Harmison struggles to impress

No doubt champing at the bit to impress before the three-match Test series, the fast bowler overstepped on half-a-dozen occasions in a four-over burst - which also included a wide and cost 33 runs.

The delayed arrival of one of his kitbags, containing his first-choice boots, meant fast bowler Harmison, 29, was restricted to bowling in the indoor nets between fielding stints until deep into the second session.

Although he had a spare pair of bowling boots, the orthotics he uses inside them to provide support were also in the missing bag. Tour manager Phil Neale was dispatched to Colombo airport to retrieve Harmison's belongings, misplaced in transit from South Africa via Dubai, and delivered the boots at around 2.30pm.

Wickets once again proved hard to come by on a benign surface, and Upul Tharanga and Chamara Kapugedera both cashed in with hundreds. At tea, the President's XI had piled up an imposing 463 for five - with both centurions departed.

The only breakthrough of a morning session extended by half-an-hour to make up time lost to a storm on Tuesday was provided by Matthew Hoggard's fifth ball of the day.

The dismissal of left-hander Tharanga (112), who flashed to gully and was well held by Ravi Bopara, came during an impressive spell of 5-3-4-1 by the Yorkshireman.

Tharanga's overnight partner and fellow Test discard Kapugedera also celebrated three figures - although he rode his luck just a dozen short when he miscued Monty Panesar to midwicket, where Graeme Swann might have made a better fist of an attempted catch.

Kapugedera, 20, hurried to the landmark in the very next over - and in grand style, with successive slog-sweeps for four and six off Swann.

England could not separate Kapugedera and Thilina Kandamby but were left frustrated by several appeals for lbw being declined - and they were absolutely infuriated when Kandamby was given not out after appearing to edge behind off Stuart Broad.