England's Plunkett denies Sri Lanka

Liam Plunkett smashed the last ball for six to rescue a tie for England, while there were also heroics from Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes after Angelo Mathews looked to have inspired Sri Lanka to victory in the first one-day international.

The tourists were comfortably beaten 2-0 in the Test series, but appeared certain to claim a 1-0 lead in the five-match ODI series under the lights at Trent Bridge on Tuesday until Woakes, Buttler and Plunkett dug England out of a hole.

Captain Mathews made a patient 73 off 107 balls on a good track, while Seekkuge Prasanna bludgeoned 59 from only 28 deliveries as Sri Lanka posted 286-9 after Eoin Morgan elected to bowl first.

Mathews then took 2-22 in an impressive spell before leaving the field with a hamstring injury and was sorely missed as Buttler (93 off 99) and Woakes (95 not out from 92) combined for a stand of 138.

Dasun Shanaka took a brilliant catch to dismiss the brilliant Buttler and end the second-highest seventh-wicket partnership in an ODI, while Woakes made a brilliant maiden half-century and Plunkett clubbed Nuwan Pradeep over the ropes to stun Sri Lanka.

David Willey (2-56) and Woakes (2-56) claimed early wickets, with Jonny Bairstow taking a catch at cover after being selected as a batsman, to leave Sri Lanka 56-3 in the ninth over.

Mathews reigned in his usually aggressive approach and Prasanna produced the fireworks with a blistering half-century to add some impetus after Moeen Ali (1-69) saw the back of Dinesh Chandimal (64).

Prasanna hit four sixes and brought up his 50 off only 24 balls, while Mathews and Farveez Maharoof (31 not out) ensured Sri Lanka posted a challenging target after they were 225-7.

Mathews and Suranga Lakmal (2-65) claimed two wickets apiece as England were reduced to 30-4 in a dreadful start to their run chase, with skipper Morgan (43) looking well set before falling to Pradeep (2-42)

England looked beaten, but Buttler and Woakes set about making a game of it with Mathews off the field as they frustrated Sri Lanka with some intelligent batting.

Buttler clubbed Prasanna for a huge six over long-off to bring up his 50, while the assured Woakes kept the scoreboard ticking to raise hopes England could pull off an unlikely win.

The powerful Buttler seemed destined for a fifth ODI century until Shanaka leaped to pluck a brilliant catch at long-off just after Prasanna put him down and Willey did not hang around, although replays showed Farveez Maharoof came incredibly close to over-stepping.

Woakes, who hit four boundaries and found the gaps superbly, went on to make the highest score by a number eight in an ODI but England looked set to fall short with 14 needed off the last over until Plunkett flexed his muscles in a dramatic finale.