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Sa'adi Thawfeeq reporting from England

NORTHAMPTON, Monday - Romesh Kaluwitharana gave Sri Lanka the impetus they needed shortly before taking on England in the opening match of the NatWest One-day series on Thursday, when he hit a sparkling unbeaten century to guide his team to a thumping eight-wicket win over Northamptonshire under lights here today. Kaluwitharana hit a blazing 140 not out off just 135 balls smashing two sixes and 18 fours as he helped Sri Lanka go past the county total of 246 with nearly seven overs to spare. He reached his century off 105 balls with 14 fours and a six in 135 minutes.

There's no doubt that with this wonderful knock Kaluwitharana who has been struggling to find a permanent place in the national side will definitely force his way through for Sri Lanka's lung-opener against England at Nottingham.

With Sanath Jayasuriya standing down for this match, Kaluwitharana who opened the innings with Avishka Gunawardana, shared in an unbroken third wicket stand of 180 with Mahela Jayawardene who stroked his way to an elegant 67 not out off 80 balls. Jayawardene hit one six and four fours and let his more senior partner do all the scoring, although he had the pleasure of hitting the winning boundary.

Sri Lanka began their run chase badly with Gunawardana failing once again to reach double figures in his third attempt. He lasted 21 balls before falling to Darren Cousins with the total on 29. Marvan Atapattu leading the side made 20 off 23 balls when he attempted to force medium-pacer Tony Penberthy and was caught by Graeme Swan. Sri Lanka lost this wicket at 69. From there onwards it was the total domination of the Northants bowling by Kaluwitharana and Jayawardene. The nature of the batting was what Sri Lanka had been lacking so far on the tour and, it came at the right time to lift the spirits of the team that had lost the Test series 2-0 to England.

The county's total of 246-5 in 50 overs, was based largely on the second wicket partnership between England 'A' players Malachy Loye and David Sales. The pair added 150 runs after Buddhika Fernando had removed Australian-born captain Michael Hussey for 10.

Loye and Sales who have both scored triple first-class centuries for the county stayed together for 31 overs before part-time spinner Russell Arnold ended their liaison.

Arnold forced Sales to hit back an easy return catch and despite Loye going onto complete his century, the county never found the late momentum to speed the innings up.

Sales who toured Sri Lanka in 1997-98 scored 65 off 97 balls with one six and five fours. Following his dismissal in the 36th over, the county lost two further wickets with Fernando and Arnold adding to their tally's. Loye who had anchored the innings finally fell with four balls of the innings remaining when he was caught behind by Kaluwitharana to give Chaminda Vaas his first wicket in his final over.

Vaas finished with one for 49, but it was young Fernando who impressed taking two for 36 off 10 overs. Sri Lanka completed their build up to the NatWest series with three wins and one loss in the four warm up matches they played after the end of the Test series.

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