England slumped to their fourth defeat in a row as Mahela Jayawardene led Sri Lanka to a 33-run win at Old Trafford.
He made exactly 100 off 83 balls as the tourists posted a score of 318-7, a one-day record for the ground.
England needed someone to play a major innings in reply but although their top nine all reached double figures, the highest score was Andrew Strauss's 45.
They were eventually all out for 285 and Sri Lanka now go to Headingley on Saturday looking for a 5-0 whitewash.
OVER-BY-OVER UPDATES
By Ben Dirs
SRI LANKA WIN BY 33 RUNS
49th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 285 ALL OUT: PLUNKETT C JAYAWARDENE B MALINGA 29
Plunkett goes for another big shot but succeeds in skying it to skipper Jayawardene on the off-side and England's misery is complete.
49th over: Plunkett is finally showing he knows how to wield a bat with another mighty six off Malinga to move to 29 off 17 balls.
"I must make an effort to make the last action here exciting because they use it at the beginning of the next programme."
TMS commentator Jon Agnew
48th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 273-9: ALI RUN OUT 0
Ali's miserable day ends with a run out effected by Fernando off his first delivery. After conceding 77 off his 10 overs, the selectors might want to wonder about the wisdom in recalling him. 276-9
48th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 273-8: DALRYMPLE B FERNANDO 33
Supertramp's 'Take the Long Way Home' blares out as Dalrymple trudges back after being cleaned up in his attempt to make room and carve Fernando away.
47th over: A tremendous blow from Plunkett sends the ball into the crowd over wide long-on. The crowd have woken up thinking 46 off three overs should be a routine task. 273-7
46th over: Plunkett plants one foot down outside off-stump and cracks a Fernando delivery over mid-wicket for a welcome boundary. Three or four of those an over and England will be reasonably confident. Right now they are as optimistic as Tim Henman looked in his straight-sets thrashing by Roger Federer at Wimbledon. 264-7
"I'm afraid another one-day game, the fourth in a row, has petered out into a damp squib."
TMS commentator Jonathan Agnew
45th over: Dalrymple, with the situation calling for desperation, tries to launch Jayasuriya over the leg-side and skies the ball. Luckily for him it lands safely as the 250 comes up but no-one really cares - this game is as good as over. 254-7
44th over: Only five runs can be gleaned off that Bandara over and you have to say it will take something miraculous now. 246-7
43rd over: WICKET - ENGLAND 241-7: BRESNAN RUN OUT 20
Just when things were going, er, swimmingly, Bresnan attempts a suicidal third run and is run out by Sangakkara, although the keeper almost made a complete hash of it.
43rd over: A classic one-day scene: Bresnan steps away to give it the big heave-ho and the ball flies off the edge to third man for four.
42nd over: Bresnan takes two to extra cover before making space and cracking Bandara over the covers for four. Are Bresnan and Dalrymple daring to dream? The required 10 from the over. England 230-6
41st over: Bresnan has asked for the ball , which looks like a haggis after 40 overs, to be changed and the umpires oblige. Four from the over and England require less than 100... England 220-6
40th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 212-6: JONES C MAHAROOF B DILSHAN 23
Jones pushes two runs down to long-off and gets a single with a heave down to mid-wicket. However, Jones takes one liberty too many and sticks the ball down Maharoof's neck at mid-wicket. Dalrymple clips Dilshan over extra cover for four off Dilshan's final delivery. England 216-6
39th over: Dalrymple shuffles over to his leg stump and on-drives Jayasuriya. Jones snaps England's boundary drought with a big six over the mid-wicket boundary to bring up their hundred. He follows up with a lofted drive to the extra cover boundary. England 208-5
38th over: Dilshan goes up for lbw against a sweeping Jones - not given. The crowd, sensing the game is up, are growing restless now. It's almost an hour now since England's last boundary. Six from the over. England 194-5
37th over: Another spinner for England to contend with - this time Jayasuriya from the Statham End. Five runs from his first over. England 188-5
36th over: Dalrymple and Jones are really struggling to get Dilshan away - just three singles from the over. England 183-5
35th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 178-5: SOLANKI ST SANGAKKARA B BANDARA 10
Solanki comes marching down the pitch to Bandara, takes a wild swipe and is stumped by Sangakkara. Dismal shot and that could spell the end of his international career. It's all very depressing for England's fans. Jones is next at the crease. Dalrymple is beaten all ends up by Bandara off the final ball of the over.
