BBC SPORT | Special Events | 2000 | England on Tour

First one-day international: Sri Lanka 144-5 (40.5 overs). England 143 all out.

A partnership of 70 between Marvan Atapattu and Russel Arnold took Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory in the opening one-dayer at Dambulla on Friday.

Atapattu was lbw to Craig White for 40 with 15 runs needed after England had been bowled out for 143, but Arnold remained unbeaten on 39 to see them home.

Earlier, Andy Caddick had removed Sangakkara for four and Darren Gough dismissed Jayawardene for just three as England reduced the home side to 58-4.

But they recovered well to set up what was ultimately an easy win with nine overs to spare.

Alan Mullally gave England hope by trapping Sanath Jayasuriya lbw when Sri Lanka attacked their disappointing total with gusto.

Kaluwitharana stumps Vaughan for nine.
The Sri Lankan skipper scored 39 from just 35 balls as his side exploded from the blocks - but the brakes were soon on.

Romesh Kaluwitharana (2) went to a fine diving catch from Alec Stewart off Andy Caddick after the tourists had made 143.

Ran riot

England's saving grace was stand-in skipper Graham Thorpe, who hit an unbeaten 62 as his team-mates fell apart.

Six wickets fell before 100 runs had been posted as the Sri Lankan spinners ran riot on a turning pitch.

England slumped from 92-3 to 131-9, with man-of-the-match Muttiah Muralitharan taking four wickets.

The spinner struck twice in the 31st over, removing Andrew Flintoff and Craig White in successive deliveries to leave the tourists in dreadful shape.

Ashley Giles was run out by Jayawardene with the score on 113 as Thorpe began to run out of partners.

Then Muralitharan took a sensational diving catch to dismiss Caddick off Jayasuriya.

Caught first ball

Although Mullally hung around, Thorpe was left high and dry as England were all out in the penultimate over.

Vaughan had been stumped by Kaluwitharana off Muralitharan for just nine as he attempted to sweep before Flintoff was stumped and White caught first ball by De Saram off the same bowler.

Boundaries were in short supply, with even Thorpe struggling to pick up more than the odd single.

Muralitharan and Dharmasena tied the tourists down as the Surrey left-hander attempted to get the scoreboard moving.

Positive start

Marcus Trescothick was the third man out, bowled by Russel Arnold as he looked to work the ball to leg.

England had lost Alec Stewart and Graeme Hick in quick succession after initially making a positive start.

Stewart was bowled through the gate by left-armer Nuwan Zoysa after making a breezy 21 from 27 balls - and in the seamer's next over Hick chipped weakly to mid-on for just two.

England had won the toss and elected to bat.

Sri Lanka
S T Jayasuriya (Capt), R S Kaluwitharana (Wkt) M S Atapattu, K Sangakkara, D P M D Jayawardene, R P Arnold I De Saram, H D P K Dharmasena, W P U J C Vaas, D N T Zoysa M Muralitharan

England
M E Trescothick, A J Stewart (Wkt), G A Hick G P Thorpe (Capt), A Flintoff, M P Vaughan, C White, A F Giles A R Caddick, D Gough, A D Mullally

Umpires: A de Silva and L V Jayasundara