Sri Lanka defeat England by record margin to take series 3-0

A flamboyant century by Romesh Kaluwitharana sentenced England to a crushing 10-wicket loss in the third and final one-day international in Colombo.

Graham Thorpe admitted that England had been "completely outplayed" by Sri Lanka in the one-day series. It is the first time in their history of 325 one-day internationals that England have lost by such a margin.

Set a modest target of 166 by England, Kaluwitharana (102*) and Atapattu (53*) wasted no time in taking the attack to the English bowlers, and wrapped up the 3-0 series whitewash in just the 34th over.

Earlier, England had struggled to set a reasonable total in the third and final one-day international in Sri Lanka.

Put into bat by Sri Lanka's stand-in captain, Marvan Atapattu (Jayasuriya was forced to miss out with a knee injury), Chaminda Vaas soon stole the initiative for the hosts with the wickets of Stewart and Trescothick. Stewart had looked to be in good touch, striking three boundaries, and was a little unlucky to play on attempting to cut a ball that stayed low.

Trescothick was dropped early in his innings, by Mahela Jayawardene in the slips, but followed in similar style to Stewart, playing on. Vaas completed his opening spell with the memorable figures of 7-5-5-2.

Nick Knight was unable to make the most of his opportunity, selected for this final game in place of Vaughan, and became the third batsman to play on, this time to Nuwan Zoysa, to leave the score on 39-3. This soon became 39-4 as Thorpe, so often the corner stone of an English innings, was brilliantly caught by Kumar Sangakkara in the gully, first ball.

Hick and Flintoff were then forced to consolidate as Atapattu turned to his battery of spinners. Progress was slow, but the pair added 49 runs before Flintoff was caught by Dharmasena of Samaraweera for a sedate 24. White could add only four (his previous five one-day international innings had not produced a run) before Arnold bowled him and it took a partnership of 44 between Hick and Ealham (in for the rested Caddick) to reach a respectable total.

Hick began to accelerate, but an attack of cramp was clearly troubling him when he skied a shot to de Saram off Dharmasena to be dismissed just four short of a half-century.

Ealham followed shortly afterwards and Vaas returned to claim Croft, caught at point, before Mullally spoilt his figures somewhat by edging consecutive boundaries.

England finally set a total of 165-9 in their 50 overs, setting their hosts a run-rate of little over three an over to claim a 3-0 series whitewash.