34th over: Five from Dilshan's over and England really need to take a few risks now. The game is stretching away from them and someone needs to take it by the jaffers. England 178-4
33rd over: Still no boundaries. England are like an old boat in the middle of the ocean, creaking away following a storm. England 172-4
32nd over: No boundary now in 11 overs and England are really creaking now. Dalrymple tries to whip Dilshan away through mid-on but the bowler makes an athletic stop. England 170-4
31st: Bandara has an lbw shout turned down against Solanki - it looked a decent one as well. England 168-4
30th over: Three runs from Dilshan's over, Solanki getting off the mark with a single. England 164-4
29th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 161-4: BELL ST SANGAKKARA B BANDARA 30
Bell is out in very unusual fashion, Bandara's delivery beating him in the flight, bouncing off wicket-keeper Sangakkara's thigh and chin and rebounding on to the stumps with the batsman out of his crease. Having looked in with a shout a short time ago, England are in serious trouble now.
28th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 161-3: STRAUSS C SANGAKKARA B DILSHAN 45
Strauss is out as Arnold was out earlier, trying to run Dilshan away and feathering a catch to the wicket-keeper. The recalled Solanki is next man in.
27th over: Strauss and Bell is still content to nudge and nurdle - six from the over. England 157-2
26th over: Bell reverse sweeps Dilshan but finds the fielder at short third man. Strauss brings up England 150 with a single to backward point. England 151-2
25th over: Three from the over and England are becalmed for the moment. England 148-2
24th over: Bell is beaten by a turning delivery from Dilshan and there are four from the over. England 145-2
23rd over: Strauss gets into a bit of a muddle trying to whip Bandara away through mid-wicket. England 141-2
22nd over: Spin from both ends now, with Dilshan on from the Stretford End. Bell gets two to backward point and Strauss plays a delightful late cut for four. England 139-2
21st over: Having seen his seamers flayed to all parts, Jayawardene turns to the spin of Bandara. With Bandara taking the pace off the ball, Bell and Strauss are content to milk him. Eight from the over. England 130-2
20th over: Vaas sticks in a wide one and Strauss, rapier-like, cuts him away for four. England 122-2
19th over: Strauss turns Maharoof, who has replaced Fernando, away for four. Bell picks up Fernando and sends the ball down to the mid-wicket boundary for four. England 116-2
18th over: Just two runs from Vaas' over. England 105-2
17th over: Strauss latches on a to wide one from Fernando and brings up his first boundary down to point - and repeats the trick next ball to bring up England's hundred. Fernando decides to go round the wicket for the final two balls. His skipper should just tell him not to ball short and wide.England 103-2
"Chris Lewis was the best athlete I played with. Gatts would have been right up the slow list. Even I could have beaten him in a race."
Angus Fraser, TMS summariser
16th over: Strauss whips Vaas away for two down to deep mid-wicket. England 94-2
15th over: The sun is out now and a well-oiled crowd are starting to find their voice. Strauss gets off the mark with an upper-cut off Fernando down to third man. Bell plays all round an in-swinger from Fernando which just misses the off-stump. England 90-2
14th over: Two scoreless batsmen at the crease now - Bell and Strauss. Bell is off the mark with a scampered two through the off-side. England 89-2
13th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 85-2: COOK B FERNANDO 39
Cook square drives Fernando for four - Dilshan should have fielded - and follows up with an uppish drive for another boundary. Cook then plays on and England's fine start is in danger of being wiped out.
12th over: WICKET - ENGLAND 77-1: TRESCOTHICK C BANDARA B MALINGA 44
Malinga tries another yorker and Trescothick squeezes it down to third man for four. The Somerset bruiser follows up with straight drive for four. Malinga almost gets one through Cook's defences with his penultimate ball. Trescothick then tosses away his wicket, driving the ball straight to Bandara at short extra cover.
