Alex Hales hit a stunning century to lead England to a memorable victory over Sri Lanka and reignite the side's World Twenty20 campaign.

Hales produced a staggering innings - unbeaten on 116 from 64 balls - and finished the game in unforgettable fashion as he heaved Angelo Mathews for an enormous six to seal a six-wicket victory with four balls to spare.

It was England's first ever T20 hundred and Hales, who struck six sixes and 11 fours to reel in a target of 190, celebrated by thrusting both arms into the air and waving his bat aloft.

Having been dismissed twice in the nineties already, it was a case of finishing old business for the Nottinghamshire opener.

Eoin Morgan also deserved a healthy share of the plaudits, having hit 57 in 38 balls and shared a stand of 152 with Hales, the fourth highest partnership of all time in the format.

It was a magical, but unlikely, finale in Chittagong with England apparently set for another hard-luck story after a troubled first innings.

Mahela Jayawardene made 89 to underpin Sri Lanka's 189 for four, having led a charmed life from ball one.

He was controversially given not out first ball when Michael Lumb appeared to take a clean catch off Jade Dernbach.

England then contributed to their own woes, dropping him twice and botching a run-out chance, in a ragged fielding display.

And if there was any doubt about which side carried the momentum it was answered inside the first over of the reply.

England ended it two down without a run, Nuwan Kulasekara bowling Lumb on the charge then seeing off Moeen Ali for a golden duck.

Hales reeled off four boundaries in nine balls to get the scoreboard moving but the introduction of yorker king Lasith Malinga slowed the pace, with just 11 runs off his initial two-over burst.

At the end of the powerplay the score was a modest 37 for two, though the withdrawal of Malinga and a costly 10th over from Mathews - who was thrashed by Morgan for the first six of the innings - took England to 72 at the mid-point.

And with England requiring 23 off the last 12 balls, Hales hit two almighty sixes of Kulaskera and finished the game with a winning six.