ADELAIDE, Australia, Jan 17 (Reuters) - Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya fell one run short of his third century in four innings as his side lost momentum in reply to England’s 279 for seven at Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Sri Lanka, fighting to stay in contention for a place in next week’s best-of-three final against Australia, reached 173 for five after 31 overs with Russel Arnold on eight and Kumar Sangakkara on nine.

Australia lead the triangular series with 27 points after winning five out of six matches. England have 14 points and Sri Lanka 13, both from six games. Each side plays eight matches before the best-of-three finals start on January 23.

England captain Nasser Hussain won the toss and elected to bat in temperatures in the high 30s at the Adelaide Oval.

Nick Knight shared half-century partnerships with Marcus Trescothick, who made 39, and Michael Vaughan, who made 28.

Knight also put on 51 for the fourth wicket with Alec Stewart before the opener was out for 88 from 110 balls.

Stewart controlled the tempo of the closing overs with a stylish 51 from 59 balls, including a stand of 54 for the sixth wicket with Paul Collingwood, who made 18 from 16 balls.

In reply, Sri Lanka needed 5.6 runs per over and took 16 runs from the first two overs before Andy Caddick broke through six balls later by bowling Marvan Atapattu for 12.

Jayasuriya reached his 50 from 35 balls with a push to leg for two in the eighth over.

Caddick struck again when he had Hashan Tillakaratne caught behind for nine to reduce Sri Lanka to 53 for two.

England paceman Stephen Harmison, who had bowled two loose overs for 27, appeared to hurt his leg in a fielding mishap and limped off the field in the 16th over.

Aravinda de Silva was next out at 119 for three in the 19th over when he fell to Paul Collingwood’s bowling for 15.

Ronnie Irani had Mahela Jayawardene caught at deep mid-wicket by Michael Vaughan for 13 at 150 for four in the 26th over.

The left-handed Jayasuriya, aged 33 and playing in his 287th one-day international, fell one short of his 16th century when he was run out at the bowler’s end. Jayasuriya collided with his batting partner mid-pitch before Hussain threw down the stumps. Jayasuriya, well short of his ground, waved an arm in protest at Sangakkara.

Jayasuriya had faced just 83 balls for his 99 runs including nine fours and two sixes.

SCOREBOARD

England

M.Trescothick b Gamage 39

N.Knight c Sangakkara b Vaas 88

M.Vaughan c Vaas b D.Fernando 28

N.Hussain b Jayasuriya 18

A.Stewart b Gamage 51

I.Blackwell lbw b Vaas 0

P.Collingwood c Tillakaratne b D.Fernando 18

R.Irani not out 13

A.Caddick not out 1

Extras (lb-11 nb-8 w-4) 23

Total (for seven wickets, 50 overs) 279

Fall of wickets: 1-56 2-114 3-155 4-206 5-206 6-260 7-272.

Did not bat: J.Anderson, S.Harmison.

Bowling: Vaas 10-0-54-2 (nb-1, w-2), B.Fernando 4-0-27-0

(nb-2, w-1), Gamage 9-0-42-2, de Silva 8-0-45-0, D.Fernando

9-0-52-2 (nb-5, w-1), Jayasuriya 10-0-48-1.

Sri Lanka: Sanath Jayasuriya (captain), Marvan Atapattu,

Hashan Tillakaratne, Mahela Jayawardene, Aravinda de Silva,

Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Chaminda Vaas, Buddhika

Fernando, Dilhara Fernando, Chamila Gamage.
REUTERS