England rue Pietersen decision

Pietersen's was the middle dismissal at the SSC as the tourists, boosted by 80s from openers Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook, closed on 258 for five.

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, Pietersen 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.

Pietersen's dismissal followed that of Ian Bell (15), who was snapped up by energetic short-leg Jehan Mubarak off Muttiah Muralitharan moments after tea.

Mubarak earlier caught Michael Vaughan, who won the toss for the first time on this tour, for 87 in fortuitous manner when a clip to the leg-side from England's captain struck the fielder in the midriff and wedged in between his thighs as he fell backwards.

His dismissal sucked the momentum out of the innings, as only 35 runs came from the next 20 overs.

Cook and Paul Collingwood (49 not out) shared a 66-run stand, following the quick loss of Bell and Pietersen, but a double strike with the new ball redressed the balance of power. Left-hander Cook (81) was unluckily given leg before to a late swinger from Lasith Malinga, who then snuck a yorker under Ravi Bopara's bat next ball.