DHAKA: Joe Root’s century powered England to set a challenging target of 310 runs for Sri Lanka in the teams’ ICC Cricket World Cup Pool A match in Wellington Sunday morning.

England scored 309 runs for six in 50 overs. Moeen Ali began England’s innings while Ian Bell assisted him on the other end of the crease.

The pair started well. But Ali took early walk to the pavilion. Angelo Mathews sent him back when England’s scoreboard was at 62 runs in 9.2 overs. Bell continued.

Gary Balance came to the crease, replacing Ali. Balance stayed for a short time. He became victim of Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Joe Root contributed 121 runs off 108 balls until Rangana Herath took him. Root made his innings with fourteen fours and two sixes.

Ian Bell also added 49 runs. EJG Morgan and JWA Taylor scored 27 runs off 47 balls and 25 runs off 26 balls respectively.

Jos Buttler’s last time dashingly batting helped England cross the three hundred-figure. Buttler scored 39 runs off 19 balls. He built his innings with six boundaries and one over boundaries.

Sri Lanka made a perfect team effort. Six Lankan bowlers altogether sent six English batsmen back to the pavilion.

Lasith Malinga, Suranga Lakmal, Angelo Mathews, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, and Thisara Perera took one wicket each.

Earlier, England captain Eoin Morgan won the toss and decided to bat first. The match kicked off at 4:00am Bangladesh time at Westpac Stadium.

Teams

England

Ian Bell, Moeen Ali, Gary Ballance, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (capt), James Taylor, Jos Buttler (wk), Chris Woakes, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, James Anderson

Sri Lanka

Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dimuth Karunaratne, Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews (capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Thisara Perera, Rangana Herath, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga

** England 257 for 4 (45 ov)

BDST: 0805 HRS/UPDATE 0920, MAR 01, 2015