Sorry England collapse in Galle

Vaughan's team surrendered their interest in a series they trail 1-0 when a catastrophic collapse tumbled them to 81 all out.

"Off the top of my head I can't think of many worse days," said Paul Collingwood, who top-scored with 29. "There are a lot of disappointed people in that dressing room. These kind of days hit you hard - they hurt."

After Sri Lanka declared for the third time in as many innings this campaign - this occasion on 499 for eight - England were shot out in less than two-and-a-half hours, for their lowest score on the subcontinent and also a low against Asian opposition in Test cricket.

Despite a three-hour stoppage for an afternoon downpour, the tourists also underwent the ignominy of following on before the close, which, due to bad light, came after just one Muttiah Muralitharan over.

Six wickets fell inside the opening 11 overs and the only reprieve came during a seventh-wicket alliance between Paul Collingwood and Ryan Sidebottom. The pair batted together for 17 overs either side of the lengthy rain stoppage but were both dismissed in quick succession when play resumed at 4.30pm.

Once their 41-run share came to an end, the innings folded at a pace with debutant Chanaka Welegedara striking twice.

"Sri Lanka came out and hit us pretty hard," added Collingwood.

"We can't make excuses, we haven't been good enough. So far in the Test match we haven't been on the ball and somehow over the next two days we are going to have to show guts, determination, pride, passion, all these kind of words to salvage something from this game.

"If we can get a draw from here it will be a miraculous result for us."