Sri Lanka's resurgence in the triangular one-day series continued on Monday with a 31-run win over England as off- spinner Muttiah Muralitharan became only the fourth player to claim 300 wickets in one-day internationals.

Sri Lanka scored 284 for seven in their 50 overs before dismissing England for 253 in 49.2 overs.

Muralitharan took 1-36 from his 10 overs, bowling tailender Jimmy Anderson for one as England again failed to build on a century opening stand.

Sri Lanka's win, their second in succession after starting the series with three straight losses, keeps them in contention for the finals with 12 points. Australia have 22 from five games with England on 14 from six.

Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya won the toss and batted, hitting his second successive century as Sri Lanka smashed 284 for seven. It was the left-hander's 15th century in his 277th one-day international and he put on 144 for the second wicket with Hashan Tillakaratne, who made 44.

Marvan Atapattu was out for a sixth-ball duck in the first over of the match.

It was in sharp contrast to his 101 in an opening partnership of 237 with Jayasuriya against Australia in Sydney four days ago when Sri Lanka won by 79 runs.

Following his 122 against Australia, Jayasuriya reached his hundred off 94 balls and was out for 106 in 110 balls including 15 fours and one big six over point off Stephen Harmison.

WAYWARD AGAIN

The lanky paceman was again wayward with nine wides in his 0-59 from nine overs including 14 off his first over although Sri Lanka had to negotiate two tight spells from Andy Caddick, who took 2-29.

The Somerset fast bowler had Atapattu caught at slip in the first over and returning to dismiss de Silva in the 47th over for 51 from 59 balls.

Nick Knight (42) and Marcus Trescothick, who was run out for 85, made 115 for England's first wicket, their second successive century stand.

But England then lost five wickets for 64 including a piece of schoolboy cricket from Alec Stewart (six) and Owais Shah who were both stranded mid-pitch after Shah sent the veteran back from an attempted single.

Shah made 39 before he became one of slow bowler de Silva's four victims. The 37-year-old's 4-30 was his career-best but he was pipped by his captain for the man of the match award.

Sri Lanka now face World Cup champions Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday with some confidence after victories over both triangular series opponents in the past week.

While Muralitharan was at times unplayable on Monday, de Silva, who made a century in Sri Lanka's World Cup final win over Australia in 1996, is also a key weapon.

He was on a hat-trick when he had Shah caught at deep mid-wicket and Ronnie Irani caught and bowled for two in the 44th over at 227 for eight.