Photos from Colombo

Fielding lapses cost England dear as Sri Lanka's batsmen put their team in a commanding position in the third Test.

They were only one run behind England's total on 264-2 at the close as Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene shared an unbroken stand of 126.

Samaraweera was dropped twice at slip by Marcus Trescothick and ended the day 68 not out with Jayawardene on 60.

Sanath Jayasuriya gave their innings a flying start by hitting 12 fours and a six in his 85.

Jayasuriya also enjoyed a slice of fortune when Graham Thorpe failed to hang on to a diving one-handed chance at gully when he had made 38.

Andrew Flintoff was the unlucky bowler, but he later gained his revenge when the former Sri Lankan skipper flashed at a wide ball without moving his feet.

On this occasion Trescothick held the ball safely, and he also took the catch to dismiss Kumar Sangakkara for 31 off James Kirtley during the morning session.

But his failure to hold chances offered by Samaraweera on 12 and 46 proved costly as the England attack tired at the end of a hard day in baking sunshine.

The tourists managed to add only six runs to their overnight score at the start of play as Chaminda Vaas won (3-65) lbw decisions against Kirtley and James Anderson.

SL can play entire 3rd day and should get around 500+. This means that Vass, Murali and co. have enough time to bowl out England From Ruwan A Have your say on TMS

Spinner Muttiah Muralitharan did not add to his three first day wickets but achieved the milestone of 100 maiden overs in the series before Vaas wrapped things up.

Jayasuriya and Sangakkara launched Sri Lanka's reply with a flurry of boundaries - the latter looking totally comfortable at the top of the order in place of Marvan Atapattu who was unable to bat because of a hand injury.

They were 55-0 after 10 overs and encountered few problems until Sangakkara's dismissal by Kirtley came out of the blue with the score on 71.

Jayasuriya raced to 50 off 44 balls, depositing a ball from Giles onto the roof of the stand at long-on, but the tempo of his innings declined after lunch.

He departed in trying to raise it again as Flintoff gained a reward for another whole-hearted display.

Samaraweera escapes as Trescothick spills a sharp chance

The cricket then became attritional with Sri Lanka seemingly content to wear down the England attack with a view to buidling a big lead on the Thursday.

Samaraweera took 172 balls to arrive at a half century which owed more to Chris Tavare-like doggedness than the natural flamboyance of some of his team-mates.

England tried everything in a vain attempt to break his partnership with Jayawardene - even Trescothick was given a couple of overs, his first bowl in a Test since June 2001.

Sri Lanka: S Jayasuriya, M Atapattu, K Sangakkara (wkt), M Jayawardene, T Dilshan, H Tillakaratne (capt), T Samaraweera, U Chandana, C Vaas, Dilhara Fernando, M Muralitharan.

England: M Vaughan (capt), M Trescothick, M Butcher, N Hussain, G Thorpe, A Flintoff, C Read (wkt), G Batty, A Giles, J Kirtley, J Anderson.