Sri Lanka have set England a target of 240 to win the fifth one-day international in Pallekele.
The hosts lost the toss and were put in to bat before an impressive bowling display from Chris Woakes saw them bowled out for 239 with an over remaining.
The Sri Lankans got off to a poor start at the crease when Kusal Perera was dismissed by Steve Finn for a duck in the first over, but Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara rallied to help their side notch up the runs.
Dilshan was eventually bowled by Chris Jordan for 35, while Sangakkara hit 91 before he was caught by Joe Root in the deep off a Woakes delivery - the first of six wickets for the 25-year-old.
Angelo Mathews chipped in with a respectable 40 in the middle order, though the rest of the Sri Lanka batting lineup struggled to get beyond double figures.
Despite a gallant knock of 27 from Thisara Perera, Woakes cleared up the tail to end with figures of 6-47 and give his side a good chance of getting themselves back in the series.
