This is the house for the England Vs. Sri Lanka Series.
Here all the English and Lankan fans will be able to discuss about their players, post articles, pictures, and celebrate the victories!!
Enjoy!
STRUCK IN CASE 4.1.26
7 year leap for Yeh Rishta
Lokah fame Kalyani Priyadarshan cast opp Ranveer in Pralay
Chipka chipki 🙄🙄
Kjo to direct a grand family drama for his next movie
Deepika Padukone’s 40th birthday celebration thread
Happy 300 Manvikians.....
I'm loving Munni-Hrithik encounters and pair
CASE IN COURT 5.1.26
How Many More Indo Pak Movies Will Be Made
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1st ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Dambulla - Oct 1, 2007
Sri Lanka won by 119 runs. Sri Lanka 269/7 (50 ov); England 150 (34.5 ov)
2nd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Dambulla - Oct 4, 2007
England won by 65 runs. England 234/8 (50 ov); Sri Lanka 169 (44.3 ov)
3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Dambulla - Oct 7, 2007
England won by 2 wickets (with 7 balls remaining) (D/L method). Sri Lanka 164 (41.1/48 ov); England 164/8 (46.5/48 ov)
4th ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo (RPS) - Oct 10, 2007
5th ODI: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo (RPS) - Oct 13, 2007
Tour Match: v England XI at Colombo (CCC) - Nov 20-22, 2007
Tour Match: v England XI at Colombo (Colts) - Nov 25-27, 2007
1st Test: Sri Lanka v England at Kandy - Dec 1-5, 2007
2nd Test: Sri Lanka v England at Colombo (SSC) - Dec 9-13, 2007
Originally posted by: #1EijazFan
nah man, i gotta b supportin my 2 fav. asian countries 😉
plus i have loadss of sri lankan friends 😊
and after that comes england, omg im a traitor to my country lol, born and brought up here for my whole life and i support asia 😆
oh well, love that place more than here ANYDAY! 😃
c'mon lankansssss!!
oh lol well tht explains it
nah ive always supported india
ma family hates england n everythin
but i just fell in luv with em
i actualy dnt hate any country in cricket
but india n england till ma last breath!!
Originally posted by: #1EijazFan
but if we were playing against lankans, INDIA anyday!!😃
thats ma homee country, gotta b supportin it, i mean who else will if i dont? lol
i dont 'hate' any country, but i dislike some, will get banged if i say it right now..not dat i care..but takes to long to quote each and evry1😕lol.
hmmm any guesses which country madz?😛hehe, remember back 2 dem PM's hehehe.😳
btw, u better teach ur lil bro/sis to like india and india only! hehe wiv a crazy sis lyk u, cricket runs in d famo! hehe😉indiaaa and only indiaaa! lol xXx
yeh tru say..i luv england 2 death n its so hard 4 me wen they play india..but its always india 1st n england 2nd hehe
haha as soon as u sed u dislike a team i guessed who it was 😆 lool u actualy crack me up
aww my lil sibling will defo luv cricket..wetha it likes it or not 😆
ur actualy well sweet nisha
luv ya loads!! 😳
Originally posted by: #1EijazFan
hehe, india will cum 1st for moi no matter what! luv dt place toooo much! and evry1 nose we're betta dan d rest so dey keep on h8in! lol
yh, there can only really be 1 team i dislike lol😛😉dey're k, but dere fans are a lil🤪literally! haha
omg, callin ur sibling an it:-o meanieee!😆im soo excited 4 youuu!😳better PM me pics yeahhh😉😊oops, going off topic :| but yhh...lol
aww fanko 4 d compliment!!😳ahh making me blushhh:P
buh ur cuterrrr😉u and ur english hotties haha😛bless! lolluf you xoxo
yeh same here india 1st till the end..but thing is i luv england just as much actualy just a lil but less than india thts y there 2nd hehe
yeh its tru the teams all gd..but lyk ppl go 🤪 haha i lyk tht lool
yeh i dnt lyk callin ma sinling an it but i dno the gender!! wots a gal meant 2 do lol yeh ill defo show u the pix hehe aww u must b a big up baby luva hehe
but its all tru ur actualy a really nice person!! me n ma english hotties hehe well the england team is pretty fine!! but tht aint y i lyk em 😆
A rain delay could not halt England's progress as they remained on course for a series-clinching win in Sri Lanka.
Phil Mustard (19) and Ian Bell (25) fell but Alastair Cook (50no) and Kevin Pietersen combined to lead the side to 122-2 off 29 overs, chasing 212 to win.
Sri Lanka, who must win to stay in the series, hit 211-9 despite Chamara Silva and Kumar Sangakkara's 126-run stand.
Ryan Sidebottom and James Anderson took three wickets apiece as England sought an unassailable 3-1 series lead.
| By Jonathan Stevenson |
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e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Stevo' in the subject), text 81111 (start your message with the word "CRICKET") or use 606
33rd over - Eng 139-2 Jayasuriya produces a false shot from Cook, but the ball isn't airbourne for long and it falls in-between two fielders in the leg side. Four singles, more of the same.
"Just 'tuned in' to see how things were going and the first thing I read was 'Fernando races in after the rain'. Is a certain Spanish F1 driver moonlighting as a cricketer between Grands Prix? And I don't suppose those tyres will do the wicket much good."
Heather, Herts, via TMS inbox
32nd over - Eng 135-2 Dilshan tweaks away at KP, who tries to run out his partner with a suicidal quick single. Only some shoddy fielding saves the cultured opener.
"The Cook and Swann is a nice pub. It's in the Norfolk Broads and I love the fact that to accompany your beverage, you can Owais get ham and Mustard crisps or KP nuts which are both pleasing to the Belly. Don't eat too much though because they go straight to your Side-bottom!"
