England's opening ODI in Sri Lanka abandoned due to rain
Wednesday 10 October 2018 16:58, UK
England rallied from a double setback to reach 92-2 off 15 overs before the first ODI against Sri Lanka in Dambulla was abandoned due to rain.
Click play on the video above to watch the pick of the action.
Jonny Bairstow (25) and Jason Roy (24) put on 49 in eight overs for the first wicket after England were invited to bat, only for both openers to fall in the space of five balls.
Joe Root (25no) and captain Eoin Morgan (14no) picked up the baton, keeping the scoring-rate at over six-an-over before inclement weather arrived.
The stoppage brought an enthralling start to the five-match series to a shuddering halt just as each side had landed some healthy early blows.
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Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal opted not to begin with spin after inserting the tourists, only for his trust in Lasith Malinga (0-37) and Nuwan Pradeep (1-23) to go unrewarded.
Roy was quickest out of the blocks, striking four boundaries in his 27-ball innings, including one stand-and-deliver straight drive off Pradeep.
With Bairstow warming to his task, striking Akila Dananjaya (1-30) over mid-wicket for six and cutting the next delivery for four, England's start was confident and compelling.
The world's top-ranked team were pinned back, though, when Bairstow feathered a slower-ball from Pradeep through to Niroshan Dickwella - the Yorkshireman improving his tally in ODI cricket this year to 995.
Roy fell in the very next over when his bold attempt to strike Dananjaya over mid-on ended up in a sliced catch to mid-off and matters might have got worse for the tourists had Root not edged wide of second slip early in his knock.
Sri Lanka could not tighten their grip further, though, with Malinga struggling for consistency. Root hooked the paceman powerfully for four, while Morgan slog-swept just over deep square for six to restore some momentum.
England had earlier handed a debut to Warwickshire paceman Olly Stone and preferred a third spinner, Liam Dawson, to Mark Wood.
Live coverage of England's tour of Sri Lanka is available across Sky Sports digital platforms. Find out more here. Join us for the second ODI, from 4.45am on Sky Sports Cricket.
