LIAM Livingstone endured a rare bad day on his England Lions tour of Sri Lanka, as his batting for once failed him.

The Barrow ace – who had top-scored for the tourists in three of their previous four innings – was dismissed for the golden duck as they fell to a four-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka A.

The result in Kurunegala saw England lose the five-match one-day series 3-0 – with two games to come in Colombo on Thursday and Saturday.

There was at least some joy with the ball for Livingstone, as the Lancashire man took two wickets in a spell of nine overs which cost 39 runs.

The 23-year-old had battled back after suffering from cramp during an innings of 94 in Dambulla on Saturday, but did not last long at the crease this time round.

Coming to the wicket after the loss of Tom Alsop to Sri Lanka star man Shehan Jayasuriya, this time there was to be no rescue act as he fell first ball, snapped up at leg slip.

Jayasuriya starred with bat and ball for the hosts as the Lions slipped to a third consecutive defeat.

The 25-year-old, who has made 17 international appearances in 50-over and T20 cricket, took five for 35 with his flat off-spin as the tourists were all out for 184 after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

He then hit 83 from 83 balls, and despite two wickets each for the off-spinners Ollie Rayner and Livingstone, the Sri Lankans won by four wickets with 13 overs to spare.

The Lions had made a promising start, reaching 50 in the ninth over. But after Ben Duckett was bowled by Asitha Fernando for 31 from 27 balls, they were always struggling for momentum.

Jennings was Jayasuriya’s first victim, mis-cueing to long-off for 22, and although Alsop joined Daniel Bell-Drummond to add 46 for the third wicket, the Lions then lost two wickets in consecutive balls.

Alsop was caught behind cutting at Jayasuriya, with Livingstone quick to follow.

Joe Clarke was caught behind off the leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay after a breezy 13, leaving Bell-Drummond holding things together on his second appearance of the tour.

The Kent batsman reached a 67-ball half century which included only two boundaries, but in the next over he drove at Vandersay and edged a catch to slip.

Jayasuriya switched ends to have the left-handed Sam Curran out in a similar manner, and Ben Foakes was unlucky when a sweep lobbed up off his pad to backward short leg.

Ollie Rayner and Craig Overton then fell cheaply to leave Tom Helm unbeaten on 13, having shown again that he is anything but a mug with the bat.

Helm then claimed an early wicket when the Sri Lankans replied, as Sandon Weerakkody drove to backward point where Alsop took a sharp catch.

The Lions bowled much more tidily than in Saturday’s heavy defeat in Dambulla, and Overton earned a second wicket when Kusal Perera top-edged a hook to Bell-Drummond at long leg.

Rayner had Sadeera Samarawickrama caught on the mid-wicket boundary, then Livingstone claimed the key wicket of Jayasuriya, well taken low down by Overton at deep cover.

Alsop then took two more good catches in consecutive overs to give a second wicket each to Livingstone and Rayner, leaving the Lions to regret their failure to post a competitive total.

The series, and the Lions tour, concludes with the two matches in Colombo, before Livingstone heads to the United Arab Emirates to take part in the North v South matches.