Sri Lanka pushed decaying England to the brink of World Cup elimination on Thursday when they handed the defending champions an eight-wicket thrashing.

Chasing just 157 to win, Sri Lanka reached 160-2 with a massive 146 balls to spare thanks to in-form Pathum Nissanka and Sadeera Samarawickrama.

Nissanka hit an undefeated 77; his fourth successive fifty at the tournament, while Samarawickrama was 65 not out to add to the 108 he made against Pakistan and 91 in the win over the Netherlands.

Earlier, Lankan bowlers tight bowling bundled out the English for just 156 runs in this World Cup match held in Bengaluru.

Bd-pratidin English/Lutful Hoque