Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews hailed a dramatic, historic victory over England then fired a sharp response to his side's critics.

The Islanders celebrated a 100-run success in the second Investec Test at Headingley after Shaminda Eranga dismissed last man James Anderson with the penultimate ball of an absorbing match.

That sealed a 1-0 series win, Sri Lanka's first in this country, and offered a neat retort to the likes of former England captain Michael Vaughan, who had written off their bowlers as "a glorified county attack".

Reflecting on the triumph, which he lit up with four first-innings wickets and a stunning career-best 160, Mathews said: "It was an amazing victory.

"After the first Test went down to the wire, to the last ball, today went to the last over as well.

"Eranga bowled a brilliant ball to dismiss Anderson. I'd tried my best to change the bowlers, change the end and we pulled through.

"I hope my attack is better than a county attack...there was a little bit of debate about that, that maybe my attack was not good enough for county cricket but I think we showed we are so I am happy."

Future successes in England may not be as easy to come by without Sri Lanka's master middle-order batsmen Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who are 37 and 36 respectively and unlikely to tour these parts again.

But Mathews pointed out the nation have lost big stars before and even hinted he was working on keeping the pair involved for the long haul.

"I am trying my best to convince them so you never know," he said.

"It's up to them to make that decision, but I'm doing my best because the way they are playing they can carry on forever.

"Already we don't have (Chaminda) Vaas or Murali (Muttiah Muralitharan) in the team, but we have guys who are willing to do the job, work hard and are excited about playing Test cricket."