Gavin, Ayrshire, Scotland, via TMS inbox
"I once went on a date with a girl I met at Marks and Spencers, but she wouldn?t let me try anything on."
Pete, via TMS inbox
31st over - Eng 133-2 Lasith Malinga is back on and the England boys take six from the over. They change the ball at the end of it - not much of a surprise, it must have been getting difficult to pick it up as it got greener and greener.
30th over - Eng 127-2 Dilshan's off-spinners are brought into the attack and Cook survives a massive LBW shout against him. Cookie chops the last ball of the over down to third man for three, good response from the cool youngster.
29th over - Eng 122-2 Five from Jayasuriya's over and the Sri Lankan spinners are getting through them now, but it's slow going. Cook gets his half-century - an important one at this level for him - with another neat turn off his pads for a single.
"The Silva Swann would be a great pub in downtown Colombo - ideal for expats to watch the series."
James, via TMS inbox
28th over - Eng 117-2 Cookie gets three with a beautifully-timed off drive from Loku, who is still wheeling away with minimum fuss and minimum impact. Six from the over and England are ticking along nicely.
27th over - Eng 111-2 Jayasuriya goes for four singles - I've seen everything in cricket now as KP turns down a massive swing at a booming full toss and instead pats it back down the pitch. Astonishing.
"The Bell and Mustard would make a reasonable pub name. There are no doubt better combinations."
Tony, Lyon, France
26th over - Eng 107-2 KP is trying to be aggressive against Loku and is charging down the pitch, but cannot find a way through the in-field. He picks up three from the over and Cook adds two singles.
"I can't believe this Sri Lankan side reach the World Cup final. England have been a long way from their best and still have a great chance of winning the series."
RED_IMPS_FAN on 606
25th over - Eng 102-2 Jayasuriya comes on with his slow-burning left-armers and he's tidy, conceding just two off the over.
24th over - Eng 100-2 Loku flights one up to KP and his sweet on-drive beats the despairing dive of Lasith Malinga at mid-on to get him four. Almost unbelievably, KP has reached his highest score of the series already - he's only on 13.
23rd over - Eng 93-2 KP plays a sumptuous straight drive, textbook in every way, that flies away for four off Fernando. And for those of you who think I cursed Mustard and Bell - I'll say nothing from now on shall I?
"I hear Lamby bet Beefy that he could have got a knighthood but the steaks were too high."
Marc, St Albans, via TMS inbox
22nd over - Eng 87-2 Loku to KP and that is an intriguing battle. The England man gets off the mark down to long-off before Cookie clips a single off his legs. Loku tempts KP with two wide ones, but they are both stopped at short extra-cover.
21st over - Eng 84-2 Fernando races in after the rain has given everyone a rest and he beats Cook's outside edge.
1628: And we are under way again.
RAIN STOPS PLAY
"About 20 years back while waiting to bat, I was sitting on a very rickety bench. A wicket fell so I stood up and marched out, vigorously swinging my bat. I walked past the departing batsman, past the umpire, past the bowler, to take my guard. On turning to face the umpire I found a long trail of unravelled cricket sweater wool leading back to the old nail on the bench were I had been sitting. To a man, the players were now lying on the ground in paroxysms of laughter. I went on to make 67."
Mark from Silsoe, via TMS
"I had a really witty yet insightful cricket-related thought just now, but since I didn't go to school with Stev"o", it'll never get printed so I'll just keep it to myself."
Rob, Yorks, via TMS inbox
Shame, Rob. You could have enlightened us with your undoubtedly witty repartee, but instead, you've just embarrassed yourself in front of the whole class. Heartbreaker.
"Surely now that the Beef has received his knighthood, shouldn't he now be known as Sir Loin?"
Charlie, Bovey Tracey, Devon, via TMS inbox
"Will KP drive the nail into Sri Lanka's coffin or will he fail again? The law of averages says he must make a telling contribution, or is he as I said a "busted flush?" Time will tell..."
Pearlsaswinger on 606
1615: We are looking at restarting in 15 minutes and we haven't lost any overs.
"Geoff - at least Mr Scott had the good manners to get out quickly, whereas I would scratch around for 30 minutes for two runs, thus finally ending any chance of a victory that my dreadful wicketkeeping had already done its best to throw away."
Robin, via TMS inbox
1605: It has been somewhat remiss of me to not mention a huge event in the world of cricket today - the legendary Sir Ian Botham picking up his knighthood from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Congrats, Sir Beefy - I'm sure everyone at BBC Sport would join me in saluting you.
1604: It has stopped raining, but apparently it'll take a while for the Sri Lankans to take the covers off. Good news or bad news - take it how you like.
"Is it actually raining, or, as England are ahead on DL and we've had just enough for it to be called a match, is Colly faking rain with a very big hose?"
Anonymous, via text
"If Bell = Belly and Cook = Cookie then (without being too picky!) shouldn't Mustard = Musty rather than mosto? P.S. I too have a partner as a result of her chatting me up as a customer."
Myke the Tyke in Middlesbrough
"That's weird. Barry's story of the guy with expensive kit getting out first ball reminded me of Dave Scott. Then two minutes later who turns up?"
Geoff, Nottingham, via text
Yeah, me too Geoff, me too.
1554: If it gets called off now without another ball being bowled, England would win by 14 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method. As if you hadn't all already worked that out.
RAIN STOPS PLAY
20th over - Eng 84-2 Fernando beats Cookie with a cracker and then the worst thing ever happens. It suddenly starts chucking it down - from absolutely nowhere. Well clearly from the sky, but you know what I mean.
