Shah leads England fightback

After winning the toss, the tourists slumped to 61 for four but recovered to reach 234 for eight, Owais Shah top-scoring with 82 off 92 balls.

Farveez Maharoof was the pick of the Sri Lankan attack, returning figures of three for 30 from nine overs.

Alastair Cook was dismissed in the third over of the day when he edged Chaminda Vaas behind and was superbly caught by Mahela Jayawardene diving at slip.

Ian Bell followed five overs later, given lbw to Maharoof's second ball as he attempted to clip through mid-wicket, forcing England to rebuild during the crucial powerplay overs.

Both Phil Mustard and Kevin Pietersen resisted their natural inclination to play shots during a determined 31-run stand spanning 10 overs.

But when they eventually lost patience and fell in successive overs, Mustard giving a leading edge to cover and Pietersen pulling to mid-wicket, England were facing another low total.

It left captain Paul Collingwood and Middlesex batsman Shah with the responsibility of rebuilding the innings, which they achieved during a 78-run stand off 99 balls.

The partnership was eventually broken when Collingwood, fresh from pulling a six earlier in the over, played all around a straight delivery from Dilhara Fernando and was given lbw.

His demise was followed in the next over by Ravi Bopara - but Shah and Graeme Swann (34) added 70 runs before the latter was run out pushing for a three, while Shah's innings was halted in the final over when he was brilliantly caught at mid-off by Chamara Silva.