NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka’s spinners made full use of home conditions to edge past England by 19 runs on Thursday in the opening match of the three-ODI series.

Resting star leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka still found plenty of bite through Jeffrey Vandersay (2/39) and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage (2/41), who struck at key moments on a slow, turning surface to bowl England out for 252.

Earlier, Kusal Mendis held the innings together with a polished unbeaten 93 off 117 balls, laced with 11 boundaries, as Sri Lanka posted a competitive 271 for 6.

Middle-order stand keeps England in hunt

England’s chase began poorly with Zak Crawley falling early, the opener enduring a forgettable return to ODIs after more than two years as he edged Asitha Fernando behind for just 6.

Ben Duckett (62) and Joe Root (61) steadied the innings with a 117-run partnership, but Sri Lanka ensured the runs never came easily, with spinners extracting sharp turn and grip from the surface.

Vandersay broke the stand when Duckett became entangled attempting a reverse sweep and was trapped lbw. Sensing the conditions, Sri Lanka kept spin from both ends.

Part-time options Dhananjaya de Silva and skipper Charith Asalanka shared 15 overs between them and delivered crucial breakthroughs. Root was pinned in front by de Silva, while captain Harry Brook (6) was smartly stumped down the leg side off Asalanka, thanks to quick work from Mendis behind the stumps.

Late resistance not enough for England

Wellalage tightened Sri Lanka’s grip by striking in successive overs, first having Jacob Bethell stumped before taking a sharp return catch to remove Sam Curran as England slipped to 165 for 6 in the 40th over.

Jos Buttler (19) never found momentum and was beaten by Pramod Madushan’s (3/39) slower ball. Rehan Ahmed (27) and Jamie Overton (34 off 17 balls) injected some late aggression against pace to briefly revive England’s hopes, but Vandersay dismissed Ahmed at long-off and Overton fell in the final over when 20 were still required.

Earlier, Kamil Mishara (27) and Pathum Nissanka (21) gave Sri Lanka a steady start, adding 50 before both openers fell in quick succession after Asalanka won the toss and chose to bat.

Mendis took time to settle, scoring his first run off the 13th delivery he faced, but grew in confidence once he found the boundary against spin, including successive fours off Ahmed. De Silva, playing his first ODI since November 2023, struggled against the turning ball and was lbw to Adil Rashid for 10, while Asalanka top-edged Ahmed for 17.

Mendis then combined with Janith Liyanage (46) in an 88-run partnership to rebuild the innings. Liyanage struck two sixes and five fours before offering a simple return catch to Rashid, who ended with figures of 3/44.

Wellalage provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 25 off just 12 balls, smartly farming the strike late on and hammering Overton for three fours and a six in the final over, which went for 23 and proved decisive.

(With PTI Inputs)