Sri Lanka beats England by 90 runs in 6th ODI

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka took an unassailable 4-2 lead in the seven-match series against England with an emphatic 90-run win in the sixth game on Saturday after Kumar Sangakkara scored 112 in the last innings on his home ground and fast bowler Suranga Lakmal grabbed four wickets.

Sri Lanka rode Sangakkara's run-a-ball century and his 153-run partnership with Tillakaratne Dilshan (68) to reach 292-7 in 50 overs at Pallekele International Stadium.

England faltered early in their chase and never recovered to be dismissed for 202 in 41. 3 overs.

"It was a challenging wicket to bat on, Sangakkara was amazing and set the tone for the batsman to play at the end," Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.

England captain Alastair Cook, who scored just one run and dropped Sangakkara at mid-off on 41, said his bowlers conceded too many runs on a pitch worth around 260.

"For the first 20 odd overs we bowled really well," Cook said. "It didn't help me dropping Sanga, it was a real big catch to drop because we'd built up some good pressure."

Cook's future in the one-day format now appears in doubt, ahead of next year's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

He was trapped lbw by offspinner Sachithra Senanayake in the third delivery of the England innings.

Quick wickets soon reduced England to 84-5 and it was left to Joe Root and the lower order to salvage some respect. Root top scored with 55 and No. 8 Chris Woakes added 41.

Lakmal, on his return to international cricket after a seven-month injury layoff, took 4-30 while Senanayake returned 3-33.

Earlier, Sangakkara continued his imperious form in the series with his 20th one-day hundred, including 12 fours and two sixes. Sangakkara also has four half-centuries in the series including scores of 91 and 86.

Saturday's match was his last at Pallekele in his hometown Kandy and he will retire from limited-overs cricket after the World Cup.

Sri Lanka sent Mahela Jayawardene to open the batting but the move failed when the batsman was out for five caught by James Taylor off fast bowler Woakes with the total on eight.

Dilshan and Sangakkara combined for a solid partnership before Dilshan was caught by Ravi Bopara off James Tredwell. Dilshan faced 105 deliveries and hit eight boundaries.

Dinesh Chandimal (35 off 31 balls), Thisara Perera (16 off 10) and Jeevan Mendis (12 off 11) scored quickly in the last overs to give their side a challenging score.

Woakes returned England's best bowling figures of 2-51, with Steven Finn (2-53) and Chris Jordan (2-68) also in the wickets.

The final game of the seven-match series is in Colombo on Tuesday.