Pietersen fury at controversial dismissal as England let early advantage slip away

The tourists ended day one in Colombo on 258 for five but the major talking point of the day was Pietersen's wicket.

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Pietersen twice had to be told to leave the field by Australian umpire Daryl Harper after being given out caught via a slip-cordon ricochet early in the final session of the second Test's opening day.

In only his second over at the crease, the Hampshire batsman edged a drive at Chaminda Vaas and watched as Chamara Silva scooped up the ball narrowly above the turf.

It squeezed out of Silva's fingers after a juggle and was seized by the alert Kumar Sangakkara, fielding at first slip, to spark huge Sri Lankan celebrations.

Harper then consulted with square-leg umpire Aleem Dar before raising his finger.

However, English supporters' boos - after the incident was replayed on the big screen in one of the stands - encouraged Pietersen to abort his return to the dressing room at the edge of the square.

It took another raising of the finger from Harper to persuade him to leave the playing area once and for all.

The rules state that the umpires could not consult with the TV official in these circumstances, but the decision left Vaughan exasperated after a more clear-cut mistake was corrected against India at Lord's last year.

Pietersen initially walked on that occasion, believing he had been out caught behind, but the umpires changed their mind after replays showed the ball clearly had not carried for the catch.

Vaughan told Sky Sports today: "It's a tough one, because I really do think common sense should prevail in circumstances like this.

"You have got the technology; you're allowed to use it. It's very difficult to be 100 per cent sure that catches carry.

"We had a similar instance at Lord's last year when Kevin got given out and they saw the screen and changed their opinion - and Kevin was allowed back into play.

"Common sense should have prevailed, and I'm sure the umpires will feel exactly that way now. It has cost us a wicket, but 258 is still a lot of runs on a first-day wicket."

On the whole, Vaughan still believes England are in a solid position going into day two - after he made a fluent 87 and Alastair Cook ground out 81.

"We have got five guys out there who, we hope, can get us to 400 and beyond and put them under a lot of pressure," the Yorkshire batsman said.

"We feel they are a very inexperienced batting order if you take Sangakkara and (Mahela) Jayawardene out of that."

On his own form, he said: "It just clicked today. I felt really good in practice and just tried to keep it as simple as I possibly could. I did feel good and I'm disappointed I didn't go out and get a big hundred - because that is what I set out to do.

"We are going to need 400 and we are one good partnership away from that target."