England keep nerve to win opening match of series

At the scheduled start time of this match - 10.45 BST - there appeared little chance of any cricket taking place in Sophia Gardens after heavy overnight rain and further showers had left the outfield sodden and a vast acreage of covering over the square. However, the weather cleared and a 42 over-a-side match was possible starting at 1.15.

England won the toss and got off to a good start. After John Sadler had fallen with 58 on the board, Nicky Peng and acting captain Ian Bell put on 108 for the second wicket from 20 overs. Peng's fine innings came to an end when he played on to Akalanka Ganegama and Bell went on to reach 62 before he became the first of 5 run out victims in the match in the 35th over.

Useful runs were garnered by the lower order in reaching 238 for 6 from the allocation of 42 overs, with Ranil Dhammika the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, his 9 overs producing 1 for 28.

The Sri Lankans got off to a good start themselves, putting 51 on the board before the fall of the first wicket in 9 overs. Ian Daniels had been particularly effective off his legs and driving straight before he was out for 43 from 33 balls including 7 fours, and although Thilina Kandambi reached a fluent 50, Sri Lanka began to lose their way.

As the required rate rose to difficult proportions and wickets fell at regular intervals, England began to assert themselves. Despite some occasionally wayward bowling and indifferent fielding, England kept their nerve and finished winning a splendidly fought contest by 15 runs.

The second match in the NatWest Series of Under 19 internationals takes place at Cardiff again on Saturday, with the third match at Hove --a day/nighter - on Monday.