BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom: Sri Lanka beat England by six wickets to win the fifth and final day/night one-day international at Edgbaston yesterday and so take the series 3-2.
Sri Lanka, after losing the toss, bowled England out for 219 with paceman Lasith Malinga taking three for 50 after the spinners dried up the run-rate.
England captain Alastair Cook top-scored with 56 in an innings where only Ian Bell (37) and Chris Jordan (30) also passed 29.
However, there was a controversial moment when Sri Lanka off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake ran out Jos Buttler as the non-striker backed up.
In reply, Sri Lanka finished on 222 for four with 10 balls to spare.
Lahiru Thirimanne (60 not out) and Mahela Jayawardene (53), who shared a fourth-wicket stand of 98, were the key contributors while Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews made a brisk 42 not out. Sri Lanka now will face England in the first of a two-Test series at Lord’s next week. AFP
ENGLAND
A N Cook c Sangakkara b Senanayake 56
I R Bell c&b Mendis 37
G S Ballance c&b Malinga 10
J E Root c Sangakkara b Priyanjan 10
E J Morgan c Jayawardene b Mathews 17
R S Bopara b Mendis 17
J C Buttler (run out-Senanayake) 21
C J Jordan (run out-Perera/Mendis) 30
J C Tredwell b Malinga 0
J M Anderson b Malinga 5
H F Gurney (not out) 0
Extras (LB-3, W-12, NB-1) 16
Total (all out in 48.1 overs) 219
Fall of wickets: 1-76, 2-98, 3-116, 4-136, 5-142, 6-170, 7-199, 8-201, 9-218, 10-219.
Bowling: N Kulasekara 5-0-22-0; S L Malinga 9.1-0-50-3 (3w); S Senanayake 10-0-36-1; A Mendis 9-0-50-2 (1nb, 2w); T Dilshan 5-0-17-0; M Priyanjan 4-0-18-1 (1w); A D Mathews 6-0-23-1 (3w).
SRI LANKA
T M Dilshan c Root b Tredwell 28
M D Perera lbw Anderson 19
K C Sangakkara c Jordan b Tredwell 2
M D Jayawardene c Anderson b Jordan 53
R L Thirimanne (not out) 60
A D Mathews (not out) 42
Extras (LB-6, W-12) 18
Total (for 4 wkts in 48.2 overs) 222
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-59, 3-62, 4-160.
Bowling: J M Anderson 10-1-33-1 (3w); H F Gurney 10-1-46-0 (2w); C J Jordan 8-0-55-1 (5w); J C Tredwell 10-2-30-2; J E Root 6-0-25-0; R S Bopara 4.2-0-27-0.
Player-of-the-Match: RL Thirimanne
