Hick and Gough see rejuvenated England to new win

After ousting Sri Lanka for 186 in 50 overs, England romped to 189-3 with more than four overs to spare. Hick hit an unbeaten 66 following on from his 108 against Australia in Sydney on Sunday.

Gough wrecked the Sri Lankan innings after captain Arjuna Ranatunga had won the toss and decided to bat first.

The Yorkshireman snapped up four wickets for 10 runs in his opening overs as Sri Lanka skidded to 21-4 in the 11th over. Gough finished on 4-29 and was made man of the match.

Sri Lanka were rescued by Ranatunga, who made a marvellous 76 before being run out and Umagiliya Chandana, with a maiden half-century.

England skipper Alec Stewart and Nick Knight ensured the run chase began smoothly, shaping a 52-run opening stand.

Even when they departed from successive deliveries by Nuwan Zoysa, England did not panic, with Hick and John Crawley (31 not out) ensured the target was comfortably reach.

The win gives England a strategic lead in the competition, with the team which has so long struggled to make an impression in one-day cricket poised to become the first into the finals.

England now have four wins from five matches, putting them four points clear of Australia, who have played one game fewer.

If England beat Sri Lanka and Australia in Adelaide this weekend, they cannot miss a place in the best-of-three finals next month.

In contrast, Sri Lanka were left anchored at the bottom of the table, without a point from three matches.

Sri Lanka's dreadful start to the tournament comes on top of their 2-1 series loss to Australia A which followed disastrous performances in one-day tournaments in Sharjah and Bangladesh.

Again it was the batting which let down Sri Lanka, clearly missing the experience of vice-captain Aravinda de Silva, who broke down just before the start of this series with a torn thigh muscle.

Only the innings by Ranatunga and the half-century by all-rounder Chandana made the game any sort of contest.