Trescothick's 121 was the first by an England batsman against a leading nation since he himself made 104 not out at Headingley against Australia nearly a year ago and gave England, already 4-0 down in the five-match series, hope of avoiding a wipeout.

After stand-in skipper Andrew Strauss, one of the contenders to take over the leadership full-time from the injured Michael Vaughan, won the toss, England found runs hard to come by.

Chaminda Vaas managed the unusual feat in a one-day international of starting with two successive maidens, the experienced left-armer getting early swing and repeatedly beating the outside edge with England taking 16 balls to score a run off him.

Trescothick then found his touch against Lasith Malinga, carving him over point for four and next ball pulling him to the boundary.

Cook cut first-change Dilhara Fernando's first ball for four to bring up a fifty stand with his fellow left-hander in 81 balls.

But off the last ball of the over Trescothick, on 36, survived a huge appeal for caught behind, with Sri Lanka convinced he had inside-edged the ball through to wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.

However Cook, on 41, went when he cut Farveez Maharoof to Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene at extra-cover to leave England 82 for one in the 18th over.

Trescothick then took a quick single off Fernando to go to a 59-ball fifty with nine fours and later brought up England's second fifty, in just 40 balls, by driving Fernando straight back over his head.

Now in fine form, Trescothick cover-drove off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan's first ball for four.

But, on 65, Sri Lanka were again adamant Trescothick had been caught behind, off Dilshan. Sangakkara threw the ball up in celebration but West Indian umpire Billy Doctrove was unmoved.

At half-way England were well-placed for a big score at 137 for one.

And when leg-spinner Malinga Bandara came on, Trescothick stylishly forced him off the backfoot for four through the covers.

But a second-wicket partnership of 75 was ended when Bell, trying to steer Fernando down to third man, was caught one-handed by a diving Sangakkara to leave England 157 for two in the 28th over.

Trescothick completed his hundred in 102 balls with 16 fours before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya, appearing in a world-record equalling 362nd one-day international.

Jamie Dalrymple (30) and Vikram Solanki (44) added late impetus as England pressed on to their best score of the series.

However, the match was overshadowed by the announcement of the death of England fast bowling great Fred Trueman, a familiar figure at Headingley where he starred for Yorkshire for 20 years.