Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence held their nerve in a 62-run unbroken stand to guide England to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Monday on the fifth and final morning of the series-opening test. England ensured it didn`t have any more hiccups in erasing the remaining 36 required on the last day after Sri Lanka had set up a tricky 74-run target on a turning wicket. England had slumped to 14-3 late on the fourth evening, included a crucial run-out of its captain Joe Root for just 1, before Bairstow and Lawrence combined to usher the tourists to 76-3. Bairstow remained unbeaten on 35 off 65 balls and Lawrence, who hit a gritty half century in the first innings of debut, finished 21 not out. Sri Lanka had the chance of a breakthrough after England resumed on 38-3. Bairstow may have been out lbw off Dilruwarn Perera`s off-spin in the third over, but stand-in captain Dinesh Chandimal didn`t go for the television referral. Bairstow eventually sealed the victory with a boundary when he swept Perera to square leg.

"To come with little prep and play in the manner we have, has been really impressive," Root said after receiving his man-of-the-match award. Root`s 228 in the first innings -- his fourth test double century -- provided England a hefty lead of 286 runs as the visitors posted 421 runs in the first innings. "The thing that pleased me the most was my mindset," Root said of his innings. I "felt I got into a good place, managed to get my feet apart, get forward and back well people have been critical of my conversion, so nice to go up and make a big one." The England captain also praised the effort of his two spinners -- Dom Bess and Jack Leach -- who snared 14 wickets between them, each bagging a five-wicket haul. "Brilliant effort, particularly with the little cricket they`ve played," recently, Root said. "Series like these are always tough but without the prep it`s testament to their characters." In the absence of its injured captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who was ruled out with a hand injury sustained during the tour of South Africa, Sri Lanka was rattled for 135 in the first innings but rallied with a 359-run effort in the second innings.