Super Sanath Stuns England

In similar circumstances to Saturday, when Australia inflicted a seven-run defeat in Hobart, England succumbed to a rejuvenated Sri Lanka by 31 runs.

After losing the toss, another profligate display in the field allowed the opposition an over-inflated total, this time to the tune of 284 for seven, and from a solid base the chase collapsed in mid-innings.

Marcus Trescothick continued his resurgence as an international batsman with 84 but once he was run out, hopes of a win receded.

Having scored 82 in the failed pursuit against Australia at the weekend, the Somerset left-hander followed up with a controlled assault to put his side in a good position.

Trescothick flexed his muscles after initial restraint to hit Charitha Buddika for four boundaries in an over, the 14th of the innings.

Earlier, opening partner Nick Knight had played the more expansive strokes, employing the reverse sweep to good effect.

But, having survived a top-edged hook off Dilhara Fernando, which landed just short of Buddika at fine leg, he departed in the same over for 42 of an opening partnership of 115 when another steepling pull was well judged by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.

When Nasser Hussain edged Fernando behind in the 26th over, England were still up with the required rate.

But Trescothick misjudged two to fine leg, after sweeping Jayasuriya, and Fernando's pin-point throw ended his 86-ball innings, which included 13 fours.

Paul Collingwood had his off-stump clipped aiming a slog-sweep at Jayasuriya's left-arm spin and Alec Stewart was run out in controversial circumstances, having appeared to cross in a mid-pitch muddle with Owais Shah.

Shah had made just 12 from 36 deliveries at that point and his failure to rotate the strike increased the pressure.

He enjoyed a brief flurry during a promising partnership with Ian Blackwell but Aravinda de Silva claimed three quick wickets, including that pair, and Ronnie Irani to douse any lingering hopes.

Subsequently, Muttiah Muralitharan was left to feast on the exposed England tail and he claimed his 300th one-day international victim when James Anderson's slog failed to connect.

Hussain berated England's performance in Hobart, branding the display as 'sloppy', however, it was an almost replica display from the same side as Sanath Jayasuriya took advantage of fumbles and over-throws to launch into a 15th one-day international hundred.

Once again Steve Harmison's radar was misfiring; having sent down 11 wides against the Aussies, he began with four in his first over from the Randwick end, which cost 14.

England contributed 19 extra balls in all, a worrying trait with the World Cup less than a month away.

Harmison also floored two straightforward catches to make it a sorry day for the Durham pace bowler.

Andrew Caddick, who began with consecutive maidens, provided England with the perfect start with a delivery that climbed from a length at Marvan Atapattu for Nick Knight to take a good shoulder-high catch at second slip.

Jayasuriya made a brisk century on the same strip that Sri Lanka piled up an SCG record 343 for five to beat Australia last Thursday, which helped the Sri Lankans, who were previously down and out, to their first win in four VB matches.

Supported by the circumspect Hashan Tillakaratne, coming in after the sixth ball of the innings, he prospered after chopping Anderson narrowly past off-stump in the second over.

Employing the aerial route and particularly harsh when England bowlers dropped short, Jayasuriya brought up his half-century from 52 balls with eight fours and a cut six off Harmison.

The pair put on a record Sri Lankan second-wicket stand against England of 144 before part-time medium-pacer Collingwood struck, Trescothick stretching to pull down an inside-edge from Tillakaratne (44) at midwicket.

Jayasuriya should have followed in Collingwood's next over but, on 91, flicked powerfully to fine leg where the hapless Harmison somehow fluffed the chance.

He capitalised on that miss by bringing up his hundred from his 94th delivery before finally falling during an impressive second spell of 5-0-18-1 from Ian Blackwell as a top-edge was held by Knight, diving full length, at short fine-leg.

Thereafter, de Silva - who went on to make 51 before becoming Caddick's second scalp - and Mahela Jayawardene deflected the ball into gaps with success.

A late clatter of wickets did prevent the Sri Lankans reaching 300 but the 19 extra deliveries, and the runs scored from them, did not help the cause and Harmison's misery was completed in the penultimate over when he misjudged another sitter off Caddick.