Joe Root’s third hundred powered England to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the fifth One-Day International here on Thursday and kept alive its hopes in the seven-match series.
After rain forced play to be suspended on Wednesday, England returned to chase down a 240-run victory target with five balls to spare. It trails the host 3-2 in the series.
The 23-year-old Root (104 not out) added 104 for the third wicket with James Taylor (68) after England lost both openers cheaply to off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake.
The Yorkshire right-hander, who hit seven fours in his 117-ball knock, reached his hundred by slog-sweeping Ajantha Mendis for a six in the penultimate over.
Senanayake, back in the Sri Lanka team after being cleared to bowl again with a remodelled action, bowled Moeen Ali (four) in the second over.
He then compounded England’s problems by getting under-fire captain Alastair Cook for 20. Solid foundation
Taylor and Root consolidated initially before launching into the bowlers and laying down a solid platform for the chase. The 24-year-old Taylor, who hit five 4s and a 6, showed nimble footwork against the spinners to get to his second successive half-century before he was dismissed by Thisara Perera.
Root and Ravi Bopara (28) took England close to the target with a fourth-wicket stand of 86 runs. Bopara and Eoin Morgan (five) fell in quick succession with England in touching distance of the win.
England paceman Chris Woakes (six for 47) tore through the Sri Lankan lower order to bowl out the host for 239 in 49 overs on Wednesday despite a cultured 91 from Kumar Sangakkara.
Scoreboard:
Sri Lanka: 239 in 49 overs.
England: A. Cook lbw b Senanayake 20, M. Ali b Senanayake 4, J. Taylor c A. Mendis b Perera 68, J. Root (not out) 104, R. Bopara c Thirimannae b Dilshan 28, E. Morgan c T. Perera b A. Mendis 5, J. Buttler (not out) 2; Extras (lb-6, w-2, nb-1): 9; Total (for five wkts. in 49.1 overs): 240.
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-35, 3-139, 4-225, 5-238.
Sri Lanka bowling: Dilshan 9.1-0-45-1, Senanayake 10-0-35-2, Mathews 4-0-14-0, Prasad 4-0-24-0, J. Mendis 7-0-41-0, A. Mendis 9-0-49-1, T. Perera 6-0-26-1.
Man-of-the-match: J. Root.