20th over - Eng 84-2 WICKET Bell c Malinga b Lokuarachchi 25 Belly launches Loku over the top and gets two as the ball sticks upon landing at long-on. He then chips over mid-wicket for four more, before perishing from the last ball - trying to hoik a short one over mid-on and being comfortably caught by Lasith Malinga. KP strides in.
19th over - Eng 76-1 England get a couple of leg-byes as Fernando strays, before Bell gets a leading edge and survives as the ball lands just in front of cover. Seven from the over anyway, more encouraging work from the two England boys as they continue to pick up singles.
"All this talk of being shortchanged by 10p reminds me of something "Stevo" - I'm sure you still owe me 10p for a bet we had about the outcome of a random football match back in 5th form at school! Pay up!"
Scotty in Tadcaster, via TMS inbox
I can't believe you've picked this moment to bring that up, Dave. Now the whole world knows how tight you are. Well they would, if the whole world was reading these live updates. Hope you aren't including interest, too, "mate".
18th over - Eng 69-1 Loku is getting some slow turn and Cookie rocks onto the back foot and chops him in front of square on the offside for four - though it seems to take an age to reach the boundary.
"To JB in London - consider yourself lucky, at our school we only had one box and it always had deep heat smeared on the inside... and I went in at 10!"
Sion, via TMS inbox
17th over - Eng 65-1 Fernando is clipped off his pads by Belly for two but the ball looks to be slowing up in the outfield now. Fernando gives him nothing else to hit and England need 147 from the 33 overs remaining to win the game and the series.
"An old school friend of mine turned up to our games lesson in full whites with accompanying pads, a bat with Graham Gooch's signature and even a box. Considering we were playing with a plastic orange ball and those collapsible wickets we thought it a little excessive. He got bowled for a golden duck twice, then bowled five wides on his debut over. It turned out his dad was a bit of a cricketer and he had nabbed his kit. He on the other hand had as much sporting prowess as a female British tennis player. He was called Trev - not Trevo."
Barry, via TMS inbox
16th over - Eng 63-1 Kaushal Lokuarachchi and his leggies are into the attack and Belly has a proper look at the young man, taking just a single off the last ball of the over. The players take drinks.
"Can you ask Katie in Cheshire if she managed to get tickets for the football game? If she did has she got one spare and can I have it?"
Neil, Milton Keynes, via TMS inbox
"Can you please please please tell Danny Alleyways that sitting listening to the cricket in full whites (including pads and gloves) does not make you semi professional please? And dont ask about what he wore during the swimming."
Paul, via TMS inbox
15th over - Eng 62-1 Belly times a magical shot uppishly past point for four off Fernando and then Cookie glances a full toss off his pads for two from the last ball of the over. This has the beginnings of a solid partnership for England.
14th over - Eng 55-1 Cookie plays another cracking shot through the offside, rocking back and driving it through the in-field for four. He gets two more with a clip off his legs through mid-wicket.
"When playing for the school team, there was only ever one or two 'boxes'. Therefore whoever was batting got to wear one and it got passed on whenever there was a new batsman. How any of us ever got a girlfriend, I do not know."
JB, London, via TMS inbox
"At a Warks v Worcs game some years ago, Richard Illingworth was fielding in the deep. When he bent down to field the ball it was clear to all behind him that he was wearing blue spotted underpants under his whites. A call came out, "Hey, Richard, my wife's got a pair of knickers like that," followed by a pause and then a worried, "Hang on, those are my wife's knickers!"
Mundokane, London, via TMS inbox
13th over - Eng 49-1 Five more dots from Dilhara Fernando to Cookie until the Essex man clips a single off his legs off the last ball of the over. Sri Lanka are keeping things tight but they need a couple of wickets to make it properly interesting/
12th over - Eng 48-1 Vaas got some tap from Mustard but he's right on the money now and Belly cannot get him away at all - another fine over produces a maiden.
Just a reminder guys, if you want to get in touch, email me at tms@bbc.co.uk, text me on 81111 or get stuck into 606 on the link above. Good banter so far, let's keep it going.
"Colonel was looking OK there but he was chasing too many balls, trying too many shots. Watching Cook bat in ODI's is painful but I hope he does the business today."
platinummacka on 606
11th over - Eng 48-1 Dilhara Fernando lumbers into the attack and Cookie is circumspect for four balls before hammering him through the covers for a glorious four.
10th over - Eng 44-1 Cookie gets England back on the move, playing a shot past mid-on for four before taking three after a mis-field into the covers. Belly gets two off his hips with the last ball and nine off the over is a good comeback from Colly's boys.
9th over - Eng 35-1 Yet another maiden and the rate has slowed right down. Vaas on target to Belly - no major worries for the England man, but nothing to hit either.
8th over - Eng 35-1 Malinga is bang on target to Cookie, who really needs to anchor this innings now for England. Six dot balls = maiden over, and Sri Lanka will want to exert some pressure on these two.
"My younger brother was the star player for our team and was once the subject of a fairly major article in a local newspaper which featured him keeping wicket, in his full posing gear of shades, brand new club cap and shirt while proudly sporting a hole in the crotch of his trousers revealing to the readership his underwear (which were red and stripy). We may have pinned it up in the pavilion."
Andy, via TMS inbox
7th over - Eng 35-1 Vaas induces an outside edge as Belly goes on the walk, but the ball flies wide of Jayawardene at slip. Belly does love moving down the wicket when the ball is being bowled - but is it working?
6th over - Eng 31-1 Belly gets off the mark with a scampered single to mid-on and it's over and out from Malinga.
