Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

A very good start for Sri Lanka.

Simon Mann
BBC Test Match Special commentator

It would have been an amazing catch had Donald got to it.

Not a bad start for Sri Lanka.

Lahiru Udara faces all of Sonny Baker's second over, and Sri Lanka pick up four via leg byes past the wicketkeeper and short fine leg.

The visiting opener then adds two more fours off the bat at the end of the over, pulling through backward square and then carving aerially past Aneurin Donald at point.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

I love that scoop option from Nissanka. The short boundary is behind the keeper so the scoop is always an option.

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales reporter

Sri Lanka certainly have plenty of support here at Sophia Gardens.

Pathum Nissanka smashes two boundaries in a row and their fans are proudly waving their flag and making their voices heard.

A third four in the over for Pathum Nissanka, dropping into a crouch to lap sweep Jofra Archer's final delivery through fine leg.

Prior to that, Lahiru Udara got off the mark with a single to third.

Consecutive boundaries for Pathum Nissanka.

Jofra Archer, back in the side today, fires his second ball down the leg side and Nissanka helps it on its way to the ropes.

The Sri Lanka opener then carves the following delivery through cover.

Sri Lanka were 34-5 after the powerplay in Southampton and losing early wickets has been a feature of their T20s with the bat this year. They've lost 33 wickets inside the powerplay in their 16 previous matches in 2026 at an average of 22.7, the third lowest among the three full member sides.

Today's statistics will be provided by CricViz analyst Kieran Parmley

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Very good opening over from Sonny Baker. We talk about his pace but his ability to swing the ball both ways shows the skill he has.

Sonny Baker causes Lahiru Udara a bit of trouble, hurrying the opener with some in-swinging deliveries.

One in particular absolutely hoops in and has Udara leaping off the ground as he fends off the ball.

Four dot balls to start for Udara, a promising opening over for Baker.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

It is too soon to see the Kevin Pietersen impact. He is not there to coach. He is there to come up with plans, to challenge Brendon McCullum and the team's views.

We had Freddie Flintoff in our dressing room and when you have someone who was a legend and you look up to, you act differently, work harder and want to make sure they rate you as a player. Maybe that is a ploy.

England went 1-0 up in the series on Tuesday thanks to some brutal hitting from Harry Brook.

The home captain, after a summer without a Test hundred, crashed the ball to all parts in hitting 114 not out from 49 balls to power his side to 254-4.

He added 128 with opener Jos Buttler, who also played superbly for his 80 from 44 balls.

England then ruthlessly dismissed their opponents for 135, with young seamer Sonny Baker taking 3-12 from his four overs.

You can read Matthew Henry's report here.

Away we go then.

Sonny Baker takes the opening over for England, with Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka knocking the first ball of the match towards mid-wicket for two.

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales reporter

The hover cover has come off the wicket at Sophia Gardens and the sun is shining.

It looks like that was just a quick shower after the toss and we're going to get going on time.

The forecast for Cardiff has 0% percent chance of rain from 19:00 BST, so that's looking positive for the rest of the evening.

Russel Arnold
Ex-Sri Lanka all-rounder on BBC Test Match Special

Sri Lanka haven't been playing good cricket. Their confidence is low, hence why they need to start strong. Nissanka, Mishara and Udara have a massive responsibility in getting the team off to a strong start.

Ioan Griffiths
BBC Sport Wales reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Aneurin Donald made his England debut on Tuesday, scoring 12 from five balls.

Today the fast-scoring opener returns to Sophia Gardens, where he started his career with Glamorgan.

During Tuesday’s dominant victory, he became the first player who has represented Glamorgan to play for England since Simon Jones in 2005.

You can read his interview with BBC Sport Wales here.

Dawid Malan
Former England batter on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

Harry Brook has got a lot better at his pre-match interviews. He gives us more than those one-word answers.

Sri Lanka bowler Charith Asalanka: "We would have done the same thing [bowled first]."

On England's winning run against Sri Lanka: "We just want to break that rhythm and play good cricket. We know England are consistent in this format.

"We must be spot on with England's batting line-up. We want to come back well."

Image source, Getty Images

England captain Harry Brook on Sky Sports: "It looks like a good wicket and we fancy chase tonight.

On his own form at number three: "It was all Baz's idea. He came up to me in the World Cup and asked if I fancy it. Thankfully I have been able to fit a few out of the middle in the last few months."

On the team's form: "We want to get back to number one. The consistency we are bringing in the shortest format is awesome to see. The squads are similar in ODIs and T20s so getting everyone together and buying what we are trying to achieve helps as well."