Two fellas are currently sweeping the batting strip with brooms. The last of the big blue sheets is being dragged from the outfield.

Despite the restart and a 30-over per side game being announced, England now say "although the rain has stopped, after further inspection of the outfield and wicket, the umpires have called another 8pm (15:30 BST) inspection".

Hmmm. There appears to be some confusion. We're now told there will be an inspection at 15:30 BST. I guess that doesn't rule out a 16:00 BST restart.

So England have five more overs to bat. They will resume on 79-7 after a pretty appalling first 25 overs.

At 30 overs their score will be adjusted slightly because of the changes and then Pakistan will go about their chase.

We have a restart time.

It is also, somehow, still a 30-over per side game.

We'll be here long into the night.

There are barefooted groundstaff running everywhere as more and more of the outfield is exposed. Promising.

The umpires are out having a look at the middle.

We're hearing whispers this game could be getting back under way.

It seems the rain has stopped and some of the covers have been peeled back in Colombo, revealing the square for the first time in a while.

There's still a lot of water sitting on top of these sheets, however.

Image source, Reuters

We have had no news from the umpires or the drains as rain continues to fall. The scene remains a bleak one.

We have until 17:08 BST to get the game back under way with England currently 79-7 after a horror start to the match.

We'll bring you further updates when we get them.

The rain is still falling in Colombo. The umpires have appeared and, under an umbrella, are peering down the grate of a drain.

Has someone dropped something? Are the drains full?

I fear this conversation may be getting beyond me.

Meanwhile...

They've only picked two seamers, Andrew, and their best one isn't playing!

Put it on a length. Nibble it back. It wasn't rocket science from Pakistan. England's top order just had no answer.

Rufus Bullough
CricViz analyst

Since 2022, England have averaged 24 against nip backers, compared to 31 against seam movement away and 41 against no movement.

We saw pronounced seam movement in this game, 1.0° on average.

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s dismissal in particular moved 2.5° off the pitch, the sort of deviation we would expect to see from a good off-spinner.

You do in need. If the players do not get back on here then both teams will take a point each. Even before the 25 overs of collapsing that we saw, that would have been a perfectly acceptable result for England. It'll keep them at the top of the standings.

Pakistan's players are perched on the steps to the dressing room as the rain falls. They were jubilant earlier. They got the new ball to talk big time.

Image source, Getty Images