Defeat was England's ninth in 11 one-day internationals, as chasing 319 for victory, they were bowled out for 285 with no batsman making fifty.
MANCHESTER: Sri Lanka beat England by 33 runs to win the fourth one-day international at Old Trafford on Wednesday to take a 4-0 lead in the five-match NatWest Series.
Defeat was England's ninth in 11 one-day internationals, as chasing 319 for victory, they were bowled out for 285 with no batsman making fifty.
Sri Lanka, after winning the toss, scored 318 for seven with captain Mahela Jayawardene's 100 his second century in as many matches after an unbeaten 126 at the Riverside on Saturday had sealed an eight-wicket win.
Together with opener Upul Tharanga (60) he put on 137 for the second-wicket.
England, with off-spinner James Dalrymple taking two for 44, pulled things back before an unbroken eighth-wicket partnership of 68 in just 38 balls between Farveez Maharoof (58 not out) and Malinga Bandara (28 not out).
Recalled seamer Kabir Ali bore the brunt of the assault, conceding 77 runs in 10 wicketless overs including 20 off his last. The series concludes at Headingley on Saturday.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka Innings
Upul Tharanga c Solanki b Dalrymple 60
Sanath Jayasuriya c Dalrymple b Harmison 14
Mahela Jayawardene c and b Dalrymple 100
Kumar Sangakkara c Jones b Harmison 7
Tillakaratne Dilshan b Plunkett 7
Russel Arnold c Jones b Bell 7
Farveez Maharoof not out 58
Chaminda Vaas c Jones b Plunkett 7
Malinga Bandara not out 28
Extras: (6lb, 21w, 3nb) 30
Total: (for 7 wickets) 318 in 50 overs
Did not bat: Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando.
Fall of wickets: 1 23, 2 160, 3 173, 4 196, 5 214, 6 220, 7 250
Bowling: Steve Harmison 10 0 51 2 (9w), Kabir Ali 10 0 77 0 (2w, 2nb), Liam Plunkett 9 0 60 2 (2w), Tim Bresnan 8 0 58 0 (1w, 1nb), Jamie Dalrymple 10 0 44 2 (2w), Vikram Solanki 1 0 9 0 (1w), Ian Bell 2 0 13 1.
England Innings
Marcus Trescothick c Bandara b Malinga 44
Alastair Cook b Fernando 39
Ian Bell st Sangakkara b Bandara 30
Andrew Strauss c Sangakkara b Dilshan 45
Vikram Solanki st Sangakkara b Bandara 10
Jamie Dalrymple b Fernando 33
Geraint Jones c Maharoof b Dilshan 23
Tim Bresnan run out 20
Liam Plunkett c Jayawardene b Malinga 29
Kabir Ali run out 0
Steve Harmison not out 2
Extras: (1b, 3lb, 5w, 1nb) 10
Total: (all out) 285 in 48.4 overs
Fall of wickets: 1 77, 2 85, 3 161, 4 161, 5 178, 6 212, 7 241, 8 273, 9 273, 10 285
Bowling: Malinga Bandara 10 1 43 2 (1w), Tillakaratne Dilshan 10 0 46 2, Chaminda Vaas 8 0 45 0, Lasith Malinga 9.4 0 63 2 (4w), Dilhara Fernando 7 0 47 2, Farveez Maharoof 1 0 11 0, Sanath Jayasuriya 3 0 26 0.
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