October 11, 2007	Thursday	Ramazan 28, 1428

COLOMBO, Oct 10: Opener Alastair Cook scored 80 to guide England to a five-wicket win and their first one-day series victory in Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

A lacklustre display by Sri Lanka’s top order meant they were restricted to a modest 211-9 after winning the toss and England surpassed this with 19 balls remaining.

It was England’s first series win on the sub-continent since 1987. England have an unassailable 3-1 lead with one match remaining.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA

U. Tharanga c Shah b Sidebottom 4

S.T. Jayasuriya c Pietersen b Anderson 3

K.C. Sangakkara c Bopara b Broad 69

D.M.P.D Jayawardene c Broad b Anderson 0

C.S. Silva c Bopara b Broad 67

K. Lokuarachchi lbw b Collingwood 9

T.M. Dilshan lbw b Anderson 17

J. Mubarak b Sidebottom 20

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas c Pietersen b Sidebottom 2

D.R. Fernando not out 3

L.S. Malinga not out 3

Extras: (LB-3, W-11) 14

Total (for 9 wkts, 50 overs) 211

FALL OF WKTS: 1-7, 2-16, 3-20, 4-146, 5-158, 6-166, 7-190, 8-195, 9-206

BOWLING: Anderson 10-1-33-3 (W5), Sidebottom 10-02-27-3 (W3), Broad 10-0-54-2 (W1), Collingwood 6-0-28-1, Swann 10-0-48-0 (W2), Bopara 4-0-18-0

England:

A. Cook b Fernando 80

P. Mustard c and b Malinga 19

I. R. Bell c Malinga b Lokuarachchi 25

K. P. Pietersen not out 63

P. D. Collingwood lbw b Fernando 0

O. Shah b Malinga 9

R. Bopara not out 1

EXTRAS: (LB-4, W-11) 15

TOTAL (for five wkts, 46.5 overs) 212

FALL OF WKTS: 1-30, 2-84, 3-194, 4-194, 5-208.

BOWLING: Vaas 9-2-39-0 (2w), Malinga 9-1-39-2 (2w), Fernando 10-1-38-2 (3w), Lokuarachchi 10-0-57-1, Jayasuriya 4.5-0-18-0, Dilshan 4-0-17-0.

RESULT: England won by five wickets to take 5-match series 3-1.

UMPIRES: Rudi Koertzen (RSA) and Tyron Wijewardene (SRI).

TV UMPIRE: Asoka de Silva (SRI).

MATCH REFEREE: Javagal Srinath (IND).

LAST MATCH: In Colombo on Saturday.

—Agencies