England v Sri Lanka: Chris Jordan stars as hosts win first ODI

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Chris Jordan

Chris Jordan enhanced his growing reputation as England beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in the first match of the one-day series at The Oval.

His unbeaten 38 off 13 balls carried the hosts to 247-6 off 39 overs, which also featured 64 from Gary Ballance, 50 for Ian Bell and 45 from Joe Root.

Jordan, 25, then claimed 3-25 and James Tredwell 3-38 as Sri Lanka - chasing a twice-revised target of 226 in 32 overs - were bowled out for 144 with 4.1 overs unused.

Victory was significant in that it was England's first against a Test-playing nation since Peter Moores was reappointed head coach last month.

He will also be buoyed by the comprehensive margin of victory over a team that had won their last 10 ODIs.

Jordan, too, deserves credit for the manner in which he responded to a chastening display in Tuesday's Twenty20 defeat by Sri Lanka, when he conceded 22 runs in what proved to be the game's pivotal over.

Having impressed on England's limited-overs tour of West Indies earlier this year, he seems certain to play a central role in the build-up to next year's World Cup.

Asked if Jordan was capable of playing Test cricket, England captain Alastair Cook said: "Without a doubt. His four-day record is probably even better than his one-day record over the last couple of years.

"He seems to have the right character for international cricket. He has got a big heart and a lot of skills."

Jordan added: "I came in to try to score with a flurry. Lasith Malinga finished off the game for them well the other night so it was nice to get one over on him."

If England's batting left room for improvement after they lost the toss - three batsman fell when well set on a largely true pitch - a polished bowling performance augurs well for the rest of the five-match series, which continues at Chester-le-Street on Sunday.

England were thankful for Jordan's late assault with the bat, which yielded 60 off the last four overs alongside Jos Buttler, who made 28 not out off 20 balls.

Their innings began inauspiciously as Cook, advancing to Nuwan Kulasekara, was caught behind via the outside edge.

The untroubled Bell and Ballance led the recovery by adding 79 for the second wicket, only for Bell to perish to the last ball before rain arrived when he swept Angelo Mathews to backward square leg.

A two-and-a-half-hour break shortened England's innings by 11 overs and accounted for Eoin Morgan, who played on to Sachithra Senanayake in the first full over after the resumption.

Having put on 41 with Root, Ballance swung Senanayake to deep midwicket in an attempt to increase the run-rate, and Bopara was lbw sweeping.

Much-needed impetus was provided by Root before he became Senanayake's third victim.

Sussex's Jordan then hit five fours and two mighty sixes to leave Malinga nursing figures of 0-71 off eight overs, his most expensive in ODIs against England.

Sri Lanka's pursuit of an initial target of 259 was undermined by the loss of Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara inside the first six overs.

A second rain delay, which left Sri Lanka - the World Twenty20 champions - needing 166 off 18.3 overs, persuaded Tillakaratne Dilshan to slash Jordan's first ball of a new spell to third man.

It sparked a collapse that saw the last eight wickets tumble for 81 runs as Mahela Jayawardene, who top-scored with 35, flicked off-spinner Tredwell tamely to midwicket, and Jordan removed Dinesh Chandimal and Kulasekara in the same over.

The outcome had long since ceased to be in doubt by the time Ravi Bopara cleaned up Malinga.

Sri Lanka captain Mathews said: "It was a pretty poor performance by our whole team, starting off with our bowlers."