FIRST ODI ABANDONED AFTER HEAVY RAIN
The first One-day International (ODI) between Sri Lanka and England was abandoned after 15 overs due to bad weather in Dambulla yesterday. England who were put into bat, had reached 92 for two wickets before play was suspended at 3.40 p.m. and the match was eventually called off at 8.20 p.m. because of a wet outfield.
However, the weather looked encouraging in the afternoon and it seemed that a full day of play was possible before the commencement of the game.
England made steady progress under bright sunshine with the openers Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow negotiating the mystery spinner Akila Dhananjaya comfortably.
In fact, Dhananjaya who was introduced in the seventh over proved to be expensive as he conceded 11 runs with Bairstow slamming a six in the fifth ball and followed it up with a boundary in the next ball.
However, Nuwan Pradeep made the initial breakthrough in his fourth over while dismissing Bairstow who nicked a catch to wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella after having made a 24-ball 25 that included four boundaries and a six.
Roy did not last long as he was sent back to the pavilion two runs later and was dismissed by Dhananjaya having made 24 runs.
From thereon, Joe Root and Skipper Eoin Morgan held on determinedly before a heavy downpour at 3.40 p.m. forced the players to return to the pavilion.