Kumar Sangakkara’s first century at Lord’s laid the platform for Sri Lanka’s nailbiting seven-run series-levelling win against England in the fourth one-day international on Saturday.

Just days after they’d been shot out for 67 during a 10-wicket defeat at Old Trafford, Sri Lanka made 9-300 after losing the toss.

Sangakkara’s 112 – his first hundred at Lord’s in any format – was the centrepiece and, together with Tillakaratne Dilshan (71), he put on 172 for the second wicket after they’d managed just 15 runs between them in Manchester.

England needed what would have been their joint second-highest total to win but Lasith Malinga reduced the hosts to 2-10 removing captain Alastair Cook and Ian Bell.

But Jos Buttler, who went to the crease with England in dire straits at 5-111, brought the hosts back into the match with a brilliant maiden ODI hundred, the fastest ever scored at Lord’s.

Together with Ravi Bopara (51), the man-of-the-match shared a sixth-wicket stand of 133 that left England eyeing a remarkable win.

They got the target down to 20 runs off two overs and then 12 off the last, bowled by Malinga.

Buttler took a first-ball single but Chris Jordan then drove Malinga straight to Dilshan at long on.

Buttler then took two only to be run out for 121 off the fourth ball when he dug out a yorker straight back to Malinga.

A target of nine off two balls was beyond new batsman James Tredwell and Malinga, who took three for 52, had again proved himself a superb ‘death’ bowler.

“It was one of the best innings I’ve seen – Jos batted brilliantly,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews said.

“But we saved the best till last and it’s pretty hard to get (12) runs off Lasith Malinga. He is the man for us.”

Buttler at least agreed with Mathews’ assessment of his batting.

“It’s brilliant to play that well but it’s disappointing not to get over the line,” he said.

“Me and Ravi just had some fun – we didn’t think we could win, but that gave us a licence.”

Captain Cook admitted his side’s top-order batting had left Buttler with too much to do.

“It was looking pretty bleak before Buttler and Bopara got going. We know we have to play the first 30 overs better.”

The series will now be decided by Tuesday’s day/night clash at Edgbaston.