Sixth ODI: Angelo Mathews says England are still under pressure in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews insists England are still the team under pressure heading into Saturday's sixth one-day international in Pallekele.

England cut the hosts’ lead in the seven-match series to 3-2 with an impressive five-wicket victory at the same venue on Thursday.

Alastair Cook's tourists will start their World Cup winter with a series success if they can now win the final two matches, but Mathews remains confident his team are capable of much better – as long as his spinners make the most of home conditions.

"The pressure is still on England," he said. "We just have to go and be aggressive and positive. We're very confident.

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"We don't need to panic. It's just that we didn't play well. We know that and we know the mistakes we made.

"There might be a few changes. Whoever comes in, we have to try to win the series (here).

"It was disappointing the way we played. But we can't take a step back.

"We need to move forward, and try to learn from our mistakes."

Hint

Mahela Jayawardene has hinted of late that he would like to move up to open the batting, and Kusal Perera's moderate form may provide him with that opportunity.

"The options are still open for the opening slot," added Mathews.

"Mahela is one option. We have given opportunities to Kusal. He's fared pretty well, in a couple of games, but he could have done better.

"We expect a lot from him. We have nine more games to try and experiment with the opening slot."

Sri Lanka's selectors left themselves room to update the squad for the last two matches, having changed the original one mid-series specifically only for matches four and five so far.

But the probability is Mathews and coach Marvan Atapattu will pick from those already announced, with middle-order batsman Ashan Priyanjan, uncapped chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan and seamer Suranga Lakmal all in the reckoning for a late entrance into the series.

Mathews said, however: "We're not looking to experiment too much (yet). We'll see how it goes in the next game, and then see if we can do that a bit in the last one.

"Our objective is to win the series first, then do the experiments.

"We still bank on our spinners - especially on that wicket, turning square. They didn't bowl that well. But I'm pretty sure they'll come back hard.

"We need to get the combinations right. We can’t play three off-spinners, just to give an opportunity to a certain player."

Watch the sixth ODI between Sri Lanka and England live on Sky Sports 2 at 4.15am on Saturday.