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England hold SL to moderate total

Bristol - Chris Woakes and Liam Plunkett both took three wickets apiece as England held Sri Lanka to 248 for nine in the third one-day international at Bristol on Sunday.

Three Sri Lanka batsmen -- Dinesh Chandimal (62), captain Angelo Mathews (56) and Kusal Mendis (53) -- all made fifties without going on after England skipper Eoin Morgan won the toss.

All-rounder Woakes returned figures of three for 34 in his maximum 10 overs, including two wickets with his last two balls, after fast bowler Plunkett made early inroads on his way to three for 46.

It again looks as if Sri Lanka have fallen short of a par score, especially as England chased down a target of 255 without losing a wicket at Edgbaston on Friday to go 1-0 up in this five-match series following Tuesday's tie at Trent Bridge.

But rain during the innings break threatens to leave England with an adjusted target.

England had a wicket just five balls into Sunday's match when Danushka Gunathilaka played on to left-arm quick David Willey when trying to leave the ball.

Kusal Perera fell for nine when he got a top edge off Plunkett and wicket-keeper Jos Buttler held a skyer.

First-change Plunkett had now taken a wicket with just his second ball Sunday after striking with this third delivery on Friday.

Adil Rashid had caused problems for Sri Lanka's batsmen with two for 34 on Friday.

But it was a different story on Sunday, with the leg-spinner's 10 wicketless overs costing 60 runs.

All-rounder Chris Jordan, recalled in place of off-spinner Moeen Ali, was pulled for four and six off successive deliveries by Mendis.

But Mendis was out for his ODI best score in his fifth match at this level when he holed out off Plunkett to Alex Hales at deep mid-wicket.

Mathews, like Chandimal troubled by a hamstring problem, drove Plunkett down the ground for six.

Chandimal completed a 65-ball fifty but then, trying to hit Woakes legside, got a thick edge straight to Jordan at third man.

That was the end of a fourth-wicket stand of 80 with Mathews and soon afterwards Sri Lanka were reduced to 171 for five when the big-hitting Seekkugge Prasanna also holed out on the legside, off Plunkett.

Mathews too fell in similar fashion, skying a pull off Jordan to Buttler.

Woakes ended his spell by having Farveez Maharoof caught in the deep and next ball bowling Upul Tharanga (40) middle stump.

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