6th over - Sri Lanka 30-1 WICKET! Mustard c & b Malinga 19 Mustard plays a loose shot, top-edging a hook shot off Malinga for four, before carting The Man With The Astonishing Action through mid-wicket for four cracking runs. He swings and misses the next ball before Malinga gets his man, taking the return catch having deceived him with a slower ball.
5th over - Eng 22-0 Jayawardene produces a fine stop to deny Mustard four through mid-wicket, so the Durham man goes over the top, launching Vaas over his head for four. Next ball he hammers through the leg side for four more - nine off the over.
"Can you tell Andrew in Holborn that it his turn to make the tea, and that should he sneak off and do one just for himself again I will get IT to cut off his access to the cricket.?"
John, via TMS
4th over - Eng 13-0 Musto doesn't mess about - he's like a hare as he bags a quick single from nowhere. Cookie picks up a couple more off his legs through the leg side.
"In response to Bob who apparently works with Steve Bucknor: I bet when he heard the message, he looked up, thought about it, thought about it some more and then, only then did he get up."
Matt Williams, via TMS inbox
3rd over - Eng 10-0 Cookie gets a couple through square leg as Vaas drift onto his pads once more. A good start from England here would go a long way towards achieving victory.
"It's not a wardrobe malfunction as such but Manic Street Preachers bass player Nicky Wire once attended a school disco dressed in his cricket whites. He claimed it was his worst fashion faux-pas."
Chris, Walsall, via TMS inbox
2nd over - Eng 7-0 Malinga is opening from the other end and Cookie is a bit more circumspect. England don't have to race at this, they can take their time. History beckons if they get to 212.
"Whilst bowling in a game down at the Saffrons in Eastbourne, I managed to get a wasp up my trousers. I was unaware the wasp was there until it stung me in my delivery stride in a rather "sensitive" area. The most amazing thing about this is not the fact that I clean bowled the batsman, but that the gathered spectators thought me running off to the pavilion with my trousers round my ankles, and not applauding the incoming batsman was rather rude!"
Ben Gaine, via TMS inbox
1st over - Eng 6-0 Cookie desperately needs some runs and there are four of them straight away, a lovely classical leaning clip off his pads off Vaas. Good start from England.
"Brilliant. An announcement has just come over the PA for a 'Steve Bucknor' to contact reception. I never new that I worked with a world class umpire."
Bob, via TMS inbox
1414: Oh for the love of God. I'm not even halfway through my chicken sarnies and the players are back out there. Vaas to Cook and we're good to go. Well they are. I'm not. You know what I mean.
A friend of mine, called Steve as it happens, fancied a girl in a supermarket. He wrote 'would you like a drink when you finish here?' on his hand and displayed it to her at the checkout. 15 years down the line, they are married with a daughter and live - yes this is spooky - in Nottingham!"
Carole in Maidenhead, via TMS inbox
50th over - Sri Lanka 211-9 Siders finishes up with some decent yorkers and they just cannot get him away. A great over to end a great bowling performance from England in difficult conditions in Colombo. I've got 20 minutes to get lunch - after Siders' trousers episode (49th over), I want to know your cricketing wardrobe malfunctions during the England innings.
50th over - Sri Lanka 206-9 WICKET! Mubarak b Sidebottom 20 Siders gets one full and straight and Mubarak, after a decent knock, can only help it onto his stumps. Lasith Malinga comes to the crease.
49th over - Sri Lanka 206-8 Siders can see the funny side after chasing down a ball in the field, only for his trousers to start falling down. Mubarak then smashes Jimmy A through the covers for four before Owais Shah drops Mubers on the square leg boundary. Chuck in a couple of wides and it's a disappointing end for Jimmy A, who ends with an exceptional 3-33 from his 10.
48th over - Sri Lanka 195-8 Siders ends the over by passing Dilhara Fernando twice, another great effort from the remarkably-haired seamer.
"Although not a shop, the trolley girl in our office is very good with her change. However, I think I've blown my chances by typing BOOBLESS into her calculator. I believe she has taken this personally instead of being impressed by my use of numbers as letters."
Andrew, via TMS inbox
48th over - Sri Lanka 195-8 WICKET! Vaas c Pietersen b Sidebottom 2 KP takes his second catch of the innings, a simple one at mid-wicket as Chaminda Vaas tries to smear Siders away into the leg side.
"The nice lady at the deli just asked me if I'd like my sandwich toasted! Diamond or ruby engagement ring do you think?"
ChrisB on lunch, via TMS inbox
47th over - Sri Lanka 192-7 Sri Lanka just cannot get those boundaries away as the innings draws to a close. England have taken wickets at opportune moments and even the bad balls are not being put away by the tail. I can almost taste my lunch...
47th over - Sri Lanka 190-7 WICKET! Dilshan b Anderson 17 Jimmy A (he's keeping the 'A' - deal with it) comes back on and he snares his third wicket almost straight away, getting one full at Dilshan and bowling him through his legs. Third wicket of the innings for the Burnley Express.
46th over - Sri Lanka 189-6 Broady foxes Dilshan with a slower ball - old TK was trying to hit that ball into next week. Jehan Mubarak drives through the covers for two before Dilshan steps across his stumps and lifts Broady over square leg for four. Ten off that over as the Sri Lankans step it up.
"Does it work the other way? If you fancy the girl behind the counter can you give her less money?"
Mikey, London, via TMS inbox
45th over - Sri Lanka 179-6 Siders is back on for the business end of the innings, presumably recovered from his shattering spell earlier in the piece. Dilshan swings him over mid-on for three and the Sri Lankans take six from his comeback over.
"I never get chatted up in shops. I'd like to think it's because I tend to give exact change, eradicating any chance of change-flirting, but it's probably because I'm not that attractive."
