LEEDS, Sept. 25 -- The evening turned on a single moment: Jos Buttler reaching for a drive off the left-arm spin of Dunith Wellalage in the 21st over, feeling something give in his hamstring, and limping toward the boundary. England's captain was 69 not out. The partnership was 143. The match was effectively over.

Sri Lanka beat England by 16 runs at Headingley on Thursday night in the second ODI of a three-match series now level at one game apiece, with the decider at The Oval on Sunday. Sri Lanka posted 321 for 6 from their 50 overs; England mustered 305 for 9 in reply, brave enough to keep the result uncertain until the 45th over, never quite close enough to win.

The foundation of Sri Lanka's total was Kusal Mendis, who scored his se...