WORCESTERSHIRE batter Jack Haynes played a pivotal role in helping England Lions win their one-day international series opener against Sri Lanka A in Colombo. 

Haynes was part of an opening stand of 69 in just 11.1 overs with Jacob Bethell as the Lions pursued a 231 target.

He had been added to the squad for the white ball leg of the tour along with Worcestershire team-mate Josh Tongue after both had made their Lions debut in the two-match Test series over the last month. 

He struck successive boundaries off Pramod Madushan in the fifth over and collected another two in the ninth over, bowled by Chamika Karunaratne.

The initial ten over powerplay yielded 64 runs to put the Lions well ahead of the required scoring rate.

Haynes made 25 from 28 balls before slow left-armer Praveen Jayawickrama bowled him.

Bethell was eventually dismissed for 50, and then Sam Hain (54) and Jordan Cox (46) ensured victory was completed with 9.4 overs to spare.

Haynes had earlier taken two catches, including Sahan Arachchige (57) off the bowling of Saqib Mahmood, as Sri Lanka recovered from 25-4 to reach 230 all out in 45.1 overs after choosing to bat.