Sri Lanka have beaten England by six wickets in Colombo this afternoon to take a 3-1 lead in the seven-match ODI series.
England had revived the series by winning in Hambanota earlier this week, but an inspired performance from Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka to victory today and restored their two-game advantage in the process.
© Getty Images
The tourists took to the crease first and set Sri Lanka a target of 266 after their 50 overs, with Eoin Morgan and James Taylor starring in the absence of suspended captain Alastair Cook.
It was Morgan who skippered the side and the left-hander thrived under the added pressure by making 62 for what his first ODI half-century since January's tour of Australia.
Taylor, meanwhile, replaced Cook in the team, and the 24-year-old marked his third ODI cap in style - scoring an impressive 90 before his century bid was cut short by Ajantha Mendis.
© Getty Images
Joe Root [36] and Ravi Bopara [22] also came up with decent contributions to give England a decent chance of levelling the series at two wins apiece.
Openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kusal Perera dented the target by scoring a combined 48, while Mahela Jayawardene, who missed the defeat in Hambanota, looked good to mark his return with a half-century before Chris Jordan got him out for 44.
Sangakkara was proving a more stubborn scalp, however, as he defied England's bowlers for much the innings, before Jordan had the veteran fortunately caught on the boundary for 86.
It would not hinder Sri Lanka's route to victory, though, as captain Angelo Matthews struck an unbeaten 51 alongside Lahiru Thirimanne [19*] at the crease to see the hosts over the line in the final over.
Shane Callaghan
