Thirimanne, Sangakkara score tons to thrash England

Sri Lankan opener Lahiru Thirimanne and the classy Kumar Sangakkara hit fabulous unbeaten centuries to power Sri Lanka to a comfortable nine-wicket win over England in Pool A on Sunday.

Thirimanne, 139 not out, hit a six to win the game in style, while Sangakkara ended on 117 as the beaten finalists of the last two World Cups scored 312 for one in 47.2 overs off England's feeble bowling attack at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.

Sri Lanka made their chase look easy, as Thirimanne and Sangakkara carved up a match-winning unbeaten 212-run stand after other opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) went back with Sri Lanka on 100.

Sangakkara took 45 balls to reach his 50 and needed just another 25 balls to bring up his 23rd ODI century, as he took control of the game during the final 20 overs, dominating the latter stages of the partnership with Thirimanne.

Thirimanne was lucky on two occasions when he was dropped on three by Jos Buttler at the slips, and then again on 98 by Moeen Ali at cover.

The loss did no favours for England's quarter-final chances as they slumped to their third defeat in four games in the group.

With just two points, the best they can hope for is fourth place in Pool A, having lost to Australia and New Zealand as well.

England's two final matches are against Bangladesh and Afghanistan and could be knocked out in the pool phase, if they were to lose any one of them.

Earlier, Joe Root anchored England's 309 for six with his fourth one-day international century after Moeen Ali and Ian Bell had put on a quick-fire, 62-run opening partnership.

The 24-year-old, who top-scored with 46 in England's humiliating eight-wicket loss at the same ground to New Zealand on Feb 20, produced his highest one-day score of 121 before he was trapped in front by Rangana Herath in the 47th over.

He shared a 60-run partnership with captain Eoin Morgan (27) and a stand of 98 with James Taylor (25).

Ian Bell and Moeen Ali got England off to a flying start as they raced to 50 in the seventh over but the introduction of slower bowlers by Mathews clamped down the scoring rate.

Bell had his share of luck and was dropped at least three times, twice in the covers in one over from Suranga Lakmal, before he chopped a Lakmal delivery on to be third out at 49, reducing England to 101 for three with 30 overs remaining.

Root and Taylor were both dismissed in the final five overs but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler (39 not out) and Chris Woakes (9) pushed the total past 300 for a score which looked competitive at the change of innings.