Danny, now quite depressed, Kent, via TMS inbox
"I just bought a Twix and a paper from the shop next to my office. The average looking girl behind the till gave me the correct change, maintained a comfortable amount of eye contact and then thanked me for my custom. I feel let down in some ways."
Mark Sleep, via TMS inbox
44th over - Sri Lanka 173-6 Broady ploughs on and singles are once again the order of the day, six of them plus a wide from that over.
43rd over - Sri Lanka 166-6 WICKET! Lokuarachchi LBW b Collingwood 9 Colly is back on with his military medium and he proves as difficult as ever to get away. Loku, as he shall be known, plays a nice pre-meditated sweep, but only gets one for his troubles. Two balls later and he's trapped on the crease plumb in front.
"Steve in London. You go and claim that 10p. Just imagine how many people she serves an hour - if she is making 10p off all of them then that's a lot of money!"
Dave in Cowes IOW, via TMS
42nd over - Sri Lanka 160-5 Two new batsmen in now, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kaushal Lokuarachchi and what a key spell this is proving to be for young Broad.
42nd over - Sri Lanka 158-5 WICKET! Sangakkara c Bopara b Broad 69 Massive wicket for England, Kumar rocking on to the back foot and swinging a short ball from Broad away, but that man Bopara is still in the game and he takes another fine catch, this time moving forward from fine leg.
"I was once chatted up by a girl on the bacon counter at Asda, she would not give my "dry cured" until I promised to take her out for a drink! Strange girl."
Paul in Dubai, via TMS inbox
41st over - Sri Lanka 155-4 Kumar swipes Swanny into the deep mid-wicket boundary for four and there are eight off the over. Swanny's gone for 0-48 from his 10 overs.
"I have just been short-changed in a sandwich bar in Soho Square. She did it in such a pleasant manner I didn't have the heart to say anything. Do you think she actually wants me to go back and ask for my 10p or would I just look stingy?
Steve (without the 'o'), London, via TMS inbox
40th over - Sri Lanka 147-4 Broady has kept plugging away and deserves that wicket. Sri Lanka's hopes of a decent total might depend on Sangakkara making a hundred now.
40th over - Sri Lanka 146-4 WICKET! Silva c Bopara b Broad 67 England pick up a very timely wicket indeed, Silva trying to up the run rate further and getting himself caught by Ravs at third man.
39th over - Sri Lanka 144-3 The noise picks up in the crowd as Silva loosens up. He reverse-sweeps Swanny for a top-drawer four and then gets a couple more through extra-cover.
"Well the guillotine was invented in 1789. Does that mean we had 35 years of 'That's the best thing since sliced heads'?"
Adam in MK, via TMS inbox
"Re: Mark Airey's flirting experience. If the girl is a bit of a hound, she's flirting. If she's a bit of a looker, she's either drunk or trying to win a bet."
JB, London, via TMS inbox
38th over - Sri Lanka 135-3 Silva gets some width from Bopara and crashes one away over point for four very welcome runs for the hosts. Ravo ends the over by passing Kumar's outside edge.
37th over - Sri Lanka 127-3 It's a half-century this time for Chamara Silva and he and Kumar celebrate their landmarks by leaning on their bats, knees bent, in the middle of the strip looking totally exhausted. Swanny goes for five in total.
"Why all this bigging up Notts all of a sudden anyway? They may have got promoted back to Div 1 but got walloped twice by the team that pipped them to the top, Somerset, in the process. But I guess you're getting used to that following Forest's efforts against Yeovil in the Play-offs last term! No chance you're going to publish this is there?"
Cuth, via TMS inbox
I don't know why, but there you go. Sodding impartial BBC and all that.
36th over - Sri Lanka 122-3 Bopara has two massive, massive shouts for LBW against Chamara Silva turned down - they both look absolutely plumb, but the Essex man's appeals are in vain to Rudi Koertzen. You'd have to say, they were both out.
35th over - Sri Lanka 118-3 Six from that Swanny over with a couple of wides chucked into the mixer too.
"The rubber balloon was invented by Michael Faraday in 1824. That's a full 104 years of the phrase "The best thing since Balloons"."
Steve in the Big Smoke, via TMS inbox
34th over - Sri Lanka 111-3 It's a half-century for Kumar Sangakkara who has batted with great discipline, but the Sri Lankan looks painfully hot under that helmet in these continually blistering conditions. Five from that over from Ravi, who came back on.
"There's a girl in my local shop who overchanged me by a wierd amount the other day and then when I went back in last night she referred to me as "darling" when giving me my change and clasped the money a bit longer than necessary when placing it in my hand, which led to extended hand contact. As I have no idea how a woman's mind works is this some sort of retail flirting?"
Mark Airey, Rochdale, via TMS inbox
33rd over - Sri Lanka 107-3 Ravo only gets one over and Swanny is right back in the mixer, giving the ball some flight and trying to tempt both batsmen to play a false shot. Just two from the over from the wristband-wearing spinner.
32nd over - Sri Lanka 105-3 Kumar welcomes Colly back to the crease by slapping him over mid-on for a lovely four, but the other five are all dot balls, more accurate stuff from the skipper.
"The rule of thumb, with wickets in hand, is to double the score at the 30-over mark, which indicates that England are looking at chasing 200 - not going to be a stroll in the park by any means."
OM, on 606
"Why do you keep referring to Jimmy as Jimmy A? There is only one Jimmy playing and adding the "A" is making difficult reading."
Cem, via TMS inbox
Difficult reading? An extraordinary claim.