11th over: Sri Lanka take their second power play and Trescothick lofts Fernando's first ball over long-off for six. Fernando, whose run up resembles a man tip-toeing over hot tiles towards a swimming pool, restricts England to just one more single. England 66-0
10th over: Malinga, hair by Trevor Sorbie circa 1987, bounds in and Trescothick makes room and dabs the ball away for a single. England 59-0
9th over: Fernando comes into the attack and is shovelled round the corner for four by Cook, who moves on to 29. Trescothick joins in the fun and laces a wide one through the covers for four. England 58-0
8th over: Sangakkara shells a sitter behind the stumps. Trescothick was looking to cut it away and got a top edge. Cook slaps Malinga straight down the ground for four next ball and Malinga, clearly with the hump, digs one on short and is called for a wide. Malinga is getting some tap this over, Trescothick standing tall and driving him away for four off the penultimate ball. Eleven from the over. England 48-0
7th over: Trescothick steers Vaas away for a single down to third man. Cook clips Vaas away for four down to fine leg and sends the final ball of the over to the mid-wicket boundary. England 37-0
6th over: Trescothick does well to keep out a Malinga yorker and flicks him away dismissively for four next ball. Malinga, with his baseball pitcher's trajectory, tries another yorker which Trescothick clamps down on again. England 28-0
5th over: Five from Vaas' over. England 23-0
4th over: Cook looks determined to give it away here, an ugly pull off Malinga landing safely and another waft outside off-stump almost leading to an edge, but the Essex man fights on. 18-0.
3rd over: That's more like it from Trescothick, a flowing cover drive giving him his first four and the next ball from Vaas thumped back down the ground. 16-0
2nd over: Malinga begins with a good first over, just one coming from it, which will make that already high asking rate climb even further. 7-0
1st over: Cook makes a nervous start to his first ODI innings, edging Vaas just past second slip's outstretched left hand for four before a mix-up with Trescothick sets the alarm bells ringing, although there is he safely makes it to the crease. 6-0
1507: Trescothick and Cook, batting in his favoured position as opener, come out for England's innings. They will need to get the hosts off to a brisk start to have any chance of overhauling Sri Lanka's imposing total.
SRI LANKA INNINGS
50th over: Kabir takes the last over of the innings and Maharoof brings up his fifty off 47 balls, clattering the Worcestershire man over mid-wicket for six. He pulls the next ball deep into the stand and is then caught attempting to pull a beamer - but it's a no-ball. Bandara then swats Kabir away for another boundary. Twenty from the last over and rather humiliating for Kabir. Sri Lanka's total is just two runs short of their highest-ever against England.Sri Lanka 318-7
49th over: Maharoof skies Harmison down to long-off for a couple and moves to 42. Mahroof makes room and drives Harmison straight down the ground for four. Sri Lanka 298-7
48th over: Kabir sends down a shocking, waist-high full-bunger which Maharoof carts away for four. Maharoof's next bit of tap balloons over Strauss in the covers and the next, another full-toss, is outside-edged for four by Bandara. Bandara, not to be outdone by Maharoof, then plays a leisurely five iron into the stands for six. Sri Lanka 290-7
47th over: Harmison is wheeled out at the death and Maharoof flicks him through mid-off for four. Harmison follows up with a wide - 21 in the innings now and 70 in the series. Seven from the over. Sri Lanka 275-7
46th over: Maharoof gives Plunkett the long handle and the ball runs away through the covers for four. Sri Lanka 268-7
"I hear you live on the moors now Vic - getting closer and closer to Broadmoor..."
Jonathan Agnew to Vic Marks in the TMS commentary box
45th over: Bresnan is brought back on for the finals stages of Sri Lanka's innings. Maharoof gets a thick outside edge and the ball beats both Solanki and Dalrymple and runs over the rope at deep backward point. Bandara dabs Bresnan away to the same region, and this time Plunkett pulls off a fine diving stop. Sri Lanka 261-7
44th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 251-7: VAAS C JONES B PLUNKETT 7
Vaas is out attempting to run Plunkett down to third man. Bandara survives his first ball and the last ball of the over.
