LEEDS, England (AFP) ? Mahela Jayawardene's career-best 144 provided the platform for Sri Lanka's 69-run victory against England in the second one-day international at Headingley here on Friday.
Sri Lanka's win, which levelled the five-match series at 1-1, looked likely after Jayawardene's innings, his highest score in 343 ODIs, surpassing his 128 against India at Sharjah in 2000, powered the tourists to 309 for five.
That meant England had to top their previous winning score batting second in an ODI of 306 for five against Pakistan in Karachi in 2000 if they were to take a 2-0 lead against the World Cup finalists.
But they struggled to maintain the required run-rate and were bowled out for 240 with 25 balls to spare.
Both seamer Suranga Lakmal and off-spinner Suraj Randiv took three for 43.
Sri Lanka lost two early wickets to run-outs to be 45 for two in the 10th over before a record partnership of 159 between Jayawardene, dropped on seven, and Kumar Sangakkara, who made 69, turned the tide.
"This was a very good response from the boys," said man-of-the-match Jayawardene, who opened the innings.
"310 was a bonus, we thought 270 would be a good total.
"Once Kumar and I settled, we managed to up the rate. Once the ball got older we could attack certain bowlers.
"It was important for us to get back into the series after that first game," the 34-year-old added.
Frustrated England one-day captain Alastair Cook said: "All of the top six got in but none of us did a Mahela and made a match-winning hundred."
Cook, who win the toss Friday after leading England to a 110-run win in the rain-affected opener at The Oval on Tuesday and Craig Kieswetter made a bright start to the chase.
Left-hander Cook, belying suggestions he is a slow scorer, made 48 off 53 balls including five boundaries.
But his promising innings ended when a lofted cover-drive against Randiv went straight to Angelo Mathews.
Kevin Pietersen swept Randiv for six but on 13 his drive off leg-spinner Jeevan Mendis was well-caught by Lasith Malinga, running round from long-on.
And when Jonathan Trott was bowled for a pedestrian 39 off 54 balls by Lakmal's superb inswinging yorker, England were faltering at 144 for four.
Eoin Morgan tried to revive the innings by hoisting Mendis for two huge sixes off successive deliveries.
But on 52 the former Ireland international he was brilliantly stumped by Sangakkara, off a Randiv delivery the wicketkeeper took shoulder high.
England's victory hopes disappeared with the left-hander, his exit sparking a slump that saw three wickets lost for five runs.
Even the in-form Ian Bell struggled, his 35 taking 48 balls before he holed out off Nuwan Kulasekara.
Earlier, England off-spinner Graeme Swann -- who dropped Jayawardene -- took two for 42.
But the seamers suffered with both Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan conceding 70 runs each.
Jayawardene's single off medium-pacer Bresnan saw him to his 15th ODI hundred and fifth against England in 118 balls with seven boundaries.
Former captains Jayawardene and Sangakkara topped their previous Sri Lankan third-wicket record stand against England of 140 at Chester-le-Street in 2006.
However, they were separated when Sangakkara was beaten by a sharply turning delivery from Swann and stumped by Kieswetter.
Jayawardene's superb innings ended when, deceived by Swann, he was also stumped having faced just 150 balls with 14 boundaries.
The series continues at Lord's on Sunday.
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