Sri Lanka post 239, England to bat on reserve day after rain plays spoilsport

Sri Lanka, leading the seven-match series 3-1, can clinch the series with a win, while England must win out to take the series.

Kumar Sangakkara’s fourth straight half-century highlighted Sri Lanka’s innings at Pallekele International Stadium.

Sangakkara scored 91 runs off 123 deliveries, holding Sri Lanka together. After they were reduced to 59-3, Sangakkara shared 85 for the fourth wicket with captain Angelo Mathews (40).

He had 67, 63 and 86 in his previous three matches.

Kusal Perera gave Sri Lanka another poor start when he was dismissed without scoring, his sixth single-digit score in his last eight innings. Tillakaratne Dilshan looked promising with 35 off 31 deliveries before being bowled by fast bowler Chris Jordan.

Woakes opened his wicket account having Mahela Jayawardene caught by Jordan on 2, leaving Sri Lanka at 59-3.

Sangakkara and Mathews then built an important partnership. Sangakkara missed out on his 20th ODI century in the 45th over, when he hit straight to by Joe Root at deep midwicket off Woakes. Sangakkara hit 10 boundaries.

His dismissal, at 199-6, prompted Sri Lanka’s sudden descent, tempered only a cameo by Thisara Perera, who cracked 27 runs off 17 deliveries to help set up a respectable score.

Woakes took 5-24 off his last three overs, to end Sri Lanka’s innings.

Captain Alastair Cook, who won the toss, returned to the side after serving a suspension in the previous match for a slow over-rate. Alex Hales, who opened the batting without success in the last game, gave way. Seam bowler Ben Stokes was out, and offspinner James Tredwell in. Tredwell took 1-33.

Sri Lanka offspinner Sachithra Senanayake started just a day after the International Cricket Council cleared him to bowl again. He had been suspended since July for an illegal action. An injury to left-arm spinner Rangana Herath enabled him to play.