By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent in Colombo

England can have no complaints about Sri Lanka's victory - but there were some grumbles from their travelling supporters.

This match really should have been taken into the final day, but England's batsmen - tired, no doubt, after their exertions in the field - did not appear to have the stomach for a fight.

During a frenetic passage of play this afternoon, England lost four wickets for five runs in 10 overs as Sri Lanka's spinners took control.

And only a few lusty blows from Flintoff towards the end prevented this from becoming England's heaviest loss in nearly 60 years.

Sri Lanka's victory in Colombo was richly deserved

As it is, in terms of defeat by an innings, this is England's worst beating since 1973.

It began badly when Trescothick played an unwise, firm-footed drive at Vaas in the first over of England's innings, and was caught in the gully for 0.

Vaughan was then brilliantly deceived by Fernando's change of pace - although presenting a catch to mid off under the circumstances was rather irresponsible.

And when Hussain was given out, caught behind for 11, England were 44-3, and the match was all but over.

Sri Lanka deserved to claim the series.

Although England produced hard-fought rearguard actions at Galle and Kandy, the stark truth is that with a little more imagination and aggression Sri Lanka would have won both games.

It is also a justified complaint that back-to-back Tests in these desperately hot and humid conditions do the players no favours at all.

Unfortunately, while there is such demand for international cricket - made all the more overbearing by the ICC Test championship - short, sharp tours will become the norm.

Former and present captains savour series victory over England

The main difference between the teams was Muralitharan.

Not only did he capture his 26 wickets at a rate of one in every nine overs, he conceded less than one-and-a-half runs per over at the same time.

There are people who will forever question the legality of his action.

But his skill means he is able to turn the ball more than anyone else, while doing so in both directions, and landing the ball on a 10 pence piece.

There is a massive workload placed on his right shoulder, and only time will tell whether or not he can stand up to the current level of cricket.

But while he is fit and willing, it is inevitable that when his team plays on dry, grassless pitches, Sri Lanka have a head start over just about anybody.