Kit delay scuppers Harmison return

Fast bowler Harmison, 29, fielded in the three-day match, but one of his kitbags, containing his first-choice boots, is still in transit from South Africa via Dubai.

Although he has a spare pair of bowling boots, the orthotics he uses inside the boot to provide support are also in the missing bag.

England's management team were in consultation with Colombo Airport officials in a bid to retrieve Harmison's belongings as soon as possible.

But the first innings of this match is well advanced with the hosts having batted 96 overs.

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 centurion Upul Tharanga, 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 112 is timely indeed, coming only hours after Marvan Atapattu announcing his international retirement and with the first Test in Kandy just 10 days away.

His overnight partner and fellow Test discard Chamara Kapugedera also reached three figures, although 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.