England posted 268-9 on what was expected to be a difficult batting track, it definitelly made them big favourites.
Sri Lanka slipped to 29-3 in reply but a brilliant partnership between Jeevan Mendis and Angelo Mathews threatened to turn the game on its head. But Mendis fell for 48 and Mathews 62 as England edged to victory.
It was a gripping finale to a series which had seen both sides pick up a brace of easy wins apiece to leave matters tied at 2-2 going into the game at a new-look Old Trafford.
England won the toss and got off to a flyer as Craig Kieswetter and Alastair Cook rattled along at more than seven an over until the batting power play was taken in the 13th over. Then, as happens so often with England, there was a flurry of wickets rather than a continuing flow of runs.
Cook advanced down the pitch and was comfortably stumped as Suraj Randiv, who was to end with 5-42, found substantial turn, and four balls later Kieswetter was bowled by Dhammika Prasad for a run-a-ball 43.
