England looked to have excelled with the ball again at Bristol, but were denied by the West Country weather against Sri Lanka in the third Royal London One-Day International.
Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett each plundered three wickets as the visitors were restricted to 248-9 in 50 overs, with Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis making modest half centuries.
The end of Sri Lanka’s innings was played in light rain but only four overs of the reply – enough for Alex Hales to be out for a golden duck – were possible as the incessant drizzle got heavier.
Eoin Morgan’s side take a one-nil series lead into the final two matches at The Oval on Wednesday and then in Cardiff on Saturday.
Brimming with confidence after the crushing 10-wicket win in Birmingham on Friday, England started well and David Willey struck in the opening over as Danushka Gunathilaka chopped on for one.
Plunkett also struck in his first over, the ninth of the match, as Kusal Perera edged a short ball to Jos Buttler behind the stumps. That was the big fast bowler’s 50th ODI wicket and he did not have to wait long for his 51st.
Mendis has been Sri Lanka’s best batsmen this summer and played fluently for a smart 50 – his second in just his fifth appearance – from 61 balls but after hitting returning Chris Jordan for a maximum was caught by Hales trying to do the same to Plunkett.
Chandimal struck a 65-ball half century, the 20th of his career, of his own before becoming Chris Woakes’ first victim, screwing a big hack to the safe hands of Chris Jordan at third man.
Mathews was battling but as the scoring rate dried up – only two boundaries were struck between overs 31 and 40 – dangerous Seekkuge Prasanna was dismissed by Plunkett for two. The classy captain produced a 61-ball 50 for his 30th half century in 145 ODI knocks but could not kick on and fell to Jordan for 54, caught by Buttler.
Dasun Shanaka was run out by a combination of Joe Root and Buttler before Woakes took two in two balls in the penultimate over. First Jonny Bairstow calmly caught a steeply dropping shot from Farveez Maharoof and then a cracking delivery bowled in-form Upul Tharanga for 40.
Hales made a stunning 133 not out in Friday’s victory but was out to the first ball he faced, the third of the innings, from Suranga Lakmal when he edged behind to Chandimal. Root carved a brilliant cut for four but trudged off with Jason Roy when the rain got heavier soon afterwards.
With more bad weather currently forecast for the south on Wednesday, it could be a similar case at the Kia Oval, leaving the fifth ODI in Cardiff as a crucial series decider, as England's slender lead remains 1-0. Secure your seats for the series finale at The SSE SWALEC with adult tickets priced from £35 available
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