Rain delays Murali celebrations

Muralitharan, 35, drew level with fellow spinner Shane Warne at the top of the Test wicket-takers' list, on 708 wickets, with four of the five to fall on the second day at Asgiriya - as England were reduced to 186 for six, a deficit of two runs.

He got there by having debutant Ravi Bopara caught down the leg-side by wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene.

Earlier he snapped up England captain Michael Vaughan (37), somewhat contentiously, Ian Bell (83) and Kevin Pietersen (31).

Despite having an over at Ryan Sidebottom, however, he could not secure his 61st five-for in Tests before the wet weather made its decisive intervention.

His figures of 23-11-30-4 were the basis of Sri Lanka's fightback, though, as England were reduced to 186 for six, a deficit of two runs.

Drizzle fell before lunch and heavier rain blew in during the second session but it did not dampen the atmosphere at Test cricket's only school ground as Murali matched Australian Warne's mark.

But the deluge that halted things at 2.27pm local time meant he would have to wait another day for an exclusive position as the world's number one.

Murali has held the record of being the world's number one previously, having overhauled Courtney Walsh's total of 519 three years ago.

Overnight pair Bell and captain Vaughan were both dismissed as England progressed to 145 for three by lunch.