Great drama!

Sri Lankan captain looks deflated. well done to Buttler and the batting bowlers.

Great game. Really wish I had been there.

I was and the atmosphere at the end was incredible! Very few people had left with 1 ball to go, more had gone when it was 82 for 6 (is that right?) ....but it felt like a huge win, although when he hit it, I thought he would be caught on the boundary but it kept accelerating out of the park! great stuff

Didn't see the early part of England's innings but just saw the highlights

What on earth was Hales doing asking for a review.

Is he room - sharing with Stuart Broad

Almost as bad as the 3rd umpire not ruling a bo-ball for Willey's dismissal

big score from the england women today

if there had been any pressure on the new coach after supposedly forcing charlotte edwards out he couldn't have wished for a better start

the boundaries do look like they have been brought in quite short

TBH this series won't tell england anything since pakistan are not a great women team.
the big test will be WI later this year.

with the resources and money England got they should be number 1 in the format, they been quite awful or underachieving since probably 2010 really quite embarrassing they scraping to qualify in the first attempt for the world cup.

England facing a must win series against WI, they lose and qualification isn't in their hands but in India or WI hands.
Sri lanka won't be easy either at home conditions.
looking at the table
Aus
NZ
will be the top 2 and then 2 of India, WI and england will qualify right now England got the edge but if it loses any game against pak or Sri lanka they lose the edge and they will still face a must win game against WI even if they whitewash Sri lanka as well.

England vs WI and India vs WI are huge series for the teams.

if england beats Sri lanka and pak 3-0 they end up with 25 pts
WI got 20 pts so only needs to win 3 games against india or England to go above that and in theory could beat england 3-0 and then lose 3-0 to india.
india could end up with 25pts as well if it wins all its 6 games and then it would be decided on NRR.

Coach pretty much had to change it since england were struggling for a long time in the women game and not sure being 3rd or 4th best and struggling to beat teams like SA, Sri lanka and India is a good thing.
they are so far behind Australia and probably NZ now in the womens game and the gap between WI, SA, India is quite small now and getting smaller as well.

Still expect England to qualify in the first attempt but they haven't really played well enough to worry the big teams and they probably a good chance they face a must win game at some point in the competition.
Not sure they will win the world cup either or get to the final next year, Aus/NZ look far stronger and England are similar ability to India, WI, SA really.

............and a great advert for 50 over Cricket!

Some of the most enthralling games I have seen have been 50/55/60 overs, which allows for ebb and flow. At 82/6 you need to steady the ship and work your way back and it was a great example of the tide being turned and a fascinating battle of wills.
Iv seen a few comments having a go at Woakes for not hitting more boundaries but he actually scored quicker than Buttler on the basis of balls received.

That type of scoring does reminds of Neil Fairbrother who was a master of speedy run accumulation with 1's and 2's.

Compton taking a break from the game.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/36611707

Hope its nothing serious as such but maybe no surprise in terms of his form this season.

He is lucky to be able to afford to do this.

Envy is such an ugly sentiment. Misplaced envy even more so.

The difference between mental and physical well-being succinctly summarised. If someone had some ankle damage (e.g. Mark Wood) that hinders their performance but theoretically could continue playing, if they sensibly choose to take time out and get medical help then no problem.

Some good news from yesterday's Yorkshire/Durham game :

The catcher was Ben Stokes, on as a substitute with ECB approval as he recovers from his knee operation. He replaced Paul Collingwood, who has a fractured thumb.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-c...y/1028865.html


and a new coach for India

Former India captain Anil Kumble has been appointed coach of the national side for one year, the BCCI announced on Thursday. His first assignment will be India's four-Test tour of the West Indies.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/co...y/1028683.html

England currently 14-0 after 2 overs
Chasing 255 to win

What is the umpire wearing on his forearm?

Can't believe the comms still going on about are bowling being light in this match. It maybe true in general, but in this match as a unit they bowled very well. Couldn't understand the Lankan passivity, reckon they're about 70-100 runs short genuinely.

100 opening partnership from Hales and Roy thats a bit of alright in my view

England making this look very straightforward

Wonder if Root will get in ?

Lanka's innings actually reminded me of when we lost to them in the World Cup 2011

Was a worse pitch but could be a similar result.

Excellent partnership

Hales has his 100 and is now hitting 6's

Did I miss something !! Hales well past a 100 and I'd only gone away for 10 minutes.

Yeah he hit like 27? in a single over.

Sht I can't wait for the highlights.

100 for Roy too this has been a cakewalk for us.

Outstanding by the openers Hales at times has been contemptuous of the Sri Lankan bowlers.

Loving the brexxit effect GG

Fabulous win for England

Good to see the top order contribute