A fiery opening spell from fast bowler James Anderson [ Images ] allowed Alastair Cook [ Images ] to celebrate his first home match with a thumping 110-run win over a shell-shocked Sri Lanka [ Images ] at the Oval on Tuesday.
Anderson had been left out of England's [ Images ] lineup the last time the teams met over 50 overs, when Sri Lanka romped to a 10-wicket win in the World Cup quarter-finals in Colombo, as he struggled to come to grips with the dead sub-continent pitches.
But, back on more familiar ground, there was no stopping England's main strike bowler as he made sure their total of 229-8 off 32 overs in the first one-day international could not be touched.
The Ashes hero removed dangermen Tillakaratne Dilshan [ Images ] (1), Mahela Jayawardene [ Images ] (5) and Kumar Sangakkara [ Images ] (4) within the space of 15 deliveries to leave the World Cup runners-up reeling on 15-4.
Sri Lanka never managed to recover from the setback and would have suffered an even heavier defeat had it not been for a 52-run ninth wicket partnership between tailenders Lasith Malinga [ Images ] and Suraj Randiv [ Images ].
Tottering on 69-8 in the 22nd over, the duo came together to frustrate the hosts but even their swashbuckling tactics -- with Malinga clobbering the only six of the Sri Lankan innings -- could only delay the inevitable.
A three-hour rain interruption reduced the game to 32 overs-a-side but Craig Kieswetter (61) and Eoin Morgan [ Images ] (45) made the most of their time in the middle by laying the foundations for England's total.
Anderson then tore into Sri Lanka's top order to finish with 4-18 and chipped in with three catches, including a caught and bowled effort to dismiss Sangakkara.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann [ Images ] (3-18) cleaned up the tail as Sri Lanka were all out for 121 with five overs to spare.
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