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Colombo: A superb 119 from Moeen Ali and a fighting 65 from Ravi Bopara went in vain as Sri Lanka bowled out England for 292 to win the first ODI by 25 runs in the first one-day international against in Colombo on Wednesday.
Thisara Perera was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with three wickets, while Rangana Herath and Ajantha Mendis picked two each.
England had their chances in the run chase. If Moeen Ali's maiden ODI hundred kept them in the hunt earlier, Ravi Bopara, as always, batted exceptionally well lower down the order and almost stole the match from Sri Lanka's bag.
Captain Alastair Cook struggled at the top, but Ali was simply unstoppable. He timed the ball so sweetly but unfortunately for him and Bopara, none of their team-mates were willing to spend time out in the middle.
Ali registered England's 3rd fastest ODI hundred, but it couldn't get them past the line.
Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene and Kusal Perera hit half-centuries to steer Sri Lanka to 317-6.
Dilshan top-scored with 88, Jayawardene hit a fluent 55 and Perera made 59 as the hosts took advantage of England's wayward and indisciplined attack that produced 17 wides.
The start of the day-night match at the Premadasa stadium was delayed by an hour due to bad weather, but the umpires decided to play a full 50-overs-a-side game.
England's decision to field first in overcast conditions did not bear fruit as Dilshan and Perera put on 120 for the first wicket by the 23rd over to give the hosts a flying start.
Left-handed Perera was run out soon after reaching his half-century after a mix-up as Dilshan refused a second run.
England, who till then had failed to stem the flow of runs, struck again in the next over when Moeen Ali trapped Kumar Sangakkara leg-before for two.
Sangakkara reviewed the decision after consulting non-striker Dilshan, but television replays favoured the bowler.
Dilshan missed his century when he tapped a slower ball from Chris Woakes back to the bowler in the 38th over, ending a 76-run stand for the third wicket with Jayawardene.
Sri Lanka were cruising at 253-3 in the 43rd over when off-spinner James Tredwell dismissed captain Angelo Mathews and Jayawardene with his last two deliveries in the innings.
Mathews smashed 33 off 24 balls when he holed out in the deep attempting a fourth sixer. Jaywardene was caught by the wicket-keeper down the leg-side off the next ball.
Earlier, England have won the toss and opted bowl.
Teams
Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kushal Janith Perera, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dilruwan Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Dhammika Prasad, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis
England: Alastair Cook (Capt.), Moeen Ali, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler (wk), Ravi Bopara, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, James Tredwell, Harry Gurney
Brief scores
Sri Lanka - 317/6 (Dilshan 88, Kusal Perera 59, Jayawardene 55)
England - 292 (Moeen Ali 119, Bopara 65, Thissara Perera 3-44)
Result - Sri Lanka won by 25 runs
