England 258 for 9 (Collingwood 100, Fernando 4-48) beat Sri Lanka 163 (Caddick 3-30) by 95 runs
Scorecard

Like London buses, England have waited a lifetime for their first victory on this ill-starred tour, and now two have turned up in quick succession.

But, unlike Tuesday's cakewalk at Brisbane, England's 95-run win at Perth was a harder-fought affair than the result suggests – or at least it was until Sri Lanka's muddle-headed batsmen once again chose to pursue bonus points instead of victory. Without Paul Collingwood's gutsy and extremely assured maiden international century, England would have struggled to top 150, never mind post a challenging total of 258 for 9.

Collingwood was in the thick of things from the very start of his innings. He came to the crease with England already in serious trouble at 39 for 3, and though he got off the mark with a sweetly driven four, and followed that up with an extraordinary top-edged six that crashed into the sightscreen behind the wicketkeeper, the rest of his innings was a masterclass in self-denial. No fewer than 62 of his runs came in singles, and he picked off just four other boundaries in 125 balls – including a sumptious on-driven six off Chaminda Vaas, just to remind everyone of his more forceful side.

At this stage of the tour, England should have been well acquainted with the vagaries of the WACA. But, as the top order amply demonstrated, familiarity can breed contempt. Nick Knight and Marcus Trescothick whirled like dervishes in the opening overs, and thwacked 15 runs from Pulasthi Gunaratne's second over, but in the space of three balls, both men were dismissed trying to pull Vaas.

Trescothick miscued a rising ball into the bobbling hands of Gunaratne at backward square-leg (26 for 1), Knight swatted to Dilhara Fernando at wide mid-on, and two in three ought to have become three in five when Nasser Hussain edged his second delivery – from Fernando - straight between keeper and first slip.

But that third wicket wasn't long in coming. Ronnie Irani had already been reprieved by Russel Arnold at second slip when he played all round a straight one from Vaas and was sent on his way by umpire Taufel for 4 (39 for 3). He has now managed five runs in four innings, and a new No. 3 can surely be expected for the next match.

Collingwood added 50 for the fourth wicket with Nasser Hussain to sow the seeds of a recovery. But when Hussain steered Nissanka to the keeper for 25 (89 for 4), and Alec Stewart guided his third ball to Mahela Jayawardene at slip for 4 (93 for 5), the crisis was back on. Ian Blackwell hoofed a handy 19 from 22 balls, but once he had gone, England's chances of posting a competitive total were verging on the non-existent. Collingwood however kept his nerve and reached his century in the final over before patting a full toss to Marvan Atapattu at point.

When Andy Caddick conceded 13 runs in his opening over, England's total of 258 didn't seem so distant. But he soon found his range and Sri Lanka's batsmen were unable to deal with his extravagant bounce from just short of a length. Atapattu edged to Knight at second slip (14 for 1), Jayasuriya chipped a leading edge straight back to the bowler, (19 for 2), and Hussain threatened to blow a fuse when Trescothick and Stewart spilled two similar top-edges off one over from Jimmy Anderson. But Jehan Mubarak soon holed out to Hussain himself, who celebrated with a flurry of curses and stomped off to square leg to compose himself. (42 for 3)

The contest was virtually over when Sangakarra tamely wafted at an Anderson off-cutter and was caught behind (46 for 4), and Sri Lanka were totally dead in the water when Mahela Jayawardene top-edged a looping catch off White to Knight at short midwicket for 30 (91 for 5).

Thereafter, Sri Lanka's only aim was to pass the 207 required to salvage a bonus point. It was an approach that made the final quarter of the match totally unpalatable. But thankfully for the spirit of the game, they failed.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd