Chris Jordan starred with both bat and ball as England set off on the road to next year’s World Cup with an 81-run win over Sri Lanka in a rain-marred one-day international at The Oval.
The Sussex all-rounder’s belligerent 38 not out off just 13 balls propelled England to a total of 247 for six in an innings reduced by rain to 39 overs on Thursday.
And, on his former Surrey home ground, the Barbados-born Jordan took three wickets for 25 runs, including three for three in 12 balls.
Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 226 in 32 overs after a fresh downpour, never recovered and finished on 144 in 27.5 overs when Lasith Malinga was bowled by Ravi Bopara under the Oval floodlights. England, now 1-0 up in this five-match series, quickly reduced Sri Lanka to 19 for two.
James Anderson struck fifth ball, with Sri Lanka yet to score a run, when he had Lahiru Thirimanne lbw before left-arm paceman Harry Gurney had Kumar Sangakkara playing on for eight.
Sri Lanka were 60 for two, in pursuit of a target of 259 in 39 overs, when rain stopped play for the second time in the match.
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