England recovered from Sunday’s record defeat to bowl Sri Lanka out for 67 at Old Trafford and win the third one-day international by 10 wickets.Paceman Chris Jordan took 5-29 as Sri Lanka were all out in 24 overs, with only three men reaching double figures.
Dismissed for only 99 last time out, England needed only 12.1 overs to reach their target, Ian Bell (41 not out) sealing victory with a straight six.
Victory put them 2-1 ahead in the series with two matches remaining.
A truncated game had been expected in Manchester – but that was because of the volume of rain across the region rather than a third lowest total in their ODI history from Sri Lanka, who had inflicted England’s heaviest home defeat in terms of runs only three days previously.
Returning to the side after missing the defeat at Durham through injury, England captain Alastair Cook won a vital toss under leaden skies.
When play began after a 20-minute delay, James Anderson exploited the favourable bowling conditions on his home ground to dismiss both openers within five overs.
He claimed 2-10 from an impressive opening spell of seven overs before first change Jordan, in only his 11th ODI, returned the best figures by an England bowler at Old Trafford.
Jordan was named man of the match for the second time in the series, further enhancing his claims for a Test debut in the two-match series against the same opposition starting on 12 June.
The 25-year-old, generating impressive pace and bounce throughout, tempted Kumar Sangakkara, who top-scored with 13, into an edge outside off stump in his second over as Sri Lanka, so disciplined in accumulating 256 at Durham, were guilty of a succession of indifferent strokes.
Their other star batsman, Mahela Jayawardene, was trapped lbw for 12 attempting to turn James Tredwell’s first delivery to leg.
Unlike at Durham, England held their catches and Sri Lanka capitulated, with three wickets falling for no run in the space of four balls.
Eager to wrap things up before rain could intervene, England’s openers dominated the Sri Lanka attack, although Cook was reprieved on 12 by Sachithra Senanayake at square leg.
The match was completed in under three hours – before the scheduled interval – and was only England’s fifth 10-wicket triumph in ODIs.
“It’s one of the worst games I’ve ever played, ever been a part of,” said Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews.
“Poor shot selection was the main reason we got so few runs. It was never a 67 wicket; there were no demons on it.
“There was no intention to hang in there and tough it out.”
This remarkable series finishes with games at Lord’s on Saturday and Edgbaston on Tuesday and England have named an unchanged squad for the concluding two fixtures.
