England hold off Sri Lanka to secure victory in first ODI

Joe Root hit an unbeaten 78 and Chris Woakes takes 4 for 18 as the hosts chase down 186 with 15.1 overs remaining

Chester-le-Street: Sri Lanka 185, England 189-5 - England won by five wickets

Scorecard

Joe Root made a timely return to form with England, striking an unbeaten 79, to help beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street.

Chris Woakes claimed 4 for 18 to help bowl the depleted tourists out for just 185 with captain Kusal Perera top-scoring with 73 from 81 balls.

Jonny Bairstow threatened to make light work of the chase with a quick-fire 43, but when he was followed back to the pavilion by Eoin Morgan (6) and Sam Billings (3) by Dushmantha Chameera, Sri Lanka smelt blood.

But Root and Moeen Ali (28) put on 91 for the fifth wicket to nullify the threat. The latter was eventually bowled by Chameera but England got over the line with 15.1 overs remaining.

They take a 1-0 series lead into the remaining matches at The Kia Oval (July 1) and Bristol (July 4).

While it was another spirited display from Sri Lanka it was the fourth defeat in a row on this tour. It came amid a week that has already included Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka being suspended for breaking bio-security rules.

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