43rd over: Dalrymple gets one to spin extravagantly and Jones misses a difficult stumping chance with Vaas marooned down the pitch. Dalrymple finishes with 2-44 from 10 overs. Sri Lanka 248-6
42nd over: Plunkett finds Maharoof's edge and the ball flies away for four. No slips in for England. Sri Lanka 243-6
41st over: Dalrymple produces a tight over to concede only three. With one over left for him, the Middlesex man has done another fine job for his country. Sri Lanka 235-6
40th over: The batsmen nudge the ball around to boost the total by seven. The runs are still coming easily but will Sri Lanka go for a final onslaught after the recent clatter of wickets?
39th over: England are turning the screw a touch as Dalrymple limits Sri Lanka to just four from the over. Sri Lanka 224-6
38th over: The clouds part, angels sing and Bresnan bowls a maiden over! Almost. His last delivery is outside-edged down to third man for one. Sri Lanka 221-6
37th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 220-6: JAYAWARDENE C & B DALRYMPLE 100
Jayawardene takes one liberty too many and dollies one back to Dalrymple. Classic knock by Jayawardene, but England have clawed their way back into this match.
Vaas, probably Sri Lanka's best batsmen in the Test series, is next man in.
36th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 214-5: ARNOLD C JONES B BELL 7
Jayawardene, seeing the ball like a small planet now, shovels Plunkett round the corner for four to move to 95. Bell then dismisses Arnold, who attempts to feather another delivery down to third man and is caught by Jones behind the stumps.
Maharoof, an excitable batsman, is next in and is off the mark with a single through the covers. Bell drops one in short and Jayawardene reaches his second consecutive one-day international hundred. It took just 82 balls and was a great exercise in how to score a one-day hundred in orthodox fashion.
35th over: There's a group of nuns in the crowd - or are they chaps dressed as nuns? It's sometimes difficult to tell. I once had a teacher called St Peter who, ironically, had a moustache. Dalrymple is on and Arnold dabs him down to third man for three. Cheeky. Sri Lanka 209-4
34th over: Strauss is scratching about for seamers now and Bell is rolled into the attack. The Warwickshire man is strictly military medium and Sri Lanka pass 200 with some ease. Sri Lanka 202-4
33rd over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 196-4: DILSHAN B PLUNKETT 7
At last Plunkett makes something out of the conditions and gets one to nip away from Dilshan off the pitch. A bit airy-fairy from Dilshan, but England will take that. Arnold is next man in and gets off the mark with a single.
32nd over: Jayawardene moves to 85 with a delicate cut which Solanki just fails to get a hand to on the bounce. Sri Lanka 195-3
31st over: Plunkett resumes his over after the rain and Dilshan mows a wide one to the boundary for four. Bresnan is out at cover, but the ball spins past him on landing, making him look rather silly. Sri Lanka 191-3
"The umpires are out in their gravedigger suits that they slip into when the weather isn't very nice - they look rather sinister..."
Jonathan Agnew, TMS commentator
1314 BST: The tractor is out, trailing a rope behind it to scoop off the rain. The covers are coming off and play will restart shortly.
"Please could you explain England's ineptitude and cluelessness in the current series?"
Mark Best in the TMS inbox
31st over: RAIN STOPPED PLAY
Plunkett is back on for a new spell and Jayawardene shovels him away for four second ball. Dreadful ball, quality shot. It's chucking it down all of a sudden - up go the umbrellas and on come the covers. England's players scurry off towards the pavilion, doing their best not to look absolutely over the moon.
30th over: More indisciplined fare from Kabir who chucks down two more wides to bring the extras total to 21. Sri Lanka 180-3
29th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 173-3: SANGAKKARA C JONES B HARMISON 7
Sangakkara is dug out cheaply by Harmison, just tickling a rising ball to Jones behind the stumps. Fine over by Harmison and just one run from it.
