Jayawardene helps Sri Lanka crush England in T20

Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara gave a batting masterclass in the shortest version of the game to lead Sri Lanka to an emphatic nine-wicket win over England in a one-off Twenty20 international in Bristol on Saturday.

Chasing a mediocre total of 136 for nine, the tourists romped home with 16 balls to spare as Stuart Broad suffered defeat on his debut as England's Twenty20 captain.

Jayawardene made a cultured 72 not out in 57 balls while Sangakkara added an undefeated 43 in 39 deliveries as the pair put on 97 for the second wicket after the 41-year-old Sanath Jayasuriya was dismissed for eight by paceman Jade Dernbach.

Earlier, England failed to take advantage of an 83-run stand for the third wicket between Kevin Pietersen (41) and Eoin Morgan (47) as Sri Lanka paceman Lasith Malinga (2-15) proved almost impossible to get away for the lower-order batsmen.

The two teams meet again at The Oval on Tuesday in the first game of a five-match series of one-day internationals.