England face hard graft

The tourists were left reeling at 61 for six when play was halted soon after the lunch break, leaving them still requiring a further 239 runs to avoid being asked to bat again.

Chaminda Vaas ripped through the top order by taking four for 24 to leave England struggling on 33 for six, although Paul Collingwood helped to steady the ship with an unbeaten 23.

The tourists lost Michael Vaughan, Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen for just three runs after Mahela Jayawardene struck 213 not out as Sri Lanka raced to 499 for eight.

Having won the toss on a damp pitch, England were disappointed with how they used the new ball and Sri Lanka showed them how things should be done with a clinical display.

Vaughan misjudged a delivery from Vaas which shaped back in to trap him plumb in front of middle and off stumps without offering a shot in the third over. Ian Bell was run out in the next by Tillakaratne Dilshan's direct hit at the non-striker's end after Alastair Cook dropped to the off-side and initially called for a single.

Left-armer Vaas, who earlier hit a destructive 90, was extracting plenty of movement both in the air and off the pitch and, after Cook edged short of the slip cordon, umpire Asad Rauf adjudged a thinner nick next ball.

The best delivery of a chaotic eight-over spell before lunch was reserved for Kevin Pietersen, however, as a bouncer from Lasith Malinga caused the batsman to jump and sway evasively was deemed to have brushed glove on its way through to wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Ravi Bopara, who spent the morning off the field with a cut to his left hand, appeared impaired by the injury, unable to grip the bat properly as he lobbed to mid-on. And Vaas claimed his fourth wicket of the innings in his next over when Matt Prior was bowled by one which kept low.

Earlier, Jayawardene recorded the fourth double hundred of his Test career, before declaring the Sri Lankan innings closed at 499 for eight.