"The first commercial bread slicing machine was built in July 1928 by Otto Frederick Rohwedder in Iowa. In which case, the best thing before sliced bread was probably the first transatlantic flight by Charles Lindberg, which happened about three months earlier. I can't believe I'm using my lunch break to answer this question."
Alex, Leicestershire, via TMS inbox
31st over - Sri Lanka 101-3 Ravi Bopara comes on for his first bowl of the series and he gets some bounce, surprising Silva and inducing an outside edge which Mustard, standing up to the stumps, cannot claim. One from the over, top effort Ravs.
"I used to live and work in West London and regularly saw an elderly gent carrying a large cross around. His face would sometimes be covered in white talc but more impressively, his cross had a bolt and hinge contraption so that he could fold in the arms in order to be let on the bus into town."
Marcus, London, via TMS inbox
30th over - Sri Lanka 100-3 Broady's sixth over yields nine, including a thumping, old-fashioned cut shot from Kumar past Colly at backward point that flies to the ropes for four. From the last ball Jimmy A tries to run out Kumar but mis-fields and they pick up three more.
"I think its just blatant sour grapes from the Notts-bashing lot claiming we are crowing too loudly about the success of our lads. Is it our fault that Sidebottom is the best left armer to pull on an England shirt since Voce, Broady the best right-arm fast since Larwood & Swann the greatest spinner since E.E Hemmings???"
Pricey, Worksop, via TMS inbox
29th over - Sri Lanka 91-3 Silva sweeps Swanny for a couple more behind square on the leg side and another five off the over. This is slow going, but Sangakkara and Silva are building a platform for the last 10 overs here.
"The best thing before sliced bread was Geoff Boycott."
Pete, south of the river, via TMS inbox
"'Silvers just makes his ground' - reminds me of the Sgt Bilko episode where they just sneak back into the barracks after popping out gambling."
Anthony, via TMS inbox
28th over - Sri Lanka 86-3 Silva gets a couple of Broady, who is back on for Colly. It's singles o'clock for the rest of the over and Sri Lanka continue to plod on in Colombo.
Well Sri Lanka are starting to dominate a bit now, but their run-rate is rubbish, with the current rate they would end up with 152. I think they will end up with 220 and I think England will be to chase that successfully!"
T Toon, on 606
27th over - Sri Lanka 80-3 Swanny gets a grip and there are just two singles from that over. The band are still playing in the crowd, but there's not much atmosphere around the ground.
"Skeyboy, I imagine the best thing before sliced bread was a slicing machine, which you'd assume is a fairly integral part of the bread slicing process."
Louis, via TMS inbox
26th over - Sri Lanka 78-3 These two are upping the scoring rate and despite a lack of boundaries they take seven from this Colly over.
"In response to KP's moon domes - your astrophysics lecturer has just really screwed up me hosting a golf tournament at my proposed 'Sea of Tranquility' links course. What do astro-physicists know anyway? Bet they can't get my kettle working at the minute."
Ben, Leeds, via TMS inbox
"With it's 4:1 girl-boy ratio and it's reputation for gun crime, I have a terrifying mental image of Nottingham being like the Old Town in Sin City - full of gun-toting hotties. I'm not sure whether that makes me want to go there more or less though."
Harry, via TMS inbox
25th over - Sri Lanka 71-3 Silva gets down on one knee and sweeps Swanny over square leg for a one-bounce four. A few singles later and it's a good over from these two, who have now put on 51.
1153: The boys are taking an impromptu drinks break out there in the middle - it really is scorchio and the opening bowlers both went off to get rehydrated after blinding spells.
"What was the best thing before sliced bread?"
Skeyboy, Haywards Heath, via TMS inbox
24th over - Sri Lanka 63-3 Cap'n Colly is on the money and Silva tries to hammer him out of the ground, getting only an ugly bottom-edge onto his pads. Two singles off the over and this must be painful watching for the Sri Lankans in the crowd.
"From the giddy heights of Jackass - The Movie, to BBC Cricket website commentary for Stevo. Oh how the mighty have fallen!"
Matt, Newcastle, via TMS inbox
23rd over - Sri Lanka 61-3 Just a single off that Swanny over and the top stuff continues from England's bowlers. The Notts tweaker has a half-decent shout for LBW against Kumar turned down into the bargain.
"Is there another BBC faking scandal afoot? The slip fielder (with mouth wide open) in the second pic on the website looks to have been superimposed!"
Baz 'with broken finger', via TMS inbox
22nd over - Sri Lanka 60-3 Silva hoists Colly into the offside safely for a single and there are just four off the over, which ends with Silva playing-and-missing. Smart bowling from Colly, with a hint of shape away from the right-hander.
"The belief that girls in Nottingham significantly outnumbered boys was current as far back as the mid 1960's and was a factor taken into account by many when it came to choosing a university in those days. For some, the alternative was to go to Oxbridge where the ratio was 10:1 but the wrong way round."
Ian, Barcelona, via TMS inbox
"I've just had an astrophysics lecture. Apparently when we build bases in the craters on the moon, we won't be able to play cricket in them because the domes will only be 500m across and every ball will be smashed into them. Volleyball would be a bit mental as well."
KP, Preston, via TMS inbox
21st over - Sri Lanka 56-3 Swanny prompts Kumar to dance down the pitch and get a leading edge high into the offside, which falls inbetween about three fielders. The Sri Lankans are trying not to let England's newest weapon settle here.
"This is the best opening period of bowling since sliced bread."
Adam in MK, via TMS inbox
"The bloke with the cross... that would be David Campese!"
Bob, Brighton, via TMS inbox
20th over - Sri Lanka 52-3 The England captain brings himself on and there is a big old run out shout here against Chamara Silva. Great work from Graeme Swann and Phil Mustard, but Silvers just makes his ground. A bit of width from Colly - hopefully he'll tighten up. Swanny's on next.
