England vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Cricket World Cup result and reaction as Buttler’s men suffer another heavy defeat

Follow all the action from Bengaluru as England seek to keep their slim World Cup hopes alive

Jos Buttler tells England to ‘let it hurt’ after World Cup loss to Afghanistan

England suffered another embarrassing defeat in the Cricket World Cup to leave them on the brink of an early elimination. Having won the toss and elected to bat, Jos Buttler’s men failed to get any rhythm going. Wickets fell consistently and not even a rearguard defence from Ben Stokes (43) could help England set a decent total as they were skittled for 156.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets as David Willey gave England a glimmer of hope to reduce their opponents 23-2. That was the last moment of joy though as Pathum Nissanka (77*) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (65*) both passed fifty in a partnership worth 137 to earn victory in Bengaluru.

England have now lost four of their five matches in the World Cup and face an early exit with difficult tests against Australia, Pakistan and India still to come.

Relive all the action below:

England vs Sri Lanka LIVE: Cricket World Cup score and updates

• England face Sri Lanka in must-win Cricket World Cup clash
• England all out for 156 in woeful batting performance
• Wicket! Perera out for 4! ct Stokes b Willey - Sri Lanka 9-1
• Wicket! Mendis out for 11! ct Buttler b Willey - Sri Lanka 23-2
• Sri Lanka win by 8 wickets with almost half their overs remaining
• It’s time to face reality: Cricket World Cup collapse shows England are past their prime

[26 October 2023 12:55 · Sonia Twigg]

England bowled out for 156

Here is a report from the first innings:

England’s excruciating World Cup campaign took another turn for the worse as they slumped to 156 all out in their must-win match against Chris Silverwood’s Sri Lanka.

Knowing defeat in Bengaluru would leave them with one win in five and end any realistic hope of reaching the semi-finals, they batted calamitously and were rounded up in just 33.2 overs of self-inflicted pain.

Ben Stokes top-scored with 43 but even he barely laid a glove on the opposition, looking short of fluency throughout a 73-ball stay. Six players were dismissed in single figures, with Adil Rashid’s comical run out at the non-striker’s end summing up a shoddy performance.

[26 October 2023 12:46 · Sonia Twigg]

England bowled out for 156

England have maintained throughout the tournament that they will keep playing their “brand” of cricket, although it is hard to see what constitutes that “brand”.

They have not come out trying to replicate their form of 2019, which with Eoin Morgan in charge was different - he was clear and everyone had a distinct role.

This has been a case of chopping and changing to try and secure the desired outcome but it has seemed like the wrong decisions have been made at the wrong times.

[26 October 2023 12:40 · Sonia Twigg]

England all out for 156

Here are some photos from the first innings:

Stokes offered a brief resistance of 43 (REUTERS)

Sri Lanka celebrate the quick-thinking run out to dismiss Rashid (REUTERS)

Willey and Wood walk off after the final wicket (REUTERS)

[26 October 2023 12:30 · Sonia Twigg]

England all out for 156

Well the hopes were not high ahead of the start of play, but few could imagine just how far England would fall against Sri Lanka in a must-win clash.

The score was well below-par, the wickets just seemed to tumble. Other than Stokes’ 43 there was not much to note with the bat.

Sri Lanka were good but England were woeful, and showed none of the fight you would want to see from a side with their backs against the wall following three defeats in their opening four matches going into the game.

[26 October 2023 12:23 · Sonia Twigg]

Wicket! Wood out for 5 st Mendis b Theekshana - England all out for 156

That one almost snuck through Wood’s defence, it spun past the outside edge, a great delivery from Theekshana.

The next ball Wood comes down the track and misses, with Mendis taking off the bails.

That was a brilliant performance by Sri Lanka and just utterly woeful from England.

[26 October 2023 12:21 · Sonia Twigg]

England 156-9 (33) Willey 14, Wood 5, Kumara 3-35 (7)

Wood has hit a four already., that was a big carve into the off side to bring up the 150 from England.

I think that has to be the plan now. Kumara bowls a full toss next ball but that went to the fielder in the deep and will just be a single.

Willey has picked up where Wood left off, lifting the ball over the infield and into the off side.

[26 October 2023 12:17 · Sonia Twigg]

England 147-9 (32) Willey 10, Wood 0, Theekshana 0-21 (8)

Mark Wood has come to the crease, he scored more than 40 in a record-breaking ninth-wicket partnership with Atkinson during a failed run chase against South Africa, and England will be hoping for something similar here.

[26 October 2023 12:15 · Sonia Twigg]

Wicket! Rashid out for 2! run out Mendis - England 147-9

That one has gone through Willey, who can only stand there leaning on his bat, but it misses the stumps.

There is a big appeal and Rashid is run out at the non-strikers end! He was a bit lazy getting back in there, a brilliant piece of fielding from the Sri Lanka captain and they have another!

[26 October 2023 12:11 · Sonia Twigg]

England 144-8 (31) Willey 10, Rashid 1, Kumara 3-26 (6)

Kumara has been exceptional today, assessed conditions well and bowled to them expertly.

Willey has smashed Kumara for six! I can’t remember another one so that might well be the first of the innings so far.

It was well-hit. England might just be looking to pile on the runs as quickly as they can now with just two wickets left.

[26 October 2023 12:07 · Sonia Twigg]

Wicket! Stokes out for 43! ct sub b Kumara - England 137-8

Stokes has mis-hit that straight to the fielder in the deep and is furious with himself!

With that wicket he takes England’s hopes with him. Just as he was starting to offer some resistance.

Sri Lanka have turned the screw and England are floundering.