Rain stops play

Chaminda Vaas ripped through the top order by taking four for 24 to leave England reeling on 33 for six, although Paul Collingwood is still unbeaten on 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.

It was England's gloveman Prior who was centre of attention earlier in the morning. Prior, who missed a couple of chances on Wednesday, allowed Mahela Jayawardene a further life on his way to an unbeaten 213.

Left-armer Sidebottom was once again the unlucky bowler as Jayawardene, on 154, nicked one low to Prior's right but despite getting both hands to it, the ball popped onto the turf. Jayawardene then recorded the fourth double hundred of his Test career with the second of three fours in one over off Steve Harmison - a crashed drive over mid-off.