Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara both scored centuries as Sri Lanka cruised past England by nine wickets in their World Cup clash at Wellington Regional Stadium.

Joe Root cracked his highest one-day international score of 121 to inspire England to 6-309, before Thirimanne and Sangakkara posted an unbeaten 212-run stand to dominat the England bowlers and record their third win of the tournament with 16 balls remaining.

Thirimanne top-scored with 139 not out, including a six to win the match, while Sangakkara finished on 117 not out off 86 balls as Sri Lanka reached 1-312 to break the record for the highest successful run chase at the ground.

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The previous mark was South Africa’s 4-254 against New Zealand in February three years ago.

Thirimanne, 25, also became the youngest Sri Lankan to score a World Cup century.

Joe Root helped England past 300 with his highest ODI score.

For Sangakkara, this was his second ton in as many matches, joining Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden and Sourav Ganguly with three World Cup centuries in his career.

The veteran took 45 deliveries to reach his 50 and only 25 more balls to bring up his 23rd ODI ton.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (44) was the only casualty in what was a superb batting display from the 1996 World Cup champions.

Earlier, Moeen Ali (15) and Ian Bell (49) put on a 62-run opening stand, before Root took control of the innings.

The 24-year-old produced his highest ODI score before falling lbw to Rangana Herath in the 47th over.

Captain Eoin Morgan (27), Jos Buttler (39 not out) and James Taylor (25) helped propel England past 300.

The loss leaves them with just two points from four games and perilously close to missing out on the knockout stages.

England’s final two pool games are against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, sit second in the group on six points, two behind leaders New Zealand.

In Sunday’s other match, Pakistan won its first game of the World Cup, defeating Zimbabwe by 20 runs at the Gabba.

Chasing a target of 236 for victory, Zimbabwe looked on track to cause an upset before coming up short, dismissed for 215 off 49.4 overs.

Beanpole paceman Mohammed Irfan (4-30) made life extremely difficult for Zimbabwe’s top order, making the breakthrough in the fifth over to remove Chamu Chibhabha for nine to make it 1-14.

He struck again two overs later to dismiss Sikandar Raza for eight with the score on 22.

A 52-run partnership between Hamilton Masakadza and Brendan Taylor shifted the momentum in the African side’s favour, before Irfan grabbed his third wicket, removing Masakadza for 29.

Paceman Mohammed Irfan is congratulated by teammates after taking a wicket. Photo: Getty

A solid partnership between Taylor and Sean Williams saw Zimbabwe move on to 3-128 in the 30th over, but Wahab Riaz (4-45) delivered a big blow, strangling Taylor (50) down the legside where he was caught by wicketkeeper Umar Akmal.

When Rahat Ali dismissed Williams for 33 in the 34th over and Irfan bagged the wicket of Solomon Mire for eight, Pakistan began to take charge.

Zimbabwe’s last chance was captain Elton Chigumbura, who came out to bat despite being hampered after injuring his leg fielding in the Pakistan innings.

He made 35 off 35 balls, but was the last man out with defeat already assured.

Earlier, Zimbabwe had restricted Pakistan to 7-235 off 50 overs.

The African side was on top from the start, dismissing both of Pakistan’s openers early on.

Nasi Jamshed was out for one in the second over, and Ahmed Shehzad edged behind to the keeper off Tendai Chatara for a duck off the last ball of the fourth over to make it 2-4.

It took Pakistan nearly 20 overs to bring the 50 up, and when Haris Sohail was out for 27 in the 21st over it was 3-58.

Akmal and Misbah-ul-Haq then steadied the ship with a 69-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but then spinner Williams chimed in with two brilliant turning deliveries in three balls to bowl Akmal (33) and Shahid Afridi (0).

Wickets kept falling for Pakistan – when Misbah departed for 73 in the 47th over it was 7-202.

Some late hitting from Riaz (54 off 46 balls) helped Pakistan to a reasonable total.

Chatara finished with 3-35 and Williams took 2-48 for Zimbabwe.

– with ABC