19th over - Sri Lanka 48-3 Kumar gets an inside edge to Broady and gets a couple when the ball narrowly misses his off stump. Silva then plays a glorious cover drive which makes a mockery of the slow outfield and races away for four. Much better over for the hosts.
"Stop working if you have to"? - Are you responsible for the latest postal worker walkouts?"
Geat, Cardiff, via TMS inbox
18th over - Sri Lanka 40-3 More line and length from Jimmy A and just a single off that one. I know I keep going on about it, but these boys really are doing a fabulous job.
"Jonathan, if you put this message on the website I am going to frame it - I must have sent about a million emails over the last year and never once have I been printed so please, for the love of god, put me out of my misery."
Peter, via TMS inbox
"It looks a good batting pitch. Just great bowling."
GIVEUSBACKOURASHES, on 606
17th over - Sri Lanka 39-3 Broady bounds in and there are three singles, but still not much for the Sri Lankans to get stuck into. Kumar and Silva are having a good long look before they try and up the rate.
"Was going to jump on the anti-Nottingham bandwagon but then I heard a rumour that Nottingham has four girls to every bloke. If this indeed the case, Nottingham rules!"
Jamie, Northants, via TMS inbox
If I had a pound for everytime I'd heard that, Jamie!! Problem with this particular rumour is that it started in about 1995 and since then, clearly, about 75% more fellas have moved there. Honestly.
"In your intro, you say "stop working if you have to" to listen to the cricket. Can I just put in a request that the security staff at the Bank of England pay particular attention to that, and stop working and put their feet up with a cup of tea, once they've left the doors open to the money vaults at 11.30 when I'm passing by? Thanks."
Dominic Woodford, via TMS inbox
"My main issue with 'Stevo' is that it has quite a strong hint of Aussie about it. Tell me you're not though Jonathan."
John in Bristol, via text
OK, here goes. If I tell you that at 1540 BST on Saturday I was dancing around a pub in the Old Street area of London like a lunatic, being showered in celebratory lash and singing 'cheerio' as the Aussie contingent sulked out of the door, would you now believe me?
16th over - Sri Lanka 36-3 Jimmy A is back on and Silva crashes him away backward of point for four glorious runs - the first boundary for 58 balls.
"Please dope test the entire England rugby, cricket and soccer teams. This improvement is not natural!"
Cricketing_stargazer, via 606
15th over - Sri Lanka 31-3 Broady gives Kumar a bit of width and he plays a risky shot over Collingwood at cover for a couple. Runs are painfully hard to come by as Broady takes over where Jimmy A and Siders started off.
"I live in Notts and believe me the whole county gets bored of you banging on about the European Cups too. It was easier to win in them days too. You Rams."
Sid, Arnold, Notts, via TMS inbox
Just two quick questions, then, Siddy: 1. How come you live in Notts, Derby boy? 2. If they were so easy, how come you didn't bag one or two yourself?
14th over - Sri Lanka 29-3 Siders looks a touch tired - not surprising in such hot conditions. He slips a couple of wides down Silva's leg side, but ends the over well to Kumar. 2.07 runs per over so far from the hosts - remember they are the ones who have to win to keep the series alive.
"Getting a bit tetchy with that Gareth Williams, aren't you Stevo? I think the chances of him being the turncoat who went to Leicester are very slim."
Jim in Leeds, via TMS inbox
You can never be too sure though, Jimmy. Just in case.
"How did Forest fare in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy last night?"
Tom, East Yorks, via TMS inbox
Tom my old son, have you ever heard of the phrase "We're concentrating on the league"?
13th over - Sri Lanka 25-3 Broady is on and crikey, he nearly gets Sangakkara straight away, the Sri Lanakan reprieved a caught behind by a brilliant piece of umpiring from Tyron Wijewardene - the ball seems to clip his pad on replay. Good start from Notts seamer # two, though.
"I'm not sure about this "for Stevo" - all a bit football and chav if you ask me. Where were you when Mick's car got lifted?"
Ceci from the north, via TMS
Jeez - you come to work, try and banter with people and what happens - you get accused of car theft.
12th over - Sri Lanka 24-3 Siders has a big shout for LBW against Silva turned down by Rudi Koertzen, the ball possibly pitching a millimetre outside leg stump before drifting into the pads. Two singles is all they get.
11th over - Sri Lanka 22-3 Chamara Silva nearly goes the same way as his skipper - but this time the slash high down the third man just evades Broady and they pick up two.
"Not working. Listening for free stuff. Following cricket. Likes football - I've found my dream girl!"
Rob, Berkshire, via TMS inbox
"Katie, I am multi-tasking, I am reading the live commentary, listening to my CD and writing endless emails to some guy calling himself Stevo (whats wrong with Steve?)"
Gareth Williams, via TMS inbox
Nothing, if you're called Steve. But I'm not. Is that clear?
11th over - Sri Lanka 20-3 WICKET! Jayawardene c Broad b Anderson 0 That's what pressure does. Jayawardene plays an ugly shot to try and get off the mark and the ball sails down to third man, where Stuey Broad races off the boundary to take a neat catch in his midriff.
"Keep crowing about Nottinghamshire cricket boys, as you're still a third-world county in respect of other sports."
rambon, via 606
Why do you think we bang on about the cricket? Even we get bored of going on about the two European Cups sometimes, you know.
10th over - Sri Lanka 20-2 More super stuff from Siders - the guy could not more on the spot and Kumar is forced to play out another wonderful maiden. England have started quite brilliantly in Colombo in hot, hot conditions.
