Sri Lanka continue in control

It was hardly a sparkling day of Test cricket but Sri Lanka will not be overly concerned as they enter the final day of the second Test as the only side that can win the match from this situation.

They tightened their grip on the series by reaching 548-9 declared, Mahela Jayawardene falling just five runs short of a double century. His namesake Prasanna contributed 79 while tail-ender Dilhara Fernando further frustrated England with an innings that lasted in excess of two hours, for 36 not out. This perhaps demonstrating the easy nature of the pitch, and even with Murali in their ranks the home side will need to produce some magic to remove England tomorrow.

Sri Lanka will have been hoping for a breakthrough or two in the final hour of play but Alistair Cook (19*) and Michael Vaughan (28*) batted defiantly and saw England through to 48-0 at the close.

It must have been another exhausting day for England as Sri Lanka carefully built their lead, with no great need for urgency, they continued to await their scoring opportunities and completely remove any hope England had of levelling this series in Colombo, which has never really looked a distinct possibility.

Steve Harmison managed to extract some life from the track when he caught the out of sorts Jehan Mubarak by surprise with a short ball that struck his glove and lobbed gently to Ian Bell at backward point in the ninth over of the day. Another cheap dismissal for the left-hander will only strengthen calls for him to omitted for the third Test, and so far in his Test career, he is yet to prove to his doubters wrong, averaging only 15.88 after his first 17 innings.

It was reward for Harmison for his wholehearted effort and generally accurate performance.

Mahela Jayawardene continued in his pursuit of his fourth score over two hundred, but it was not to be as he attempted something a little agricultural over the leg side, only to sky the ball to Paul collingwood at slip off the bowling of Monty Panesar.

Prasanna Jayawardene was offered two lives during his stay at the crease, Ravi Bopara dropping him on two with a difficult chance at short midwicket, while Bell failed to cling on when diving to his right from Panesar’s bowling.

Jayawardene continued, however, seemingly unperturbed by his offerings, and ground out a pleasing half century.

Another man that was pleased was Stuart Broad when he collected his first Test wicket. It was a short ball to Chaminda Vaas who made rather a hash of his attempted hook and the ball consequently spooned to Bell in slip.

Lasith Malinga and Dilhara Fernando helped to continue the misery for England by sticking around and offering support for Jayawardene, but without any visual urgency the game was petering to a draw.

Panesar trapped Malinga in front of his stumps causing no need for indecision from umpire Aleem Dar, and when Harmison finally removed the gritty Jayawardene, Mahela called in his side. A potentially tense period of play was to follow for England, yet they coped admirably and ensured Peter Moores will have a comfier night tonight in the knowledge that all ten wickets remain intact.

Murali as ever holds the key, yet it will take an extraordinary effort from the genius to remove this England team on a pitch that appears bereft of any serious indiscretions.