England has won back-to back cricket matches in Australia - the only problem is it hasn't been against local opposition.

Powered by a timely maiden international hundred from Paul Collingwood (100) and a fine bowling effort by paceman Andy Caddick (3-30), England defeated Sri Lanka by 95 runs and secured a bonus point.

The victory means England enters Christmas with reason for cheer after two months of misery on tour and some renewed hope heading into the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

But the inescapable fact is the English have failed to defeat an Australian outfit in their opening two months on tour.

Their only victories have been registered against a Sri Lankan outfit which has struggled to cope with the bounce of Australian wickets.

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore will be left scratching his head just months out from the World Cup in South Africa with his charges struggling badly with the bat and in the field.

His team meets Australia here on Sunday.

Sri Lanka has won just 15 times from 75 one-day matches in Australia and South Africa and tonight's showing didn't show any reason for a marked change any time soon.

The 1996 World Cup champions missed five regulation chances in the field which could have ensured a tiny target with the most costly miss coming with Collingwood on 11.

Underperforming England quick Caddick immediately put the brakes on the Sri Lankan run chase, removing the explosive opening combination of Marvan Atapattu (3) and Sanath Jayasuriya (10) before the scores reached 20.

Jehan Mubarak (14) became his third victim when he had him driving uppishly to captain Nasser Hussain at mid-on.

And after some near misses in his previous over, youngster James Anderson (2-23) got in on the act having Kumar Sangakkara (7) caught behind for Sri Lanka to crumble to 4-46.

Mahela Jayawardene (30) looked good but his stay was all too brief before he clipped a ball to Nick Knight.

Left-arm spinner Ian Blackwell (2-14) dismissed Thilan Samaraweera (27) and Chaminda Vaas (3) to end Sri Lanka's outside chances of victory.

Collingwood (100) earlier saved his top order some major blushes with a 110-run seventh wicket stand with Craig White (48) and guiding England to 9-258 off 50 overs.

The 26-year-old Durham batsman's timely ton off 127 balls featured four fours and two sixes on a day which topped 40 degrees Celsius.

Collingwood rode his luck early in his innings as his side's batting lineup lost its way with some reckless shots.

But he settled down in his 27th one-day international and ended up pulling a sharp, short ball from impressive quick Dilhara Fernando (4-48) for a single in the last over before being dismissed on the final ball of the innings.

Outstanding Sri Lankan left-arm paceman Chaminda Vaas (3-36) earlier cashed in on some ambitious England shots, ripping through the top order on a typically bouncy WACA track.

The 28-year-old left-armer claimed the scalps of openers Marcus Trescothick (15) and Nick Knight (11), and also Ronnie Irani for four.

But he should also have dismissed Collingwood after Samaraweera dropped a straight forward opportunity at first slip.

The classy paceman sent both Knight and Trescothick back to the pavilion in the fifth over after they attempted to pull him over the in-field.

Beleaguered No.3 batsman Irani entered and exited early again but not before almost running captain Hussain out.

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