28th over: It's pretty gloomy up in Manchester, weather-wise and in terms of England's predicament. The cameras are being covered up and there's a bit of rain flying about. Five from Kabir's over and Sri Lanka are becalmed for the moment, like a boat creaking along following a storm. Sri Lanka 172-2
27th over: England's spearhead Harmison is back into the attack and limits Sri Lanka to just two runs. Sri Lanka 167-2
26th over: England take their third and final power play. Kabir, who took some serious tap in his first spell, is back on. Just four from the over. Sri Lanka 165-2
25th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 160-2: THARANGA C SOLANKI B DALRYMPLE 60
Tharanga attempts to loft Dalrymple over extra cover but Solanki takes a good catch above his head. The partnership was 137. No respite for England, however, as Sangakkara is next man in.
24th over: Solanki, no more than a part-time bowler for Worcestershire, replaces Bresnan - a damning comment on England's seamers. Don't be surprised to see wicket-keeper Jones turning his arm over at the back end of Sri Lanka's innings. Nine from the over, including four wides. Sri Lanka 155-1
23rd over: Proof that Jayawardene has been reined in somewhat as he attempts a reverse sweep. However, he skips down the pitch and lofts Dalrymple over deep mid-wicket for four next ball. Sri Lanka 147-1
22nd over: Decent stop by Ian Bell out on the cover boundary and Bresnan, too, has reined Sri Lanka in for the moment. Harmison makes a neat stop down at third man, and creates a huge divot in doing so. Sri Lanka 140-1
21st over: Dalrymple has succeeded in putting the brakes on Sri Lanka, who take just three runs from his over. Sri Lanka 136-1
20th over: Jayawardene and Tharanga are looking very comfortable against Bresnan and are content just to nudge and shovel him about for ones and twos - for now. Bresnan has an lbw shout turned down by umpire Doctrove and it looks like it was missing leg stump. Sri Lanka 133-1
19th over: Tharanga brings up his second one-day international fifty with a sweep down to deep backward square. Sri Lanka 128-1
18th over: Jayawardene times Bresnan off his legs for another four. The Sri Lanka skipper brings up his fifty off just 32 balls with a cut. Sri Lanka 123-1
17th over: Strauss turns to Dalrymple to see if the Middlesex man can put his finger in the dyke. Jayawardene is almost caught at short mid-wicket attempting to chip the ball over the top, but Solanki is unable to reach it. Tharanga plays a delectable late cut off the last ball for four and a good over becomes very ordinary.Sri Lanka 115-1
16th over: Sri Lanka milk Bresnan for six and the cameramen get their cameras covered up - there's a bit of spit in the air. This is all pretty joyless as far as England's fans are concerned. Sri Lanka 108-1
15th over: SOS time as Strauss calls for Harmison. Stand and deliver stuff from Jayawardene who chips him down the ground for three. Not very respectful. Another wide from Harmison before Plunkett pulls off a fine diving save at third man after a dreamy late cut by Jayawardene. Flashing blade Jayawardene latches on to Harmison's penultimate ball to bring up Sri Lanka's 100. Sri Lanka 102-1
14th over: Plunkett tosses up a full-bunger on Jayawardene's legs but the Sri Lankan skipper is unable to give it the treatment. Sri Lanka 90-1
"I was on Google Earth the other day looking at Dubai beaches and I'm sure I could see Angus Fraser and the rest of the ICC discussing cricket's future, gathered round sipping Pimms."
