ENGLAND collapsed to a shambolic 157-run defeat at the Durham ICG yesterday as Sri Lanka levelled their one-day international series at 1-1.

England, who did almost everything right in an 81-run win at The Oval three days ago, this time did many things wrong — mustering only 99 all out in 26.1 overs, their fifth-lowest ODI total and well shy of the 256 for eight target.

Nuwan Kulasekara (three for 15) did the initial damage, in a spell of three wickets for one run as England lost four for 10.

It brought England’s run of four consecutive ODI victories to an abrupt end.

Stand-in captain Eoin Morgan, who was England’s top scorer on 40, described it as “abysmal,” “sloppy” and “disappointing.”

“I cannot explain it. We lost wickets continuously throughout the whole innings and underperformed massively.

“We have been outplayed here today in conditions we normally thrive in. We have played poorly. It’s very disappointing and we were a little bit sloppy in the field.”

With the five-match series at 1-1, the teams next meet in Manchester on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said: “It was a pleasing performance by the whole team. All in all it was a great effort.”