Well, what a reversal after the Test series. Sri Lanka win by nine wickets and looked the classier team by some distance today, Twenty20 cricket is obviously something they excel at. England looked like posting a really competitive total in the midst of Morgan and Pietersen's rapid 83-run stand, but there was precious little from the rest of the batsmen and England collapsed in a heap at the end. Sri Lanka lost Jayasuriya early but Jayawardene and Sangakkara took them home with minimum fuss. Stay with us for the presentations and post-match interviews.
"Who said you have to slog and slam in T20?" writes Daniel Alexander. "Pure classy chase by two classy batsmen!"
"Credit where credit is due," says Stuart Broad. "Both Jayawardene and Sangakkara played really well. At the end of the day we didn't get enough runs. We were going to have a bowl, but it doesn't matter about the toss, whatever you do you have to do it well. We didnt execute the plans we wanted to, and of course Malinga bowled very well at the end. We didn't hit enough boundaries in the last six or seven overs."
A somewhat chastened Broad explains Bell's absence thus: "He has been in good form, but with Ravi we get an extra bowling option, which you sometimes need in T20 cricket."
"It was our target to keep them under 150," says Sri Lankan captain Thilina Kandamby. "It was a good wicket and a good outfield, so we did well."
How did his team cope when Morgan and Pietersen were smashing it to all parts? "In twenty20 cricket it happens, there are ups and downs, and we need to be good in the field. There are a lot of things we can improve still."
He gives credit to the seniors, saying that Malinga "is amazing. In every version of the game if you have Lasith in your side you have a huge advantage. They took their responsibilites, the senior guys, and showed their class. We've done well in one-dayers in the last couple of years, and the last time we were here we beat England 5-0, so we enjoy it."
Mahela Jayawardene is the Man of the Match. "It is a simple game," he says, sagely. "A lot of people make it complicated, but it's not. I didn't spend much time in the middle in the Test series, but that happens. You feel hungry to get runs after that, and that's what I did today. We had a tough Test series, but apart from that Cardiff session it could've been great. I'm looking forward to the one-dayers."
And that's all from Bristol. Before you go, be sure to have a look at Andrew Miller's bulletin, which is always a good read, and Plays of the Day from Andrew McGlashan. We've also got a gallery for you to peruse, if you so wish. Sahil Dutta and Liam Brickhill have been your commentators today, goodbye from the whole team and do join us for the first ODI at The Oval in three days' time.
Stuart Broad, with one final throw of the dice
END OF OVER:17 | 9 Runs | SL: 131/1 (6 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.70, RRR: 2.00)
- Kumar Sangakkara43 (39b)
- Mahela Jayawardene66 (55b)
- Ravi Bopara2-0-12-0
- Chris Woakes3-0-31-0
Speaking of Bopara, here he is. But it's surely too late for England to salvage anything
END OF OVER:16 | 9 Runs | SL: 122/1 (15 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 7.62, RRR: 3.75)
- Mahela Jayawardene64 (52b)
- Kumar Sangakkara38 (36b)
- Chris Woakes3-0-31-0
- Graeme Swann4-0-26-0
"Ravi Bapara bowled a veyr good over leaving 3 runs from it only... The best performance of all the bowlers England have....So... why has he bowled only 1 over ?" Good question, Joe Noodle.