England lose early wickets

England struggled to a modest 46 for two after 15 overs against Sri Lanka on a slow pitch in today's World Cup quarter-final.

Andrew Strauss was never able to get Tillakaratne Dilshan away and was eventually bowled trying to heave a short ball into the leg-side, having made only five from 19 balls.

Ian Bell, pushed back up to open for the first time in more than two years, attuned to the lack of pace at the Premadasa Stadium much more easily than his out-of-sorts captain but he was dismissed by Angelo Matthews to leave England in trouble..

Strauss played out Dilshan's first over of off-spin with the new ball for a maiden.

Bell clipped his first ball for four off his legs from Lasith Malinga and also manoeuvred another boundary through straight midwicket at the very start of first-change Mathews' spell.

But when Mathews had Bell chipping tamely into the leg-side ring, England had lost their second wicket for the addition of only two runs - and Jonathan Trott and Ravi Bopara had to start again.

England had won an important toss and unsurprisingly chosen to bat first in this day-night match, yet the early indications were they might find it tough to make the most of that significant advantage.