Manchester, July 7: Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya led from the front as his side beat England for their first triangular series victory here at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Jayasuriya took three for 38 with his slow left-armers as England, chasing Sri Lanka's 229, slumped to 206 all out on a day where the spinners dominated.

The match itself was a 'dead' fixture because, after losing their four previous triangular matches, Sri Lanka had no chance of making Saturday's Lord's final.

Sri Lanka had earlier seen Michael Vaughan's occasional off-spin yield career-best one-day figures of four for 22 as England took the last eight wickets for 67 runs.

Recalled wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara top scored with 70.

But England then collapsed themselves, losing five top-order wickets for 39 runs as they declined to 135 for six.

Left-arm paceman Nuwan Zoysa made the initial inroads clean bowling openers Marcus Trescothick (27) and Nick Knight (29) to leave England 76 for two in the 13th over.

Vaughan (14) then gave leg-spinner Upul Chandana a simple caught and bowled dismissal, England 100 for three.

And eight runs later England donated a wicket courtesy of a run-out involving their two most experienced batsmen Alec Stewart and Hussain that ended with the captain (28) failing to beat Marvan Atapattu's throw to Sangakkara.

Then Stewart (eight) chipped a Thilan Samaraweera off-break straight to Chandana at midwicket.
Andrew Flintoff (seven) went next, bowled by Jayasuriya.

Ronnie Irani and Paul Collingwood briefly staunched the flow of wickets with a stand of 25.

But Irani (28) going for a big hit off Jayasuriya, holed out to Zoysa in the deep and at 160 for seven England were on the brink of defeat.

All-rounder Paul Collingwood (29) kept the home side in the hunt but a dreadful mix-up with Jeremy Snape saw him run out by yards, England 186 for eight in the 44th over.

Snape and one-day international debutant Alex Tudor reduced the target to 33 runs off 24 balls.

But on six Tudor's mistimed sweep gave Jayasuriya his third wicket, Atapattu taking a tumbling catch.

And with 14 balls left, last man Darren Gough was run out for nought. Snape was 15 not out.

After Jayasuriya won the toss, Sri Lanka looked set for a big score at 162 for three.

However, Vaughan and front-line spinner Snape, in his first match of the tournament, put the brake on Sri Lanka's innings.

First Russel Arnold (six) gave Snape a caught and bowled dismissal before Vaughan had Sangakkara plumb lbw as the left-hander swept.

Sangakkara faced 78 balls including eight fours.

Vaughan struck again when he had Samaraweera (three) stumped by Stewart.

And Vaughan was not finished, taking two wickets with the score on 205.

Chamara Silva (nine) top-edged to Collingwood at short fine leg before Vaas, sweeping, was clean bowled for nought.

The series continues with England's match against India at The Oval on Tuesday in what is a dress rehearsal for the final. (AFP)