Jonathan Agnew, TMS commentator
13th over: Tharanga fancies this. He opens his shoulders and slaps Bresnan away for four through the covers and follows up with a skewed four through the off-side. Tharanga sends the final ball down to Cow Corner after an ugly hoik and gets three. This is looking very, very ominous for England. Sri Lanka 86-1
12th over: Jayawardene scampers a quick single and is almost run-out by Strauss standing at mid-off - but his throw misses the stumps. Tharanga gets a thick outside edge attempting a lofted drive and then plays a wild stroke and the ball drops just short of Bresnan on the cover boundary. Sri Lanka 73-1
11th over: Umpire Llong informs us that England have taken their second power play. There is little dignity in that signal, which, in the hands of Llong, looks like a man gently buffing his car. Jaywardene launches into Bresnan, who is on for Harmison, and is dropped by Dalrymple at point. Difficult, but very takeable. Sri Lanka 68-1
10th over: Plunkett replaces Kabir - and his first ball is a wide. Give me strength. Jayawardene piles into the next ball and gets four through the covers. Plunkett decides to test Jayawardene - one of the finest players in the world off his legs - with a ball on his legs. Jayawardene creams him away for four. The Sri Lanka skipper clearly fancies Plunkett and is going to take a few liberties. Fourteen from the over. Sri Lanka 60-1
9th over: The dangerous Jayawardene is dropped by Ian Bell at leg gully. Bit of a sitter in truth. More groans from the stands as Harmison throws in another couple of wides. This is all looking depressingly familiar from an England point of view. Sri Lanka 46-1
8th over: Plunkett executes an extravagant diving stop at mid-on to save any runs. However, as if piqued at missing out, Tharanga launches Kabir through the covers for four next ball. Sri Lanka 41-1
7th over: Harmison, who made a diving stop in the outfield in the previous over, spends this over clutching and stretching his back. That said, he serves up a couple of classic steepling deliveries that have Tharanga fencing and his penultimate ball is edged down to third man. Sri Lanka 37-1
6th over: Kabir seems to have shaken off his early nerves and is now bowling a neater line and length. Strike a light...Kabir drops one in wide and Tharanga slaps him away for four. Sri Lanka 32-1
5th over: WICKET - SRI LANKA 23-1: JAYASURIYA C DALRYMPLE B HARMISON 14
Tharanga very nearly feathers Harmison behind and England have tightened things up after a slack opening. Harmison beats Tharanga with a ball of perfect line and length and then finds his outside edge.
Jayasuriya throws the kitchen sink at the penultimate ball and is caught by Dalrymple at deep backward point. Bizarre field placing, odd dismissal. The ball was still rising as it slapped into Dalrymple's palms on the boundary. Sri Lanka 25-1
4th over: Jayasuriya laces Kabir through the covers for four - but better to to see the Sri Lankan batsmen driving than cutting after the horror show at the Riverside. Sri Lanka 22-0
3rd over: Harmison's first delivery is another wide, but he follows up with a nasty ball that strikes Tharanga on the helmet and runs away for four. Jekyll and Hyde stuff from the Durham man. Sri Lanka 18-0
2nd over: Kabir, back in the side after being mauled by India in the winter, sees his first two balls - funnily enough short, wide ones - carved away by Jayasuriya for two fours. Jayasuriya gets a better one next up, the ball arcing across the face of his bat. Kabir then has an enthusiastic lbw appeal turned down - the ball looked to be going over. Sri Lanka 13-0
1st over: Harmison digs his first ball into Tharanga's ribs - an early morning wake-up call. Harmison then sends down England's 50th wide of the series - and follows up with the 51st. The crowd are already beginning to mutter. Harmison's third legitimate ball is edged by Tharanga - and Harmison follows up with another wide. Sri Lanka 5-0
1043 BST: Sri Lanka's openers make their way to the middle and Harmison will bowl the first ball of the match to Tharanga.
"The pitch has a tinge of green and if you get it in the right areas, there could be problems. The problem is, England have not been getting it in the right areas. One man in the spotlight will be Kevin Shine, England's new bowling coach."
Angus Fraser, TMS summariser
"I'm glad Pietersen and Collingwood aren't playing because they're not fit. The crux will be the first 10 overs, where they were woeful at the Riverside."
Vic Marks, TMS summariser
1033 BST: Sri Lanka skipper Jayawardene reckons there will be something for the spinners in the Old Trafford pitch.
England: M E Trescothick, A J Strauss (Capt), I R Bell, A N Cook V S Solanki, J W M Dalrymple, G O Jones (wkt), T T Bresnan L E Plunkett, Kabir Ali, S J Harmison.
Sri Lanka: W U Tharanga, S T Jayasuriya, D P M D Jayawardene (Capt) K C Sangakkara (wkt), T M Dilshan, R P Arnold, W P U J C Vaas M F Maharoof, S L Malinga, C M Bandara, C R D Fernando.
Umpires: N J Llong and B R Doctrove