July 03  
English batsmen flay Sri Lankan bowling

LEEDS, England: England beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in their triangular series one-day international here at Headingley on Tuesday. Sri Lanka had scored 240 for the loss of seven wickets in their 32 overs. England reached the victory target of 241, losing the same number of wickets in 31.2 overs.  Earlier in the Sri Lankan innings, Darren Gough took a wicket with his seventh ball on his England comeback but Sanath Jayasuriya put Sri Lanka on top with a whirlwind century in a rain-shortened triangular one-day international on Tuesday.

LEEDS: Sri Lanka's skipper Sanath Jayasuriya acknowledges his century against England on Tuesday, July 3, 2002

The left-handed Jayasuriya slammed nine fours and six sixes in just 87 balls to top-score with 112 as Sri Lanka reached 240 for seven in 32 overs. Rain had delayed the start until 2.45pm (1345 GMT) with the match reduced to 32-overs-a-side. 

England were punished for some wayward bowling by the attacking Jayasuriya, with paceman Matthew Hoggard the most expensive after conceding 53 runs in only four overs.

The home side were also guilty of some sloppy fielding, Sri Lankan captain Jayasuriya being dropped by Paul Collingwood on 52 and surviving a simple run-out chance to Ronnie Irani when he had scored 28. 

Gough did manage to dismiss the left-handed Jayasuriya when he edged to Andrew Flintoff at second slip on 28, but umpire Steve Bucknor called a no-ball. 

Jayasuriya made the most of his opportunities with some sparkling strokeplay, twice pulling James Kirtley for six as he scored his first one-day international century for two years -- and his 12th in all. 

England were given a good start by Gough, making his return from a knee injury, when he had Romesh Kaluwitharana caught at cover trying to pull. But Marvan Atapattu and Jayasuriya then played contrasting roles to steady their side, adding 92 runs for the second wicket. 

Atapattu was content to accumulate in singles while Jayasuriya blazed his way to fifty, reaching his half-century with a six off Kirtley. England struck again in the 17th over when Atapattu was caught behind for 18 off Flintoff behind, and Mahela Jayawardene lasted just 11 balls before his off-stump was knocked back by the same bowler. 

Jayasuriya continued to frustrate England, lifting Irani over the cover boundary for six and reaching his hundred off just 78 deliveries. Avishka Gunawardene made 20 before he was run out by England captain Nasser Hussain at short mid-wicket attempting a quick single. 

England finally removed the big-hitting Jayasuriya in the 28th over when he was caught at long off by Kirtley off the hapless Hoggard. Upul Chandana hit a brisk 30 off just 13 balls, striking four fours and a six, before becoming Gough's second wicket when he failed to get forward and was adjudged leg before. 

There was time for Gough to complete his confident comeback with a third wicket when he bowled Chaminda Vaas in the final over. The experienced England paceman has had two operations on the knee injury he sustained in New Zealand last February.