phil Salt, Jos Buttler (wk), Jacob Bethell, Tom Banton, Harry Brook (capt), Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.
Ben Duckett has a finger injury.
England have won the toss and will bowl
Harry Brook fancies a repeat of the first game. Dasun Shanaka seems pleased too: “Happy to bat first as it’s a used wicket,” he says.
England are unchanged, Sri Lanka swap in Pavan Rathnayake and Dunith Wellalage for Dhanajaya de Silva and Maheesh Theekshana.
Reflections from our man in Sri Lanka
“No sign of rain at the Pallekele tonight. It’s a gorgeous sight at present: setting sun poking out the clouds, the grass banks filling up, Jofra Archer bowling leggies on the practice wicket.
That being said, I ventured out to the Asgiriya Stadium in Kandy this afternoon, which used to host international cricket in these parts and is owned by a school, and that was picturesquely tucked up on a hill. There was a school game going on, with one of the kids bowling some fizzy left-arm spin; Rangana Herath would’ve rated it. Worth a visit if you’re ever here. “
But hope for the future – a lovely interview with Australia U19 star Ollie Peake, the boy who used to sleep in his pads.
Australia, whose record in T20 World Cups doesn’t match their 50-over exploits, have had a dire preparation in Pakistan.
Preamble
Hello! Welcome back to Sri Lanka, where we’ve reached the business end of the tour – T20 preparation for the World Cup. England won the first one, a damp and drawn out affair -perked up by three wickets for Adil Rashid and a hat-trick for Sam Curran at the end.
Since then we’ve had another mea culpa from Harry Brook – this time admitting he had teammates out with the him the night of his altercation with a bouncer. Why they didn’t just get it all out in the open at the same time, beats me.
Anyway, we’re back in Pallekele, where play – rain permitting – is due to start at 1.30pm GMT. Sri Lanka will be keen for more wickets from a fit Matheesha Pathirana, and a better showing against spin from the batters. England are keen to clinch the series. Do join us to see how things pan out.
