Stone frustration as deluge in Dambulla restricts England to just 15 overs in ODI

0 Olly Stone: Won first cap but rain prevented him playing. The first one-day international of England’s tour of Sri Lanka fell foul of the elements as a deluge in Dambulla wiped out play after just 15 overs.

Having already lost one of their two warm-up matches to rain in Colombo last week – the other finishing early due to bad light – England were again left pondering the decision to visit the island so close to monsoon season.

Play got under way at the Ranjiri ground on schedule, at 2.30pm local time, but little more than an hour’s action was possible before a lengthy downpour began rendering the outfield unplayable despite extensive covering.

England had been asked to bat first by Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal and reached 92 for two before the early end to proceedings.

The same four batsmen who made it to the middle during their solitary tour match – Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root and Eoin Morgan – were again the only ones to see action. That means the likes of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali go into Saturday’s second ODI, at the same venue, without a ball faced between them on the trip.

For Warwickshire paceman Olly Stone the occasion was an anti-climax. He was handed his international debut, and presented with his cap by Darren Gough, but lining up for the national anthems was the closest he got to making his mark on the field of play. Liam Dawson, selected as a third specialist spinner, was also denied the chance to impress.

Inbairstow was first to fall, held low by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella after Nuwan Pradeep found the edge, to make it 49 for one.

Sri Lanka doubled down on their breakthrough moments later when Roy aimed a big swing at Akila Dananjaya and succeeded only in looping a catch to mid-off for 24.

Root (25 not out) and Morgan (14no) were at the crease when the rain came down.