Moeen Ali starred with both bat and ball as England cruised to victory over Sri Lanka A on Friday.
In their opening warm-up match before the one-day international series, Alastair Cook's side recorded a 56-run victory on the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Sri Lanka A's innings was reduced to 43 overs after a rain-delayed start, and three wickets for Moeen's improving off-spin and two for Steven Finn reduced them to 105-5.
Only Kushal Perera [56] had offered any resistance, but a measured 76-run partnership between Jeevan Mendis [42 not out] and Ramith Rambukwella [30*] took the hosts to 198-6 in Colombo.
Moeen, who was chosen ahead of Twenty20 regular Alex Hales to open the batting, showed that he too can be explosive by hitting every legitimate ball of Vishwa Fernando's first over to the boundary.
The Worcestershire all-rounder [56] rapidly reached a 21-ball half-century, while captain Cook [54] steadily added to the total at the other end as England put on 94 at a very healthy rate for the opening stand.
Both would be dismissed by Lahiru Gamage, but Ian Bell [16*] and Joe Root [15*] were well on their way to knocking the rest of the runs off when another downpour came, and this time it did not stop.
England's 145-2 off 25 overs put them way ahead of the required DL score, and got their subcontinent tour off to a winning start ahead of another friendly on Sunday and the start of the seven-match series on Wednesday.
Joe Fish
