Three impressive fifties guide England to ODI series win over Sri Lanka

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Winning the toss, England skipper Eoin Morgan opted to field first on a belter of a batting wicket at The Oval. The decision paid immediate dividends as Sam Curran struck twice in only the second over of the contest, picking the scalps of Kusal Perera (0) and Avishka Fernando (2). Pathum Nissanka (5) and Charith Asalanka (3) soon followed suit as Sri Lanka found themselves reeling at 21/4.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga then had to embark on a rebuilding job, attempting to make a respectable total for the visitors. The pair put on a partnership of 65 runs before Hasaranga was dismissed by Curran, who was on the verge of taking his maiden five-wicket haul in ODI cricket.

Dasun Shanaka and de Silva would build another decent stand for the Lions, rotating the strike and punishing the bad deliveries. It would prove to be heartbreak for de Silva though, as he missed out on his first ODI century by a whisker, perishing for 91 off the bowling of David Willey (4/64).

Shanaka too missed out on his half-century, falling to Willey for 47 while trying to up the ante. One over later, Curran celebrated his first five-wicket haul across all formats with the scalp of Chamika Karunaratne (21). Binura Fernando made a handy contribution of 17 off 15 deliveries at the back end of Sri Lanka's innings before the visitors finished with 241/9. The left-arm pace duo of Curran and Willey would account for all nine wickets.

It was one-way traffic in the second innings with England's chase of 242 runs to win only succumbing to a couple of hiccups along the way.

After a conservative start in the middle, openers Jason Roy (60) and Jonny Bairstow (29) combined for a 76-run opening partnership. Wanindu Hasaranga (1/46) got the much-needed breakthrough, with Bairstow edging the ball onto his stumps in the 13th over.

In came Joe Root, who made his way to 68 off 87 balls, including five fours. Roy was caught by Dhananjaya de Silva from a Chamika Karunaratne (1/34) delivery in the 18th over, which would be England's last fallen wicket.

Root and captain Eoin Morgan (75*) steered England to an eight-wicket triumph with 42 balls to spare, and an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

The third and last ODI of the series will be played on Sunday in Bristol.