"Sangakkara is at his best when he is free, and I think he needs Jayawardene around so that he can play in his normal way."
Russel Arnold on TMS
"Phil, if you got the car only as far as the end of the road and then it broke down, you ARE the next Lewis Hamilton."
Martin, Bristol, via TMS inbox
"I'm following the cricket while simultaneously working, listening to my local radio station (if they play anything by the O'Jays, I could win an instant cash prize) and repeatedly phoning a certain football club's hotline in the vague hope of obtaining tickets, only to be told that 'all operators are busy right now'. Anyone else similarly multi-tasking right now?"
Katie, Cheshire, via TMS inbox
9th over - Sri Lanka 20-2 These boys might just have to settle for dealing in singles for a while - a couple more quick wickets and Sri Lanka's hopes in this series would suffer a hammer blow.
8th over - Sri Lanka 17-2 Big partnership this for Sri Lanka, as the captain Mahela Jayawardene joins his wicket-keeper at the crease. Siders has his tail up still and England are giving them nothing whatsoever to hit.
7th over - Sri Lanka 16-2 WICKET! Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Anderson 3 Brilliantly, Jayasuriya is out, chipping tamely to old electric hands at mid-off to give Jimmy A his first wicket of the series. And yeah, I'm aware he doesn't play for Notts - but who cares? Sanath never looked like he'd get going.
"Jonathan, Following the Notts 9-fer last time, do you think any other counties will chip in with a wicket at all today?"
Will Marshall, Notts exile, via text
I doubt it mate. Expect our boys to go one better today, if anything.
6th over - Sri Lanka 14-1 Siders is trying to tempt Kumar Sangakkara outside off stump but the Sri Lankan doggedly refuses, until he chops the last ball of the over down to third man for four.
"Going back to the rugby, I see that apparently Ikea are now exporting goods to Sydney in the new 'flattened pack' form."
Matt, Nottingham, via TMS inbox
"For Mark re: his K reg Sierra Sapphire - go and get yourself a decent car. I got it to the end of the road and it broke down on me. How am I supposed to be the next Lewis Hamilton, if the tools that society are providing don't get the job done? What is the world coming to? Tsk!!"
Phil, Birmingham, via TMS inbox
5th over - Sri Lanka 9-1 After his first ball went for four, Jimmy has has hit back in style. Sri Lanka are playing cautiously - there's something I never though I'd say in a one-day game.
"I'm following the cricket from Vienna and had a similarly biblical experience the other day on my way home when I was confronted by a lady blithely leading a donkey through the city centre. Don't know how the lady escaped alive because Austrians ususally go beserk at people cycling on pavements, let alone in the face of such a flagrant traffic crime!"
James, via TMS inbox - yep, the emails are back. Pretend it's 2006 again!
4th over - Sri Lanka 7-1 WICKET! Tharanga c Shah b Sidebottom 4 Jayasuriya chops Siders down to third man to get off the mark from his seventh ball and Siders beats Tharanga a couple of balls later with one that dies on the Sri Lankan. Siders then rounds off another cracking over by taking the outside edge and Owais Shah snaffles at first slip. Top drawer cricket.
"That bloke carrying the cross was Dennis Lillee peddling his latest bat design."
Martin, Bristol via TMS
3rd over - Sri Lanka 6-0 Jimmy A bowls another shocking wide, but after that he's massively on target and there's just a single from the over. Impressive start from England.
2nd over - Sri Lanka 5-0 Legend's Sanath Jayasuriya takes strike, to Nottinghamshire hero Ryan Sidebottom (yeah, I'm from Nottingham - so sue me). Siders is slap bang on the money early doors and SJ blocks out a maiden - top stuff. If you can't be bothered to text, banter us up on the 606 link. Email is so 2006 anyway.
1st over - Sri Lanka 5-0 Upul Tharanga flicks a leg-side opener off his pads for four, before the wayward's Jimmy A slides a wide across the strip. We've had a howler too - we've got network problems and I can't read your emails. Aaarrggghhh! Text me text me text me text me - 81111.
1000: Let's rock. Jimmy A has white in his hand, white all over his face and is preparing to bowl the first over of the day.
0957: The England boys are preparing to step out onto the field in Colombo and it is a bright, sunny day that will welcome them into the middle.
"The bloke was called Chris. They're making a comeback."
Paul, Dubai, via TMS inbox in response to 0945 BST
Teams in full:
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumar Sangakkara (Wkt), Mahela Jayawardene (Capt), Chamara Silva, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.
England: Alastair Cook, Phil Mustard (Wkt), Ian Bell, Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood (Capt), Owais Shah, Ravi Bopara, Graeme Swann, Stuart Broad, Ryan Sidebottom, James Anderson.
"Well - got up this morning to find my car has been stolen so I can't go to work. Looks like I'll have to watch the cricket all day while a chav tries to do handbrake turns in a Tesco car park in my K-reg Sierra Sapphire. C'mon England!"
Mick, Birmingham, via TMS inbox
0945: I know we've all got a cross to bear at times, but this morning as I walked into work, I saw a man who was actually bearing a cross. It was about eight foot high and four foot wide and the wood had been clumsily painted white. It felt like a sign - but of what? Can someone enlighten me please?
0934: Sri Lanka make one change, with Farveez Maharoof missing out and leg-spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi replacing him, while England are once again unchanged.
0930: Team news in a sec, but Sri Lanka have won the toss and opted to bat in Colombo.
0925: Welcome to live coverage of the fourth one-day international between Sri Lanka and England in Colombo. History awaits Paul Collingwood's men - victory would sew up their first ever ODI triumph on these shores.
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