Statistical highlights

1st ODI at Nottingham

** Ronnie Irani was making a comeback to the side after missing 87 matches for his team. He last appeared against New Zealand on 2-3-1997.

** The 95 run partnership between Alec Stewart and Irani was the best for England against Sri Lanka for the 5th wicket bettering the previous best of 89 runs between Neil Fairbrother and Adam Hollioake at Perth on 29-1-1999.

** The above partnership was also the best for the fifth wicket at this ground bettering the previous best of 87 runs between Pakistanis Javed Miandad and Asif Iqbal against Australia during the 1979 World Cup on 13-6-1979. It was also England's best at this venue obliterating the previous best of 73 runs between Robin Smith and Jack Russell against India on 20-7-1990.

** The 28 ball fifty by Andrew Flintoff was the fastest by an Englishman in LOIs. The previous best was the 30-ball fifty by Chris Old against India at Lord's during the 1975 World Cup on 7-6-1975.

** Flintoff (50 not out and 3-48) became the only fourth English all-rounder to score over fifty and take three or more wickets in the same match. The others being Ian Botham (53 & 4-31 in 1992), Graeme Hick (91 & 3-41 in 1995 and 80 & 5-33 in 2000) and Mark Alleyne (53 & 3-55 in 2000).

** It was the best all-round performance by an Englishman against Sri Lanka. Botham had previously scored a 60 and had taken 2-45 at the SSC, Colombo on 13-2-1982.

** Flintoff joins two other all-rounders who have scored a fifty and had taken at least three wickets in the same match at this venue. The others being: Pakistani Majid Khan (61 & 3-53) against Australia on 13-6-1979 and Zimbabwean Duncan Fletcher, the current England coach (69 not out & 4-42) also against Australia on 9-6-1983.

** Playing in his 40th match, Flintoff received his fourth man of the match award of his career.