CAPTAIN Ian Bell came to the rescue as England A recovered from a top-order collapse in Colombo to secure a five-wicket victory over their Sri Lanka counterparts in their opening match of the one-day triangular series.
Set a target of 249 to win, the tourists were reduced to 28-3 before Bell (71) and Owais Shah (63) produced timely half-centuries.
When the pair made way - Shah retiring hurt - Rikki Clarke and Alex Gidman took over and together smashed 63 from just 39 deliveries to see England home with seven balls to spare.
The hosts won the toss and batted, and half centuries from Russel Arnold and Malintha Gajanayake held together their innings of 248-8. The tourists endured a wretched start to their run chase, Vikram Solanki departing for three and Graeme Swann bowled for a duck.
Wicketkeeper Matt Prior made 22 in 21 balls before Warwickshire's Bell added 127 with Middlesex batsman Shah. But when the captain was trapped lbw by Malinga Bandara, Shah had to retire and Alastair Cook went cheaply, the game was in the balance again.
Clarke and Gidman, however, took up the challenge and hit nine fours and a six between them as Sri Lanka's bowlers toiled. ¦ SHANE WARNE and Brian Lara will top the bill in this summer's MCC v International XI tsunami appeal fund-raising match at Lord's on June 14.
They will be joined by the likes of New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, Warne's great spin rival Muttiah Muralitharan and Zimbabwe's Andy Flower.
