Sri Lanka held their nerve after a brilliant century by Jos Buttler to beat England by seven runs in the fourth one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday and level the series at 2-2.
Kumar Sangakkara top-scored with 112 in a commanding Sri Lanka total of 300 for nine and England struggled in reply until the arrival of Buttler who smashed 121 off 74 balls.
He fell in the final over bowled by Lasith Malinga and the series will be decided in the fifth and final game at Edgbaston on Tuesday.
“That’s the best I’ve ever played,” man-of-the match Buttler told reporters. “It’s brilliant to play that well but it’s disappointing not to get over the line.
