DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka



England recorded their first one-day cricket international win on Sri Lankan soil in 25 years when they beat the hosts by 65 runs in the second game and levelled the five-match series 1-1.
England, who last beat Sri Lanka on the island in a limited overs match in February 1982, set a competitive target of 235 runs in 50 overs helped by a gritty 82 from Owais Shah, and restricted the islanders to 169 in 44.3 overs.

Pace bowlers Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad took two wickets apiece, restricting the hosts to 38 for four, then the slower bowlers built on the start and never let Sri Lanka recover.

Upul Tharanga's poor form with the bat continued when he was caught by Alastiar Cook at second slip for eight.

Sanath Jayasuriya was later caught at cover by Ian Bell trying to slash Sidebottom.

Kumar Sangakkara, who was dropped twice before scoring, made just nine off 37 balls before chasing a wide delivery from Broad to be caught by wicketkeeper Phil Mustard.

Chamara Silva fell for a duck in Broad's next over, but Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan followed with a 52-run stand for the fifth wicket — providing the only chance of success for the hosts.

Paul Collingwood displayed smart captaincy bringing in his slow bowlers, tasting immediate success when off-spinner Graeme Swann bowled Dilshan through bat and pad for 29 runs in just 21 balls.

Dilshan's dismissal triggered another Sri Lankan collapse and only Jehan Mubarak showed some fight toward the end with an unbeaten 44 and added 43 runs for the last wicket with Dilhara Fernando.

Earlier Shah's fighting 82 runs from 92 deliveries helped England to reach a competitive total after winning the toss and electing to bat.

At one stage England were badly placed on 61 for four, but Shah's spirit, with support from Collingwood (42) and tail-ender Swann (34), helped the visitors recover.

Chaminda Vaas got the breakthrough at just two when he had Cook caught by Jayawardene at first slip.

Vaas was denied a second wicket when Jayawardene dropped Ian Bell on five at the same position. But, Farveez Maharoof later got Bell lbw for 18.

Kevin Pietersen was dismissed for 18 in the next over. Trying to pull a short delivery from paceman Fernando, the batsman hit straight to Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene at midwicket as England slumped to 61 for four.

But a 78-run stand for the fifth wicket by Shah and Collingwood gave England a welcome boost.

Collingwood scored 42 before being trapped lbw by Fernando, while Shah continued batting to reach 50 in 72 balls — his fourth half-century in a limited-over international.

He added 70 runs for the seventh wicket with Swann, who scored 34 from only 37 balls.

Seamer Maharoof was the most successful bowler, taking three wickets and conceding only 30 runs in nine overs.

Veteran Jayasuriya, meanwhile, led his team to the field to become the first cricketer to appear in 400 one-day international games. AP