Delighted England crushed World Cup holders Sri Lanka by 36 runs in their one-day Triangular tournament match at Lord's yesterday.

Under-par Sri Lanka, who overwhelmed South Africa by 57 runs on Friday in the opening match, were skittled for just 211 chasing England's 247.

Alec Stewart's side, still buoyant over their Test series against South Africa, must now face Hansie Cronje's side at Edgbaston on Tuesday in the last of the round-robin matches to decide who plays in the final.

Sri Lanka's hopes of getting off to a flying start suffered a triple setback when Romesh Kalu witharana, Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu all fell in rapid succession.

Darren Gough, the pick of the bowlers who ended up with three for 51 off 10 overs, trapped Atapattu leg before to leave the world champions reeling on 28 for three.

Aravinda de Silva (33), on whose shoulder Sri Lanka's hope of a miracle fightback rested, led a mini-recovery to take the score to 83 before he was trapped lbw by all-rounder Ian Austin, who was making his debut.

Off spinner Robert Croft bowled skipper Arjuna Ranatunga for 33 to leave the world champions facing defeat at 127-7. England wrapped up a handsome victory when Gough yorked Pramodya Wickramasinghe (18) before Austin bowled Muttiah Muralitharan for the same score.

In England's innings, man-of-the-match Graeme Hick justified the selectors' faith in him by smashing a brilliant 86. Recalled recently after a two-year absence, he looked set for a century when he was run out by Marvan Atapattu.

The home side, at one point on 223 for three, lost their last seven wickets for 24 runs.