6.04pm It's all over, red rover. That's it I'm afraid. It's still nil-all in this two-match Twenty20 thrash, before the seven-match ODI fest, so it's been an interesting but ultimately frustrating day in Manchester, a great shame for a decent crowd. We'll be back on Tuesday for the second match so, for now, it's goodnight.
6.02pm They're dragging off one of the covers but it's not a pretty sight underneath. Soggy, boggy, and rubbish. And it's raining, which brings a big cheer to the press box, all of whom are sweating over their laptops with deadlines now looming. This is doomed, I'm afraid.
5.55pm The absurdity never ceases. Right, here's what's happening, chaps. The cut-off time is 6.14pm. That's just around the corner, and we have to start again by that time. If we do, England will need 46 from 23.
5.45pm It's stopped raining. Covers are still on, though, but we're some way from starting I'm afraid. At least half-an-hour, I'd say, so who knows what head-scratching Duckworth-Lewis calculation it'll end up being. More news when we get it. Read the bulletin while you're waiting.
Over in Amstelveen Afghanistan need another 63 from about 12 overs, with four wickets remaining, to beat Netherlands. They're surprising and impressing everyone, Afghanistan. More here when I met them in South Africa, and their homepage too.
5.10pm Still raining, and it's steadier than ever. Covers are protecting the run-ups and either side of the pitch, so we're probably in for quite a delay here. Five overs constitutes a match. What a total pain in the derriere this is.
5.01pm And off they go. Good grief this is unbelievably annoying. Covers coming back on. Have a peek at some photos while you wait. Or some feeds. We're going to be revamping our approach to Twitter in the coming months, but here's our existing account if you want to subscribe.
Johnson signals to the crowd - he's obviously had a fair bit of stick this summer, and he's delighted to stick it up them, in the nicest possible sense.
RS Bopara c Watson b Johnson 1 (3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Here's Johnson
END OF OVER:1 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | ENG: 3/1 (143 runs required from 19 overs, RR: 3.00, RRR: 7.52)
- Jonathan Trott0 (4b)
- Ravi Bopara1 (2b)
- Brett Lee1-0-3-1
Lee's beaming. Trott is, too. Denly is not.
Free hit for Trott
That was a seriously fast ball. Electric from Lee!
JL Denly c Hauritz b Lee 0 (1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
So after a pretty long delay, we have players on the pitch. Hurrah and huzzah for that. Denly's making his Twenty20 debut - cracked 67 against Ireland on his ODI debut t'other day. Bopara's at the other end, and it'll be Brett Lee to open the attack. This could be absolutely awesome. He's been cooped up all summer like a caged cheetah. The crowd have made good use of the delay by getting plastered.
