England were given a taste of their own medicine after succumbing to the biggest one-day international defeat in their history in terms of runs against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Having set a number of benchmarks in the past couple of years and dished out many thrashings, England were on the receiving end of a shellacking this time after going down by 219 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Here, Press Association Sport looks at England’s previous five heaviest defeats in the 50-over format.

v West Indies, March 1994 (165 runs)

Brian Lara putting England to the sword was a familiar sight over the years (Parnaby Lindsey Parnaby/PA)
Brian Lara putting England to the sword was a familiar sight over the years (Parnaby Lindsey Parnaby/PA)

An opening stand of 145 from Desmond Haynes and Phil Simmons set the tone on a miserable day for England. Both openers recorded half-centuries, while Brian Lara and Richie Richardson did likewise at more than a run a ball as the Windies racked up an imposing 313 for six. It was a total England never got near as they were undone by losing wickets at regular intervals and ended up 148 for nine from their 50 overs – a run-rate of 2.96 that is almost unthinkable for the current crop.

v Pakistan, December 2005 (165 runs)

Kamran Akmal was England's chief tormentor in Karachi (Gareth Copley/PA)
Kamran Akmal was England’s chief tormentor in Karachi (Gareth Copley/PA)

Kamran Akmal’s sparkling century and a fifty from Mohammad Yousuf laid the platform for Abdul Razzaq to bludgeon 51 from 22 balls in Karachi. Overhauling a total of 353 for six looked like mission impossible for the tourists and, as was the case 11 years previously, they simply never got going as they were all out for 188 in 42 overs. In an era when replacements were available, Ian Bell was drafted in for James Anderson midway through England’s innings and top-scored with 37 from number nine.

v Australia, February 1999 (162 runs)

Glenn McGrath, left, and Shane Warne shared five wickets in Melbourne (Ben Curtis/PA)
Glenn McGrath, left, and Shane Warne shared five wickets in Melbourne (Ben Curtis/PA)

After going 1-0 down in the tri-series final, this was a must-win ODI for England but a familiar foe in Adam Gilchrist made a rapid half-century in Melbourne to get the hosts off to a decent start. An innings of 71 from Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn’s 57 lifted Australia to 272 for five – not insurmountable but still a formidable total against a side containing Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. As it was, Warne took three for 16 and McGrath two for 26 as England subsided to 110 all out in 31.5 overs.

v India, November 2008 (158 runs)

Yuvraj Singh stole the headlines in Rajkot (Anthony Devlin/PA)
Yuvraj Singh stole the headlines in Rajkot (Anthony Devlin/PA)

Virender Sehwag was at his belligerent best as he got India off to a flyer in the series opener in Rajkot but even his 85 from 73 balls was overshadowed by Yuvraj Singh, who flayed England’s bowlers to all parts of the ground in a breathtaking 138 not out from 78 balls. Set a target of 388, England’s chances suffered a sizeable setback as they slumped to 38 for four and only Kevin Pietersen (63) and Ravi Bopara (54no) spared their blushes as they were all out for 229 in 37.4 overs.

v Sri Lanka, May 2014 (157 runs)

Tillakaratne Dilshan shone for Sri Lanka before England collapsed (Owen Humphreys/PA)
Tillakaratne Dilshan shone for Sri Lanka before England collapsed (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Tillakaratne Dilshan fell 12 runs short of a century but his efforts ushered Sri Lanka to 256 for eight at Chester-le-Street. In response, England had a shocker and only Ian Bell and Eoin Morgan – stand-in captain in the absence of Alastair Cook – went past double figures as they were bowled out for 99 in 26.1 overs. England returned the favour three days later at Old Trafford, skittling their opponents for 67 before knocking off the runs in 73 balls for a 10-wicket victory.