England Hold Nerve To Claim Victory

The calamitous run out of captain Sanath Jayasuriya for 99 proved the turning point as Sri Lanka chased 280 to win.

Jayasuriya had almost reached his ton in 83 balls, but Kumar Sangakkara ran into him going for a quick single and Nasser Hussain's terrific direct hit proved his downfall.

Thereafter a stand of 93 between Sangakkara (56) and Russel Arnold (35) threatened England's total before Caddick returned for a second spell and claimed the duo - both to fine catches by Ian Blackwell.

Caddick finished with four wickets for 35 runs as the tail folded quickly and Sri Lanka were all out for 260.

The one blight on England's day was another horrendous display from Steve Harmison which was compounded when he hobbled off with an apparent twisted ankle.

The Durham paceman opened with a 10-ball over (three wides and one no-ball) which cost 14, and he conceded a further 13 in the next over.

Then, picking up the ball at mid-on from a Jayasuriya push, Harmison slipped on the turf and was in obvious discomfort before being led from the field by physio Dean Conway.

Nick Knight had spearheaded England's innings after they won the toss and decided to bat.

The Warwickshire opener top-scored with 88 to take his series tally to 440 in seven innings. Alec Stewart weighed in further down the order with 51, as England posted 279 for seven.

Marcus Trescothick made 39, and his early momentum and the freedom of stroke of Michael Vaughan (28) helped England bring up the 100 in the 17th over.

But when Vaughan miscued a pull to mid-wicket for the second time off Dilhara Fernando, England's tempo nosedived. Hussain made just 18 from 36 deliveries as the third-wicket stand bore 41 in 11 overs.

But Stewart struck the ball firmly and scampered between the wickets in tandem with Paul Collingwood as 50 came from the final five overs.