Chris Jordan scripts England’s win

London: Chris Jordan starred with both bat and ball as England set off on the road to next year’s World Cup with a 81-run win over Sri Lanka in a rain-marred one-day international at The Oval. The Sussex all-rounder’s belligerent 38 not out off just 13 balls propelled England to a total of 247 for six in an innings reduced by rain to 39 overs on Thursday.

And, on his former Surrey home ground, the Barbados-born Jordan took three wickets for 25 runs, including three for three in 12 balls. Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 226 in 32 overs after a fresh downpour, never recovered and finished on 144 in 27.5 overs when Lasith Malinga was bowled by Ravi Bopara under the Oval floodlights. England are 1-0 up in the five-match series.