Sri Lanka v England 2007-07

At Dambulla, October 4, 2007 (day/night). England won by 65 runs. Toss: England.

England reacted brilliantly to the defeat described by their captain, Collingwood, as "an eyeopener" by beating their hosts for the first time in a one-day international on Sri Lankan soil since their inaugural meeting in 1981-82. Shah ensured there was no repeat of the previous collapse with an outstanding 82 in 92 balls, mixing wristy strokeplay and measured composure. He put on 78 with Collingwood, though at one stage they went ten overs without a boundary, and later helped to add 71 in the final ten overs. Even with that late surge, a target of 235 looked straightforward enough, but Sri Lanka's reply was hindered by England's vastly improved bowling performance - using the same variations of pace that had undone them three days earlier - and by batting on a slow pitch under floodlights. Sidebottom set the tone by claiming two wickets in his opening spell and, once they had slid to 90 for six, even Mubarak's spirited unbeaten 44 could not prevent England's historic triumph.