Sri Lanka and England lock horns at the Rose Bowl on Friday with world champions Australia awaiting the winners in next week's Champions Trophy semi-finals.

England head into the game as favourites on home soil after both sides recorded markedly different victories over Group D whipping boys Zimbabwe.

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The tournament hosts eased to a 152-run victory but joint holders Sri Lanka could only limp to an unconvincing four-wicket win in what should have been a stroll.

Seamers Nuwan Zoysa and Farveez Maharoof took three wickets each at the Oval but unfancied Zimbabwe posted a respectable total of 191 all out as Sri Lanka failed to kill off their innings.

Captain Marvan Atapattu then top-scored with 43 as his side lost wickets frequently to a plucky but unthreatening Zimbabwe attack.

"It wasn't our prettiest win but we'll try and improve and get used to the conditions better," Atapattu said. "England have been playing well but when you're playing at home sometimes expectations are too high."

England have won three out of their last four one-day games after previously struggling in limited-overs cricket, losing 1-0 in Sri Lanka in a rain affected one-day series last November.

"If we get through and play Australia it is a dream tie, an exciting challenge and something we will be looking forward to but our minds are purely on this game," captain Michael Vaughan said.

FLINTOFF FAILURE

ICC one-day player of the year Andrew Flintoff is the lynchpin of the side with his explosive hitting and economical bowling. However, he displayed some rare over-confidence against Zimbabwe and was out for six playing an audacious shot too early in his innings.

If anything his failure with the bat should have encouraged the rest of the side that they can win without the burly all rounder having to make a crucial contribution.

Sri Lanka's batsmen are yet to face rejuvenated fast bowler Steve Harmison in English conditions, while England will be glad nemesis Muttiah Muralitharan is out of the tournament following shoulder surgery.

Sri Lanka managed perfectly well without him last month, however, thrashing South Africa 5-0 at home with almost every player impressing.

The struggle against Zimbabwe might have just been a blip and might be the scare they needed to make sure they stay focused.

"We realise Sri Lanka are a good side. They've played some really good one-day cricket over the last few months and they're very dangerous," Vaughan said.

Teams:

England: Michael Vaughan (captain), Marcus Trescothick, Vikram Solanki, Andrew Strauss, Andrew Flintoff, Paul Collingwood, Geraint Jones, Ashley Giles, Alex Wharf, Darren Gough, Steve Harmison, Gareth Batty, Anthony McGrath, James Anderson.

Sri Lanka: Marvan Atapattu (captain), Avishka Gunawardene, Sanath Jayasuriya, Saman Jayantha, Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Chandana, Farveez Maharoof, Chaminda Vaas, Nuwan Zoysa, Kaushal Lokuarachchi, Dilhara Fernando, Lasith Malinga.