England beat Sri Lanka by six wickets to secure ODI series

Jason Roy hit his second century in five days to give England a six wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth one day international.

Chasing a stiff Duckworth-Lewis-adjusted target of 308 in 42 overs, following a two and a half hour break for rain that had robbed Sri Lanka’s own innings of vital momentum, Roy crashed 13 fours and three sixes in the course of a 118 ball onslaught to put the result beyond any doubt.

Roy made 162, the second-highest score by an England batsman in an ODI.

Following the early loss of Moeen Ali, Roy added 149 for the second wicket with Joe Root, whose 65 from from 54 balls was a timely reminder after a string of single figure scores.

Sri Lanka posted 305-5, a total increased by the DLS method.

Kusal Mendis and Gunathilaka, whose 128-run stand for the second wicket was Sri Lanka’s highest partnership of the series.

Mendis, who has been Sri Lanka’s most promising young batsman of a tough campaign, top-scored with 77 from 64 balls, his fourth and highest half-century of the tour and his most fluent yet.

England were a more focused unit in the second half of their bowling effort, although they struggled once again to separate Sri Lanka’s old guard of Mathews and, in particular, Dinesh Chandimal, who followed his 62 from 77 balls at Bristol with a sparkier innings of 63 from 51.

Sri Lanka are still searching for their first win over England on this tour, with only Saturday’s fifth ODI at Cardiff and a Twenty20 in Southampton on Tuesday remaining.

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