England vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as Buttler’s men suffer another heavy defeat
Follow all the action from Bengaluru as England seek to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive
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Your support makes all the difference.England suffered another embarrassing defeat in the Cricket World Cup to leave them on the brink of an early elimination. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Jos Buttler’s men failed to get any rhythm going. Wickets fell consistently and not even a rearguard defence from Ben Stokes (43) could help England set a decent total as they were skittled for 156.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets as David Willey gave England a glimmer of hope to reduce their opponents 23-2. That was the last moment of joy though as Pathum Nissanka (77*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65*) both passed fifty in a partnership worth 137 to earn victory in Bengaluru.
England have now lost four of their five matches in the World Cup and face an early exit with difficult tests against Australia, Pakistan and India still to come.
Relive all the action below:
Sri Lanka 43-2 (8) Nissanka 18, Samarawickrama 8, Willey 2-25 (4) - need 114 to win
Willey has continued to bowl nicely here and shown exactly the fight and passion that has been lacking from their performance so far.
Just a touch wayward with a wide in his fourth over, but he is still looking threatening despite the over going for five runs.
Sri Lanka 38-2 (7) Nissanka 16, Samarawickrama 6, Woakes 0-18 (4) - need 119 to win
Woakes had kept the pressure on, but Nissanka has gone after one and is rewarded with another four to the total.
That was not a poor delivery at all, and he hits back to back boundaries.
This is an aggressive fight back after the two early wickets.
Sri Lanka 29-2 (6) Nissanka 7, Samarawickrama 6, Willey 2-20 - need 128 runs to win
Willey has been the key, and he can often be so good with the new ball, which England will hope continues to show swing for as long as possible.
Immediately after the wicket, Samarawickrama has driven away to the boundary for 4! That was a great shot.
Six runs from the over, but the wickets are going to be more important than the runs.
Wicket! Mendis out for 11 ct Buttler b Willey - Sri Lanka 23-2
That was just what England and Willey would have wanted! It was another top edge.
Mendis tries to flick the ball off his pads and it looped high, Buttler did well to get there and time the dive.
England have kept fighting, but there is still a long way to go.
Sri Lanka 23-1 (5) Nissanka 7, Mendis 11, Woakes 0-9 (3) - need 134 runs to win
Woakes has bowled better today than in previous matches this World Cup. Two singles from that over.
Sri Lanka 21-1 (4) Nisanka 6, Mendis 10, Willey 1-14 (2) - need 136 runs to win
Willey has bowled well so far today.
England will need him to be right on the money here.
But one is dragged slightly short and Mendis hits over the infield and to the boundary.
Six runs from the over
Sri Lanka 15-1 (3) Nissanka 6, Perera 4, Woakes 0-7 (2) - need 142 runs to win
Over to Woakes...the first three balls of the over are tight.
And it was a tight over, just the two runs from it
Sri Lanka 13-1 (2) Nissanka 4, Mendis 4, Willey 1-8 (1) - need 144 runs to win
Mendis edges between the hands of Joe Root at slip with his first delivery!
That has to be taken when defending such a low totla.
Could there be a bit of life in this game yet?
Wicket! Perera out for 4! ct Stokes b Willey - Sri Lanka 9-1
Willey drags one a bit short second over and he has gone for a boundary behind square. Not quite the tight start England would have wanted defending such a low total.
But he bowls one fuller and Perera is caught!
It was a leading edge that looped straight to Ben Stokes, Perera is out for 4 and that is just what England wanted.
Sri Lanka 5-0 (1), Nissanka 4, Perera 0, Woakes 0-5 (1) need 152 runs to win
Chris Woakes has ball in hand and will open for England who are defending just 156.
Nissanka is off the mark with a lovely on drive down the ground, Woakes was looking for swing that wasn’t there.
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