So the international summer is underway and Sri Lanka have begun their tour with a victory. Monty and I shall be back on Thursday for the first one-day international, also at The Oval, that's a day-nigher so see you then, bye for now...

The stand-in England captain is Eoin Morgan. Now what would Stuart Broad say in valiant defeat? "I think we were outplayed. It cost us towards the end of the first innings, it fell away towards the end, things were quite controlled for the first 15 overs. It's disappointing having got so close. We've dropped three catches which is inexcusable here. Bowling we were just a little bit off our skill level. Harry Gurney played very well, you don't often see that on début so it's pleasing to see. We probably left a bit much to do at the death with the bat."

Lasitha Malinga: "In the last couple of years the captain has used me in pressure situations and I've really enjoyed that. I enjoy the pressure. I say to the captain, no matter whatever the situation give me the ball. In the last couple of years I've realised my slower ball is my wicket-taking ball. Perera can hit the ball hard, he can clear the fielder. He did a really good job for us and is looking forward to this tour." Man of the Match is Thisara Perera for his 49 in just 20 balls which proved the difference.

The World T20 Champions begin their new post-Jayawardene/Sangakkara with a win and England kick off their new era under Peter Moores with a very English close defeat. Jolly well played chaps but hard luck. This is the only T20 of the tour with the first of five one-day matches on Thursday before the two Tests, so a heart-warming start for the tourists.

So not for the first time, it's close but no cigar for England. Another credible effort but not quite getting over the line. But we've also seen this before from Sri Lanka, defending a score really well thanks to the master Lasith Malinga, he was incredible just at the right time here and closed out the match just when England were bubbling.