Eoin Morgan credited the “magnificent” Joe Root but lamented England’s bowling after Sri Lanka chased 310 to win the World Cup game in Wellington.
Root’s one-day international-best 121 was the cornerstone of England’s 309 for six, helping his country out of choppy waters midway through their innings.
However, unbeaten hundreds from Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara saw Sri Lanka to victory with nine wickets and 16 balls to spare at the Wellington Regional Stadium.
England captain Morgan said: “We certainly lost it with the ball. At half-time we thought we had an above-par score. All credit to Joe Root. He was magnificent in the way he played. He showed his calm.”
Morgan, all of whose seamers went for at least six an over, added: “We probably bowled a bad ball every one, one and a half overs, which at this level you get punished for. We were punished today by a very experienced side.”
Sangakkara sped to his ton from just 70 balls and went on to share 212 for the second wicket with Thirimanne.
Sangakkara said: “The wicket was pretty good and everything I tried came off.
“It was just a case of batting long and built a partnership. If we have to chase 10 an over in the last nine-10 overs we were pretty confident we could do it.”
Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews said: “That was a brilliant performance. I thought it was a very good wicket. I thought 310 was a bit too much but it was a brilliant effort by the batsmen.”
On Thirimanne and Sangakkara’s centuries, he added: “That was two of the greatest knocks I’ve ever seen.”