Tom Reeves reports as Sri Lanka 186-2 (34.2 overs) beat England 185 (43 overs) by eight wickets…
England captain Alastair Cook’s position as one-day international captain fell under increasing pressure with his side comfortably defeated by Sri Lanka in a rain-reduced match.
Cook won the toss for this second one-day international of the seven-match series and elected to bat first.
However, he again struggled – along with the rest of the top order – against the home team’s attack.
Fellow Essex man Ravi Bopara (51) and Joe Root (42) were the only players to post any kind of significant score for the visitors.
England also failed to use their full quota of 45 overs after the rain reduced the contest and were bowled all out for 185.
The away team had quickly found themselves 37-3 after Dilshan’s off-spin had dismissed openers Cook and Moeen Ali, before Ian Bell (11) holed out to Thisara Perera at long-off.
Thisara Perera then picked up his first wicket when Eoin Morgan was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne.
The rest of England’s team were also dismissed relatively cheaply with Bopara’s third half-century in four ODIs the only highlight in a below-par batting display.
The visitors began well in the field as they looked to defend their total and bounce back from their loss in the first one-day international of the series.
The tourists were given a glimmer of hope when Finn tucked Kusal Perera up and forced him to chip to square leg, while Moeen got a leading edge from Dilshan to leave Sri Lanka 37-2.
However, the experienced duo of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene saw the hosts to a comfortable victory, both unbeaten, with scores of 67 and 77.
The pair, who have now played 815 ODI encounters between them, put on an unbeaten century stand to see the hosts home with more than 10 overs to spare.
The result means Cook has lost seven of his last eight ODI matches as captain and has brought calls from Kevin Pietersen for him to resign.
The next match in the seven-game series is at Hambantota on Wednesday.