SL-Eng: Sri Lanka in charge

A first Test half-century from Dinusha Fernando and a top-order collapse from England combined to put Sri Lanka on top by the end of the second heated day at the Asgiriya Stadium, Kandy.

With Sri Lanka resuming at 277/7, England got the morning off to a perfect start as skipper Hashan Tillakaratne was caught by Mark Butcher on the fine leg boundary without adding to his overnight 45 as Andrew Flintoff surprised him with his extra bounce. Scenting a quick finish, England then had the door slammed in their faces - and not for the first time - by a determined Sri Lankan lower order performance.

Kumar Dharmasena added an obdurate 29 before missing a sweep and being trapped LBW by Ashley Giles, but not before having added 76 with Dinusha Fernando. Fernando, already in possesion of 11 first class fifties and a century, but dismissed twice in single figures at Galle, proceeded to make amends by stroking and hitting his way to an unbeaten 51* including 7 fours. Muttiah Muralitharan added 19 of his own breezy runs before being dismissed after neither umpire paid close enough attention to the ball clipping the off bail to be able to confidently give the wicket without consulting the TV umpire.

Giles finished with 5/116 but the Sri Lankan total of 382 looked intimidating for the English side, with the final two wickets adding 104.

England started their reply in a highly positive fashion, with Fernando's inability to keep to a tight line and length not helping matters. Trescothick (36) hit him for three fours as England cantered along at over five an over until Muralitharan was introduced just before tea. Cue inside edge, cue pad, cue Tillakaratne Dilshan at short leg, 89/1.

Sri Lanka emerged from the interval with their tails up and proceeded to make inroads into the England top order as first Dharmasena enticed Mark Butcher to come down the pitch for Kumar Sangakkara to do the necessary with the gloves. Michael Vaughan brought up a boundary-filled fifty, but Murali's doosra was enough to account for the England captain courtesy of an outside edge and Mahela Jayawardene at slip, via Sangakkara's gloves.

Nasser Hussain fell soon after as Chaminda Vaas did what he does best, a trademark straightening ball trapping the former captain LBW in front of off-stump. Suddenly it was 119/4 and England were in danger of capitulating. Fortunately for the tourists, Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood - looking like he's been playing Test cricket all his life - saw off 25 overs as England made stumps without further alarms on 163/4. With Flintoff and Chris Read, plus the resistance of Giles and Gareth Batty still to come, England have the potential to make 300+ and keep the game open, but a lot rests upon the two incumbents.

In an unsavoury incident, Nasser Hussain was accused by the Sri Lankan side of calling Muttiah Muralitharan "a ******* cheat and a ******* chucker" whilst the off-spinner was batting. Match referee Clive Lloyd has dismissed the claim, but warned both sides to watch their conduct in a bid to prevent the ugly scenes that marred the clash between these two sides three years ago, where Kumar Sangakarra and Mike Atherton clashed.

Sri Lanka 382 (TM Dilshan 63, KADM Fernando 51*, AF Giles 5/116)

lead

England 163/4 (MP Vaughan 52, M Muralitharan 2/28)

by 219 runs with 6 wickets remaining

Posted by Neil