England reached 92 for two in their first one-day international against Sri Lanka before heavy rain forced the teams off after 15 overs in Dambulla.
The tourists were asked to bat after Dinesh Chandimal won the toss, with openers Jonny Bairstow and Jason Roy falling in the space of four deliveries after a lively start.
Joe Root and captain Eoin Morgan picked up the baton and kept the score ticking at more than six-an-over when the dark overhead clouds emerged and promptly unloaded a deluge.
We are underway here in Dambulla! Live scorecard: https://t.co/DFRBqdTnD9#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/QEIzeEMmyr — England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 10, 2018
England had earlier handed a debut to Warwickshire paceman Olly Stone and preferred a third spinner, Liam Dawson, to Mark Wood.
Lasith Malinga opened up for Sri Lanka, his first ODI against England since the 2015 World Cup, but the 35-year-old looked down on pace and menace.
Roy pulled an early short ball for four and dispatched a full toss as the veteran struggled for rhythm, with Bairstow piercing the infield with a pair of sweet drives off Nuwan Pradeep.
The pair grew in confidence, Roy advancing down the track to hit Pradeep down the ground and Bairstow hoisting the spin of Akila Dananjaya for the first six of the match in the seventh over.
The covers are on here in Dambulla ☔️😢 Scorecard: https://t.co/eNBjjKiQcQ#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/ewZMg5opMJ — England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 10, 2018
Bairstow was first to go for 25, held low by wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella after Pradeep found the edge, to make it 49 for one.
Sri Lanka doubled down on their breakthrough moments later when Roy aimed a big swing at Dananjaya and succeeded only in looping a catch to mid-off for 24.
Root (25no) edged his third ball just past slip but quickly settled in to his work alongside captain Morgan (14no) until the weather changed.
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