PHOTOS: England vs Sri Lanka, ICC Champions Trophy

Kumar Sangakkara hit a magnificent century to help Sri Lanka outclass England by seven wickets and keep their hopes alive of making it to the semi-finals, in the ICC Champions Trophy match at the Oval in London, on Thursday.

Shaminda Eranga provided Sri Lanka with the early breakthrough when he dismissed Ian Bell for 20, who was caught at midwicket by Kushal Perera.

- Scorecard

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and invited England to bat first in overcast conditions. They made one change in their playing eleven from the last game, bringing in Nuwan Kulasekara for Thisara Perera.

England too made only one change, replacing James Tredwell for off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Captain Alastair Cook started off cautiously as England once again decided to play it safe in the first Powerplay scoring just 38 runs from the first 10 overs.

The left-hander made 59 from 85 balls, hitting three boundaries, putting on 83 runs for the second with Jonathan Trott to lay a solid foundation for the middle order.

Jonathan Trott continued his recent good form with another sparkling half-century.

He hit a fluent 76 from 87 balls before he was trapped leg before wicket by left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.

Joe Root, in the headlines after being hit by suspended Australia batsman David Warner in a bar, helped up the tempo in the closing overs with 68 off 55 before Lasith Malinga took two wickets in two balls.

Ravi Bopara (33 not out) blasted 28 off Shaminda Eranga's final over, including three sixes, to lift England to a huge 293 for seven.

Sri Lanka's fielding was woeful as Tillakaratne Dilshan also dropped three awkward catches and wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara spilled a high running catch.

Sri Lanka opener Kushal Perera was dismissed early as he fell for six caught by Ravi Bopara off James Anderson in the third over of the innings.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara put their side back on track with a solid 92-run stand for the second wicket from 18.3 overs.

Dilshan played a steady knock of 44 from 56 balls before he was dismissed by off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Former captains Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka make good progress in the middle overs with a brisk partnership of 87 runs for the third wicket.

Jayawardene stroked a fluent 42 from 43 balls before he flicked Anderson straight into the hands of the fielder at deep square leg.

Sangakkara kept Sri Lanka in the hunt as he brought up his century from 111 balls, having hit eight boundaries.

Nuwan Kulasekara was promoted in the batting order and he left England stunned with a quickfire half-century.

Kulasekara slammed 58 from a mere 38 balls, hitting five boundaries and three sixes, to turn the match on it's head.

Sangakkara carried his team home with a splendid innings of 134 from 135 balls, inclusive of 12 boundaries.

He put on an unbroken stand of 110 runs from 67 balls for the fourth wicket with Kulasekara to lift Sri Lanka to a seven-wicket victory to keep their hopes alive of making it to the semi-finals.